Jefrem (Milutinović) of Banja Luka

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Bishop of Banja Luka Jefrem (Milutinović) ( in serbian Јефрем Милутиновић православни епископ бањалучки ) is 6th Serb orthodox bishop of city Banja Luka in Republika of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina . He was born on April 15 1944 in the village of Busnovi near city of Prijedor, today in Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Elementary and high school he finished in his native village and in nearby town of Sanski Most. He became a monk in the Monastery of Liplje on July 9 1967. Bishop Jefrem finished studies at the Theological Seminary in the Monastery of Krka in Dalmatia in 1971 and at the Theological Academy in Moscow in 1975.Bishop Jefrem graduated on the Academy in Moscow with work The Teaching of Saint Basil the Great on Monasticism and earned title “Candidate of Theology”. He was ordained as hierodeacon by Bishop of Banja Luka Andrej on January 14 1968 and as hieromonk on Pentecost, July 14 1970, both in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Banja Luka. Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church appointed him 1975 as teacher at the “The Holy Three Hierarchs” Theological Seminary at Krka Monastery. In the course of time, Bishop Jefrem resumed duty of Seminary’s main tutor as well. Hieromonk Jefrem was elected for Vicarius Bishop of Moravice on June 1 1978 and ordained on September 17 same year. For Bishop of Banja Luka he was elected in May 1980 and on June 1 his enthronement took place. He suceded his Grace bishop Dr Andrej ( Frušić ), who was elected for bishop of Srem. He put enormous energy in rebuilding and recovery of diocese destroyed on World War II from Croatian faschists and in post-war period from comunists. Crown of all his effortsis rebuilding of old chatedral church of Christ of Savior. Chatedral was initially destroyed from Germans and Croatian fashists in 1941 .After war its remnants were removed by comunists who didn't alowed rebuilding until 1991 . now church is almost finished . First Holy lturgy is served in september 2004. Holy Assembly of Bishops of Serbian Orthdox Church on its sesion on November 2 2005 asked His Grace bishop of Banja Luka Jefrem to accept the duty of chairman of Jasenovac Comittee of SOC.