BISHOP JOVAN: HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL CHURCH’S RESTORATION AN ACT OF GREAT RETURN

PAKRAC, SEPTEMBER 7 /SRNA/ – His Grace Bishop Jovan of Pakrac and Slavonia said he felt joy over the restoration of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Pakrac and the Eparchy’s library, emphasizing that this represents an act of great return, first and foremost spiritual, and then in every other sense.

"This episcopal court is the largest one belonging to the Patriarchate of Peć, aside from the Belgrade Patriarchate itself. It is currently under restoration — two-thirds are nearly complete, and literally tomorrow we begin restoring the final section," Bishop Jovan told reporters in Pakrac, where His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia consecrated the restored Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity today. The bishop noted that he feels somewhat tired, as this has truly been the result of immense effort by a small number of people, pointing out that while the Diocese of Slavonia had 70 priests in 1991, today it has only 10. "Everything you see was prepared by those 10 people, my priests, to whom I am deeply greatiful. It was a great effort and hard work," emphasized Bishop Jovan. He expressed joy that the Serb people and the Serbian Orthodox Church have returned here in full glory and dignity. "This is an act of a great return — a return first in spirit, and then in every other way," said the bishop. He pointed out that the Serb people’s presence in this area dates back to the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius, as it is remembered that they preached in this region. "Our people endured everything – Turkish occupation and rule. However, during that period, our first eparchy here was established. I am the 28th Bishop of Pakrac and Slavonia, with an unbroken line since sometime in the 1500s , from the 16th century to today. That means our people have been here with a church structure since the 1500s," Bishop Jovan explained. He added that the Serbian Orthodox population grew significantly due to the Great Migration of Serbs, especially from Kosovo and Metohija. "Many Metohijans settled here, and it was then that Patriarch Arsenije III Čarnojević moved the eparchy here and founded this cathedral church which we consecrated today," recalled Bishop Jovan. He stated that the Serb people in this area survived horrific times during World War II — unimaginable massacres, torture, and suffering in human history, and yet, “thank God, we endured.” The bishop also noted that the post-war period in socialist Yugoslavia was difficult, as the Church was persecuted. "Let’s not deceive ourselves - at best, the Church was not welcome. Then came the war, when, unfortunately, our people practically disappeared from this area. But we are not truly gone, as long as the holy places remain. Just as our people have not vanished from Kosovo and Metohija, or from Szentendre - they will never vanish," said Bishop Jovan. He also noted that 70 percent of the funds for the restoration were provided by the Government of Croatia. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije consecrated the restored Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Pakrac today, and the ceremony was attended by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik. The church was heavily damaged during the 1990s wars and remained neglected for a long time. Its restoration, which took several years, was the result of collective effort, faith, and the Serb people’s love for their sacred heritage. The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Pakrac was originally built around 1750 and is considered one of the most significant Serbian Orthodox sacred sites in Slavonia. Throughout its centuries-long history, the church served as a spiritual and cultural centre for the Serbs of Slavonia, and it was the seat of the Bishop of Pakrac.