On Friday, 18 July 2025, the guest of the Morning Programme on Hram Television was Catechist Branislav Ilić, editor of the “Kinonia” portal of the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci. The main theme of the interview, moderated by journalist Jana Okilj, was a reflection on the significance of the radio series Sacramental Theology aired on Radio-Beseda, as well as a discussion on ancient liturgies and the liturgical publications of the late Bishop Chrysostom (Stolić).
In the introductory part of the interview, Catechist Branislav spoke about the origins of his radio series Sacramental Theology, which aired on Radio-Beseda of the Diocese of Bačka across three seasons, comprising a total of one hundred episodes. Viewers of Hram Television were given an overview of the thematic content addressed in this noteworthy series, with the author revealing that the episodes also covered topics such as monasticism, the minor and great blessings of water, and the Eucharistic significance of memorial services for the departed.
Speaking on the subject of ancient anaphoras, Catechist Branislav highlighted their specific features, noting the liturgical traditions to which each belongs. In this segment, special attention was given to the significance and authorship of the Liturgy of Saint James, with reference to particular prayer texts that underscore the spiritual centrality of the holy city of Jerusalem. Addressing the Liturgy of Saint Mark, Catechist Branislav emphasised that it belongs to the Alexandrian liturgical tradition and noted that its anaphoral text bears traces of other anaphoras, such as those of Serapion of Thmuis and Hippolytus of Rome. According to Catechist Branislav, the Liturgy of the Apostolic Constitutions is the most concise among the ancient liturgies, with its text found in Chapter Eight of the document bearing the same name.
Special attention was also given to the liturgical publications of the late Bishop Chrysostom (Stolić) of Žiča. Catechist Branislav offered a detailed presentation of all the significant editions prepared by Bishop Chrysostom, emphasising that each remains precious and unique to this day. In discussing the translations of ancient liturgies, Branislav pointed out that Bishop Chrysostom did not merely translate the anaphoras but prepared them specifically for liturgical use. The guest also mentioned a regrettably lesser-known fact—that Bishop Chrysostom had translated the Anaphora of Saint Gregory the Theologian, although this particular text was not edited for liturgical use.
The interview was further enriched by personal reflections shared by Catechist Branislav with the viewers of Hram Television. Among these was his testimony of the recent celebration of the Liturgy of the Apostolic Constitutions, which, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka, was served in the Church of the Dormition in the village of Pivnice.
WRITTEN BY: Catechist Branislav Ilić, Editor of the Kinonia Portal
