On December 23, 2024., at 7PM, a professional seminar for young priests of the Archdiocese was held in the parish hall of the Church of the Ascension of Our Lord in Belgrade. The event focused on the Sacrament of Confession, attracting 16 clergymen who attended despite challenging weather conditions that evening.
The seminar began with a welcoming address delivered by Protopresbyter Arsenije Arsenijević, a member of the church brotherhood and coordinator of parish activities with the Missionary Department, on behalf of the parish rector, His Grace Bishop Dositej. Following the introduction, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Vajo Jović, coordinator of the Section for Parish Mission of the Belgrade-Karlovci Archdiocese’s Missionary Department, gave a keynote lecture.
Fr. Vajo provided a brief theoretical overview before offering practical recommendations drawn from his extensive personal experience. He emphasized proven practices that have yielded positive results in the Church, while cautioning against potential deviations stemming from a lack of discernment in this sensitive area of ministry.
Building on Fr. Vajo’s presentation, Presbyter Dr. Oliver Subotić, head of the Missionary Department, shared additional insights and suggestions related to the topic. This was followed by a lively discussion with the young priests, who posed several questions. The lecture and the interactive session lasted approximately an hour and a half.
In keeping with the ancient Christian tradition of hospitality nurtured in Hilandar Monastery, Bishop Dositej blessed the gathering, inviting all participants to refreshments in a designated section of the parish hall. The informal setting of the agape meal allowed for further discussions on related topics, where young priests shared their parish experiences. The next monitoring session for young priests in the Archdiocese is scheduled for the end of January 2025.
