Difference between revisions of "Jovan VI (Vraniškovski) of Ohrid"

From OrthodoxWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(largely rewritten)
Line 1: Line 1:
He was born on 28th of February 1966 in Bitola and baptized as an Orthodox Christian named Zoran. He completed his primary school and mathematical high school in his native town achieving excellent average result. During his education, he was awarded for achievements in the field of science and sports several times. After he served his military obligation in Sarajevo in 1985, he started his studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje. He had finished the aforesaid Faculty before the time expected (in 1990), and enrolled the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade the same year, and he also got employed as a civil engineer with the Diocese of the Metropolitanate of Bitola. He established the Metropolis Library in collaboration with the local University Library of Bitola, being the first librarian thereof. He had given a cycle of lectures in the premises of the library during his two and a half years long employment with the Metropolis. In 1993, he left for Belgrade aiming to intensify his studies of theology and graduated in June, 1995. He started his master’s studies the same year in Belgrade, at the Department of Systematic Theology (Dogmatics). At the end of 1995, he left for Greece (Thessalonica) for the purpose of learning Greek and enrolment of post graduate studies. Now, he works on his doctoral dissertation, theme being: "The Unity of the Church and the Contemporary Ecclesiological Problems”.
+
His Eminence the Most Reverend [[Archbishop]] '''Jovan (Vraniskovski)''' is the Archbishop of Ohrid and [[Metropolitan]] of Skopje.
  
He was ordained to be a monk on 7th of February 1998, being named John and [[ordain]]ed a [[deacon]] the same day. He was ordained into the rank of hieromonk on 8th of February 1998, and into the rank of a Bishop on 19th July 1998, being given the title Bishop of Dremvica. He was assigned to be a vicar of the Bishop of Prespa and Pelagonia, also holding cycles of theological discussions and starting a thorough reconstruction of the Cathedral Church of St. Great Martyr Demetrius in Bitola besides his regular ministries. In March 2000, he was assigned to be Administrator of the Metropolitanate of Bregalnica, and elected to be a Bishop of Veles and Vardar Valley in November 2000. He was enthroned at the aforesaid Bishopric on 4th December 2000. He had answered positively at the summon to liturgical and canonical unity with the Patriarchate of Pec by the Patriarch of Serbia Pavle, together with all his clergymen and faithful people from his Metropolitanate, being the only Metropolitan of the schismatic Macedonian Orthodox Church who answered positively. The liturgical and canonical unity with the Patriarchate of Pec of the Holy Metropolitanate of Veles and Vardar Valley, being under his jurisdiction in that time, was reached on 22nd June 2002. Several days thereafter, he was expelled from the seat of the Metropolitanate together with the monastics living with him, completely illegally and without a court warrant by means of brutal force by the Police of the Republic of Macedonia. On 23rd of September 2002, he was appointed an Exarch of all the territories of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric by the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He had been detained under custody many times by the authorities of the Republic of Macedonia, which in fact created the schism of the Church during the times of communist rule, supporting the putsch of proclamation of the uncannonical autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. He was elected a Chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric on 25th December 2003, after the constitution thereof. He was sentenced to a suspended punishment one year of imprisonment for the criminal offence «performing unauthorised activities» because he had entered a Church aiming to baptise a female infant in 2004. The Court of Appeal in Bitola sentenced him to eighteen months of imprisonment in 2005 with valid judgement for a criminal offence «incitement of ethnic and religious hatred, discord and intolerance».
+
==Life==
 +
Zoran Vraniskovski was born on [[February 28]], 1966 in Bitola, Yugoslavia into an Orthodox Christian family. Zoran completed his primary school and mathematical high school in his native town, receiving many awards for achievements in the fields of science and sports. In 1985, after having served his military obligation in Sarajevo, he began studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, graduating in 1990.
  
He participated in many international symposiums and gave lectures on numerous seminars.
+
Later in 1990, Zoran enrolled the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade while working as a civil engineer with the Metropolitanate of Bitola. While employed by the [[metropolis]], he established its library in collaboration with the local University Library of Bitola, while serving also as the new library’s first librarian. During his two and half years in this position the young Zoran gave a series of lectures.
  
On 24th May 2005, on the Feast of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius, he has been confirmed by his Holiness, the Archbishop of Pec and Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci and Patriarch of Serbia, kyr kyr Pavle, to be Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje in accordance with the Niš Agreement. On the same day, there was an announcement of the Patriarchal and the Assembly’s Tomos for Autonomy of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric, the Chairman of whose Holy Synod of Bishops is he, himself.
+
In 1993, Zoran left Bitola for Belgrade to continue his studies in theology, graduating in June 1995. Immediately, he began his master’s studies at the Department of Systematic Theology (Dogmatics). At the end of 1995, he moved to Thessalonica in Greece to learn Greek and enroll for postgraduate studies. In Thessalonica, Zoran worked on his doctorate and a dissertation entitled: ‘‘The Unity of the Church and the Contemporary Ecclesiological Problem’‘.
 +
 
 +
On [[February 7]], 1998, Zoran took [[monasticism|monastic]] vows, was tonsured a [[monk]] with the name John, and was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]]. The following day, [[February 8]], he was ordained to the [[priest]]hood, becoming a [[hieromonk]]. On [[July 19]], 1998, Fr. John was consecrated a [[bishop]] with the title of Bishop of Dremvica and assigned as [[auxiliary bishop|vicar]] to the Bishop of Prespa and Pelagonia. In this position, and in addition to taking part theological consultations, Bp. John led the effort for reconstruction of the Cathedral Church of St. Great Martyr Demetrius in Bitola. In March 2000, he was assigned as administrator of the Metropolitanate of Bregalnica. In November 2000, Bp. John was elected Bishop of Veles and Vardar Valley and enthroned on [[December 4]] 2000.
 +
 
