From October 13 to 17. 2023, the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, Ray Sutton, visited Croatia and Serbia.
OSIJEK (GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH)
On October 13, in Osijek’s Church of the Good Shepherd, a solemn evening prayer was held. Bishop Sutton preached on the topic: “Crumbs from the table”. You can watch the sermon at the following link:
TORDINCI
On Saturday, October 14, a Eucharist was celebrated in Tordinci. Bishop Sutton confirmed a young girl and preached the Word of God. The liturgy was led by Bishop Jasmin Milić together with the priests of the Reformed Episcopal Church in Croatia.
After the service, a Church held a Synod where the parish priests shared their reports. Special attention was paid to development of the Mihael Starin seminary.
BELGRADE (SERBIA)
On Sunday, October 15, a special liturgy was held in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. On that occasion, Bishop Sutton ordained Sergej Beuk to the order of deacon.
You can watch the video on the following YouTube link:
On the same day, a forum on Anglican-Orthodox dialogue was held in the Belgrade Youth Center. Bishop Ray Sutton, Bishop Jasmin Milić and Orthodox Protodeacon Radomir Rakić spoke at the forum. Deacon Sergej Beuk and Aleksandar Sedlić moderated the forum. Archbishop Foley Beach also addressed those present via video link.
Bishop Sutton gave a lecture on the New Ecumenism, which you can read here.
You can watch the video on the following YouTube link:
On Tuesday, October 17, the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Porfirije, received Bishop Ray Sutton, Bishop Jasmin Milić and Deacon Sergej Beuk in his palace in Belgrade. In a pleasant atmosphere, there was an hour-long conversation about ecumenical relations between the Aglicans and the Orthodox.
See more photos here.
Our clergy and lay ministers
Rt. Rev. Jasmin Milić, PhD, received his master’s degree (MTh) and doctorate (PhD) at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the author of 13 books, and ministers as the rector of parishes in Osijek and Tordinci and a Church planter in Belgrade (Serbia). Likewise, he taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, where he also worked for a time as the Dean for External Studies, and at the Protestant Theological Faculty in Novi Sad (Serbia), where he worked as the Academic Dean. For over 20 years, he taught religious education in two state (public) schools, and for ten years hosted the radio show “Sources of Faith”, which was broadcast on over 20 radio stations throughout Croatia.
Rev. Canon Almir Pehlić, ThD, completed his BTh at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek and received his master’s degree (MDiv) and doctorate (ThD) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the rector of the churches in Karlovac and Zagreb and a church planter in Split. Also, he is the academic dean and a lecturer at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary. In 2022, he published his second book of poetry.
Rev. Damir Sitar, MDiv, completed his studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek (MTh) and at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek (MDiv). Also holds B.A. in Pedagogy degree from University of Osijek. He is the priest of the Romani parish in Kapelna, and serves as the president of our humanitarian organization PASTIR (Protestant Samaritan Work). Likewise, he also works as an Educator at the Center for Youth Education.
Rev. Nenad Adžić, MDiv, completed the study of Economics and BTh at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek and MDiv at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the Assistant pastor in Tordinci, and is employed at the tax service and serves the church part-time. Also, he is the editor of the very influential Christian website Novi Život (New Life).
Rev. Bob Hitching, ThD, completed his master’s degree (MDiv) and doctorate (DMin) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He comes from Great Britain and is a missionary priest of the Roma parish in Kapelna. For over 30 years, he has been actively engaged in missionary work with the Roma, and is the founder of the organization Roma Bible Union.
Lay Reader Saša Maligec, PhD, serves in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Osijek as a Lay Reader and as a Cantor. He completed the study of theology (BTh) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek and received a doctorate in economics (PhD) at the University of Osijek. He is employed at the Croatian Electric Industry.
Deacon Sergej Beuk, ThD, completed the study of Pedagogy (BA) at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo and Belgrade, and Cultural Studies (MA) at the Faculty of Culture and Media in Belgrade. He studied theology (MTh) at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. Currently serves as a Church Planter in Belgrade. He is employed at the Belgrade Youth Center as a Program director, where he organised over 2.500 programs and projects in the fields of theology, philosophy and culture. He published scientific papers in the country and abroad, along with three professional monographs. Likewise, he is the president of the Anglican Theological Institute in Belgrade.
Lay Reader Domagoj Rade, serves in the church in Karlovac. He completed the program of Computer Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology (B.Sc.), and is currently studying at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary.
Lay Reader Igor Peričić, BTh, completed his studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. He serves as a Church Planter in Split, and also works as a Tour guide.