The Lenten Rhythm and the Contemporary Manhttps:

Catechist Branislav Ilić, editor of the portal Kinonia, was a guest on the programme “Gostoprimnica”, broadcast on the radio station Zlatousti of the Eparchy of Šumadija on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. In this programme, hosted and edited by journalist Ana Brzaković, Catechist Branislav spoke on the topic: “The Lenten Rhythm and the Contemporary Man.”

Speaking about the days of Great Lent, the guest of the radio station of the Eparchy of Šumadija emphasized that the meaning of these blessed days lies in the comprehensive transformation of the human person. According to him, Great Lent is granted to us as an opportunity to establish our life firmly on the right path, but also to overcome our weaknesses and temptations with which we are confronted on a daily basis.

When asked whether the contemporary person is capable of immersing his entire being in the mystery of fasting, Catechist Branislav reminded listeners that we do not enter the sacred period of the Holy Forty Days abruptly, but through prior preparation in the form of the preparatory weeks. In his own words, the rhythm of Great Lent calls us to set aside every worldly care and to devote our attention to the integral ascetical struggle whose goal is the illumination of both soul and body.

In order to convey the Lenten message in the most concrete manner, the catechist from Novi Sad reminded the listeners of Radio Zlatousti that each one of us, according to our ability, through love and attentiveness towards our neighbours, can become a herald of the spiritual spring which, as the fruit of genuine ascetic struggle and sincere repentance, is born within our hearts.

Towards the end of this Lenten discussion, Branislav spoke about the content prepared on the portal Kinonia in the spirit of the Holy Forty Days, reminding listeners that we are all called to draw inspiration from the teachings of Holy Scripture, hymnography, and the Holy Fathers.

Source: Kinonia Portal

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Protopresbyter-Staurophorus Vajo Jović

Protopresbyter-Staurophorus Vajo Jović was born in 1956 in Ugljevik, Srpska.

Priest in Zagreb and Secretary of the Diocesan Board of the Metropolis of Zagreb and Ljubljana since 1979.
From Zagreb, he served the missionary parish in Maribor.
Parish priest at the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Belgrade since 1991.
Since 2000, Elder of the same church and Director of the Orthodox Missionary School until his retirement in 2023.

Forty-two years of priestly service are characterized by intensive missionary work.

Recipient of the Order of St. Sava, third degree.

Protopresbyter-Staurophor Radivoj Panić

Protopresbyter-Staurophor Radivoj Panić is the coordinator of the Parish Mission Department of the Missionary Department of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovci. He was born on April 1, 1961 in Novi Sad. He completed the seminary in Sremski Karlovci in 1981.

From 1986 to 1991, he was engaged as a librarian at the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Belgrade.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1992. He began his pastoral ministry as a parish priest in Kosova Polje, where he served from 1992 to 2001. After that, from 2001 to 2009, he was the parish priest at the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky, and since 2009 he has served as the parish priest at the Church of St. Sava. He completed his theological studies in 2008, at a time when he was already serving as a parish priest.

He is particularly involved in organizing pilgrimages to Kosovo and Metohija, as well as in humanitarian work. He collaborates with the organization “Our Serbs” from Chicago, through which he actively participates in providing assistance to the Serbian people in Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija, as well as in supporting domestic organizations operating in these areas.

Father Radivoj Panić is considered one of the most respected priests of the Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovac.