Archimandrite Methodios, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Hilandar on Mount Athos, arrived in Sarajevo on May 31st, 2025.
He was accompanied by Monk Tomo of the Hilandar Monastery.
This visit is undoubtedly a historic event, as there is no recorded precedent of any Abbot of Hilandar Monastery having ever visited Sarajevo before.
According to the official itinerary, Abbot Methodios first visited His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dabar-Bosnia at his residence in Sarajevo. It is worth noting that Metropolitan Chrysostomos ordained the then Hierodeacon Methodios to the priesthood (as a Hieromonk) in 1997.
Also present at the reception and warm conversation were members of the official Welcoming Committee for the Abbot. His Eminence warmly welcomed the Abbot, expressing his joy and stating:
“Today is a great and historic day, both for me personally and for our entire Metropolis. It is the first time that an Abbot of the Hilandar Monastery has visited our Metropolis. We thank you for bringing us the blessing of Hilandar, of Saint Sava, of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-streaming, and of all the holy fathers of the monastery. The bonds between our Metropolis and Hilandar are deep, and we rejoice that they continue to be maintained and renewed to this day. We are especially moved by the fact that many of our faithful make pilgrimages to Hilandar—some even on foot. Of particular note is the Association of War Veterans with Disabilities, which organizes an annual pilgrimage to the monastery, also on foot. This love and devotion is now being reciprocated by your presence among us.”
As a sign of gratitude for his love toward the faithful people of the Metropolis of Dabar-Bosnia, and in recognition of his long-standing and devoted service to the greatest and most revered Serbian monastery, Metropolitan Chrysostomos awarded Abbot Methodios the Golden Cross of Saint Peter of Dabar-Bosnia.
Following an invitation by Mr. Marinko Božović, Mayor of the Municipality of East Ilidža, and in the context of the event “Days of Hilandar in East Sarajevo,” Abbot Methodios visited the Metropolis of Dabar-Bosnia and East Sarajevo.
On the following day, Archimandrite Methodios, Abbot of the royal and ancient Monastery of Hilandar, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Basil of Ostrog in the Veljine district. Concelebrating with him were the Protopresbyters-Stavrophores Milomir Kovač, Boško Tošović, Mladen Drobnjak, and Velemir Divljanović, along with Protopresbyter Božidar Tanović, Priest Vidak Vujadinović, and Deacon Božidar Vasiljević. The choir “Sloga” sang during the service.
In his homily to the large assembly of faithful, Abbot Methodios emphasized: “It is a great blessing and joy to be here with you today. I thank Archbishop and Metropolitan Chrysostomos for granting me the blessing to celebrate today’s Divine Liturgy. He was the one who ordained me a hieromonk in 1997 at Hilandar Monastery. That creates a unique and personal bond between us, and through him, a bond with all of you. You are a people who, through your very existence and faith, bear witness to our martyric history and to the great and glorious name of the Serbian and Saint Sava tradition. You have preserved the faith of Saint Sava and Saint Simeon as we hear in today’s Gospel: ‘For the words You gave Me I have given them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world…’ (John 17:8 9). Today, we prayed for all of you and the entire Serbian nation, in the holy temple dedicated to the servant of God, Saint Basil of Ostrog, who spent a year at Hilandar before becoming a bishop.
It is not by chance that I am with you today—especially as we commemorate the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, and as I celebrate the 15th anniversary of my enthronement as Abbot of Hilandar. I thank the brotherhood, the clergy, and all of you for your love and hospitality.”
Abbot Methodios offered each of the faithful a small icon and his blessing. Following that, he celebrated a Memorial Service at the Chapel of Saint Demetrios in honor of all the fallen commanders and soldiers of the recent war, who sacrificed their lives for faith and fatherland.
