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Our father among the saints, [[BishopSaint]] '''Nikolaj Velimirović''' (Николај Велимировић, [[January 5]], 1880 - [[March 18]], 1956, also rendered ''Nicholas'') was bishop of Žiča in Serbia and the author of several many Orthodox books. His most widely-known work is the ''[[Prologue from Ohrid]]''. His first name is pronounced and sometimes written ''Nikolai''.

Nikolaj Velimirović was born in the small village of Lelich in Western Serbia. He attended the Seminary of St. Sava in Belgrade and graduated in 1905. He obtained doctorates from the University old-catholic faculty of theology of Berne (1908), while the thesis was published in German in 1910, whereas the doctor's degree in philosophy was prepared at Oxford and defended in Geneva (''Filozofija Filosofija Berklija'' - ''Berkeley's Philosophy'', in French) in 1909. At the end of 1909 he entered a [[monasticism|monastic ]] orderand was ordained a priest the same day. He received the title of archimandrite in 1910 and was named in 1911 an assistant professor in St. Sava Seminary in Belgrade. In 1919, then he was [[Archimandriteconsecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Nikolai was consecrated Bishop of Žiča in the [[Church of Serbia]].

During the Second World War in 1941 Bp. Nikolai was arrested by the Nazis in the [[Monastery]] of Žiča (which was soon afterwards robbed and ruined), after which he was confined in the Monastery of Ljubostinja (where, on the occasion of mass deaths by firing squad, he reacted saying: "Is this the German culture, to shoot hundred innocent Serbs, for one dead German soldier! The Turks have always proved to be more just..."). Later, this "new [[John Chrysostom|Chrysostom]]" was transferred to the Monastery of Vojlovica (near Pančevo) in which he was confined together with the Serbian patriarch, [[Gavrilo Gabriel (Dozic) of Serbia|Gavrilo (Dožić)]] until the end of 1944.

After the War he left Communist Yugoslavia and immigrated as a refugee to the United States in 1946 where he taught at several Orthodox Christian [[seminary|seminaries]] such as [[St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Seminary (Libertyville, Illinois)|St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Seminary]] in Libertyville, Illinois and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] and Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania (where he was [[rector ]] and also where he died) and [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] now in Crestwood, New York. During his time teaching at St. Vladimir's, he was very involved with the life of [[St. Sava Cathedral (New York, New York)|St. Sava Cathedral in New York City]]. He died on [[March 18]], 1956.

Although recently canonized [[Glorification|glorified]] as a saint by the [[Church of Serbia]], some of his writings remain highly controversial. Nikolaj Velimirovic was allegedly anti-semitic and he is supposed to have approved of the holocaust. (See Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic: ''Addresses to the Serbian People—Through the Prison Window''. Himmelsthur, Germany: Serbian Orthodox Eparchy for Western Europe, 1985, pp. 161-162). Others regard his address from Dachau as having been under duress[http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/kosta/pisma/l-serbs.are.new.jews.html][http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/kosta/pisma/l-a.little.more.truth.html] and point to the lack of other anti-semitic statements in the rest of his large corpus of writings. He is recorded variously to have said that the Jews "crucified [[Christ]]," but such a statement is historically no different from that in the [[Bible]] or what [[Christians]] have been saying for centuries.

Others regard his address from Dachau as having been under duress==Glorification==On [[http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/kosta/pisma/l-serbs.are.new.jews.htmlMay 19][http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/kosta/pisma/l-a.little.more.truth.html] , 2003, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, with one heart and point one voice, unanimously decided to the lack enter Bishop Nicholai (Velimirovic) of other anti-semitic statements in Ohrid and Ziča into the rest calendar of his large corpus saints of writingsour Holy Orthodox Church. St. He Nikolai Velimirovich is recorded variously often referred to have said that the Jews "crucified as Serbia's New Chrysostom. St. [[John Maximovitch]], who had been a young instructor at a seminary in Bishop Nikolai's [[Christdiocese]]of Ohrid,called him " but such a statement is historically no different from great saint and Chrysostom of our day [whose] significance for Orthodoxy in our time can be compared only with that in of Metropolitan [[Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev|Anthony (Khrapovitsky)]]. ... They were both universal teachers of the Orthodox Church." {{start box}}{{succession|before=Sava (Barać)|title=Bishop of Žiča|years=1919-1920|after=Jefrem (Bojović)}}{{succession|before=Chrysostom (Kavourides), Metropolitan of Pelagonia|title=Bishop of Ohrid|years=1920-1929|after=[[BiblePlaton of Banja Luka|St. Platon]] or what Christians have been saying for centuries, which is more an allegation }}{{succession|before=Jefrem (Bojović)|title=Bishop of Žiča|years=1937-1956|after=[[German of historical fact rather than the racism which is the heart Serbia|German]]}}<!--- {{succession|before=new creation|title=Bishop of antiOhrid-Bitola|years=1957-semitism1991|after=[[Platon of Banja Luka|St.Platon]]}} --->{{end box}} ==Hymns==[[Troparion]] (Tone 8)

==Glorification==:O golden-tongued preacher proclaiming the risen Christ,:Everlasting guide of the cross-bearing Serbian people,[[Image:Nikolaj.jpg|right|frame|Nikolaj Velimirović]]On [[May 19]]Resounding harp of the Holy Spirit, 2003and dear to monastics who rejoice in you, :Pride and boast of the Holy Assembly priesthood, teacher of Bishops repentance, master for all nations,:Guide of those in the Serbian Orthodox Churcharmy of Christ as they pray to God, with one heart :Holy Nicholas teacher in America and one voicepride of the Serbian people, unanimously decided to enter Bishop Nicholai (Velimirovic) of Ohrid and Zicha into :With all the calendar of saints , implore the only Lover of our Holy Orthodox Church.mankind:To grant us peace and joy in his heavenly kingdom! [[Kontakion]] (Tone 3)

St. Nikolai Velimirovich is often referred to as :Born at Lelich in Serbia's New [[John Chrysostom|Chrysostom]]. St. [[John Maximovitch]], who had been a young instructor :You served as archpastor at a seminary the church of Saint Nahum in Bishop NikolaiOchrid.:Taking your place on the throne of Saint Sabbas at Zhicha,:You taught God's diocese people and enlightened them with the Gospel.:You brought people to repentance and the love of ZicaChrist, called him "a great saint and Chrysostom of our day [whose] significance :And for Orthodoxy in our time can be compared only with that of Metropolitan Anthony [Khrapovitsky]Christ you endured suffering at Dachau. :Therefore we glorify you, a new Nicholas well–pleasing to God... They were both universal teachers of the Orthodox Church."

*"[[http://s3.amazonaws.com/orthodox/WhyVigilLampsLitBeforeIcons.pdf Why are Vigil Lamps lit before Icons?]]"(PDF)

==Notes==<small><references/></small> ==External Linkslinks==

* Life of Bishop Nicholai (Velimirovich) in ''Portraits of American Saints'', Compiled and Edited by George A. Gray and Jan V. Bear, Diocese Council and Department of Missions Diocese of the West Orthodox Church in America, 650 Micheltorena Street, Los AnglesAngeles, California, 1994, pp. 74-77 (Quoted at [http://www.serfes.org/lives/holyhierarchsaintnicholai.htm Serfes.org])