 +
With the separation of the member states of Yugoslavia after the fall of communism, Macedonia also declared its independence and a schismatic Macedonian Orthodox Church formed. Leading the Holy Metropolitanate of Veles and Vardar Valley, on [[June 22]], 2002, Metr. John responded to summon for liturgical and canonical unity with the Patriarchate of Pec by Patriarch of Serbia, Pavle. Together with all his clergy and faithful of his Metropolitanate, Metr. John was the only Metropolitan of the schismatic Macedonian Orthodox Church who responded positively.
 +
 
 +
A few days later, he was expelled from the seat of the Metropolitanate together with the monastic community living with him. This was done illegally and without a court warrant by the Police of the Republic of Macedonia. On [[September 23]], 2002, Metr. John was appointed [[Exarch]] of all the territories of the Ohrid [[Archdiocese]] by the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church. On [[December 25]], 2003, he was elected Chairman of the [[Holy Synod]] of Bishops of the Orthodox Ohrid Archdiocese, after it had been constituted.
 +
 
 +
He was detained under custody many times by the authorities of the Republic of Macedonia. He was sentenced to a suspended punishment one year of imprisonment for the criminal offense of «“performing unauthorized activities” because he had entered a [[church]] to baptize a female infant in 2004. The Court of Appeal in Bitola sentenced him to eighteen months of imprisonment in 2005 as judgment for a criminal offense of “incitement of ethnic and religious hatred, discord and intolerance”.
 +
 
 +
On [[May 24]], 2005, on the Feast of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius, he was confirmed by his Holiness, the Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of Serbia, Pavle, to be Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje in accordance with the Niš Agreement. On the same day, there was an announcement of the Patriarchal and the Assembly’s Tomos for Autonomy of the Ohrid Archdiocese, with Metr. John as the Chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops.
  
 
[[Category:Bishops]]
 
[[Category:Bishops]]

Revision as of 21:42, March 20, 2007

His Eminence the Most Reverend Archbishop Jovan (Vraniskovski) is the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje.

Life

Zoran Vraniskovski was born on February 28, 1966 in Bitola, Yugoslavia into an Orthodox Christian family. Zoran completed his primary school and mathematical high school in his native town, receiving many awards for achievements in the fields of science and sports. In 1985, after having served his military obligation in Sarajevo, he began studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, graduating in 1990.

Later in 1990, Zoran enrolled the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade while working as a civil engineer with the Metropolitanate of Bitola. While employed by the metropolis, he established its library in collaboration with the local University Library of Bitola, while serving also as the new library’s first librarian. During his two and half years in this position the young Zoran gave a series of lectures.

In 1993, Zoran left Bitola for Belgrade to continue his studies in theology, graduating in June 1995. Immediately, he began his master’s studies at the Department of Systematic Theology (Dogmatics). At the end of 1995, he moved to Thessalonica in Greece to learn Greek and enroll for postgraduate studies. In Thessalonica, Zoran worked on his doctorate and a dissertation entitled: ‘‘The Unity of the Church and the Contemporary Ecclesiological Problem’‘.

On February 7, 1998, Zoran took monastic vows, was tonsured a monk with the name John, and was ordained a deacon. The following day, February 8, he was ordained to the priesthood, becoming a hieromonk. On July 19, 1998, Fr. John was consecrated a bishop with the title of Bishop of Dremvica and assigned as vicar to the Bishop of Prespa and Pelagonia. In this position, and in addition to taking part theological consultations, Bp. John led the effort for reconstruction of the Cathedral Church of St. Great Martyr Demetrius in Bitola. In March 2000, he was assigned as administrator of the Metropolitanate of Bregalnica. In November 2000, Bp. John was elected Bishop of Veles and Vardar Valley and enthroned on December 4 2000.

With the separation of the member states of Yugoslavia after the fall of communism, Macedonia also declared its independence and a schismatic Macedonian Orthodox Church formed. Leading the Holy Metropolitanate of Veles and Vardar Valley, on June 22, 2002, Metr. John responded to summon for liturgical and canonical unity with the Patriarchate of Pec by Patriarch of Serbia, Pavle. Together with all his clergy and faithful of his Metropolitanate, Metr. John was the only Metropolitan of the schismatic Macedonian Orthodox Church who responded positively.

A few days later, he was expelled from the seat of the Metropolitanate together with the monastic community living with him. This was done illegally and without a court warrant by the Police of the Republic of Macedonia. On September 23, 2002, Metr. John was appointed Exarch of all the territories of the Ohrid Archdiocese by the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church. On December 25, 2003, he was elected Chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Ohrid Archdiocese, after it had been constituted.

He was detained under custody many times by the authorities of the Republic of Macedonia. He was sentenced to a suspended punishment one year of imprisonment for the criminal offense of «“performing unauthorized activities” because he had entered a church to baptize a female infant in 2004. The Court of Appeal in Bitola sentenced him to eighteen months of imprisonment in 2005 as judgment for a criminal offense of “incitement of ethnic and religious hatred, discord and intolerance”.

On May 24, 2005, on the Feast of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius, he was confirmed by his Holiness, the Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of Serbia, Pavle, to be Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje in accordance with the Niš Agreement. On the same day, there was an announcement of the Patriarchal and the Assembly’s Tomos for Autonomy of the Ohrid Archdiocese, with Metr. John as the Chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops.