Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunovic)

Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) (1936-2022)

Lavrentije may be spelt Lavrintii, Lavrintij, Lavrentiy, Laurence, Lawrence, Laurent.

Early life of Živko Trifunović

On 27 January, 1936, Živko Trifunović was born in a village near the town of Krupanj, Bogoštica county, Rađevina oblast in Serbia, of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Živko was raised in the bosom of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Živko finished elementary school in Krupanj, and 2 grades of high school (gymnasium) in Loznica.

Higher education

Živko commenced his theological studies in the Orthodox Seminary and the Theological Faculty at the University of Belgrade, from which he graduated.

Monastic tonsure

Živko Trifunović was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Lavrentije.

Diaconal ordination, 1958

In 1958, Monk Lavrentije (Trifunović) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Presbyteral ordination, 1961

In 1961, Hierodeacon Lavrentije (Trifunović) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Pastoral service

For 2 years, Hieromonk Lavrentije (Trifunović) served as the priest of the Ruzica Church in the Kalemegdan Fortress (Belgrade), and then he served as the parish priest in Kupres.

For 2½ years, he served as a professor at the seminary in the Krka Monastery and he also served as the parish priest in Ivoševci.

On 1 June, 1967, Hieromonk Lavrentije (Trifunović) was elected by the Holy Synod of the Church of Serbia to become a bishop.

Episcopal ordination, 1967

On 16 August, 1967, Archimandrite Lavrentije (Trifunović) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael in Belgrade, by Patriarch German II (Đorić) with other bishops of the Holy Synod of the Church of Serbia.

Episcopal service

Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) was assigned to serve in Belgrade as the Vicar-Bishop of Moravica.

In this capacity, Bishop Lavrentije (it was later said by a bishop-colleague), taught clearly and served sincerely in such a manner that the secular communist authorities were displeased. They pressed for his transfer abroad, and after 2 years of such service, Vladika Lavrentije was transferred.

Bishop of Western Europe and Australia, 1969

In 1969, Bishop Lavrentije was assigned to serve as the bishop of Western Europe and Australia. He was enthroned in Saint Sava's Cathedral in London, England, in March, 1969.

Bishop of Western Europe, 1973

In 1973, after Vladika Lavrentije had created the conditions for the formation of a new eparchy in Australia, Bishop Lavrentije’s assignment was changed. He was assigned to serve as the Bishop of the Diocese of Western Europe.

In 1978, Bishop Lavrentije founded the diocesan centre at Hildesheim (at the Himmelsthür (Dormition) Monastery) in Germany. The Serbian Orthodox Diocese for Central Europe bought the church (constructed in 1904) and the adjoining buildings and set up the monastery and diocesan centre there.

Himmelsthür (Dormition) Monastery at Hildesheim, Germany

After the purchase of the Temple, he then founded a printing press and published works of Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović), and many other religious books. At that time, the work of Bishop Nikolaj could not be printed in the former Yugoslavia.

In 1985, in London, Vladika Lavrentije blessed the marriage of Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic and Princess Katarina.

In 1990, after the departure of Bishop Lavrentije to Serbia, the Diocese of Western Europe was further divided with the establishment of the Diocese of Great Britain and Scandinavia.

Bishop of Šabac and Valjevo, 1989

After 20 years of episcopal service in the “diaspora”, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Sabor) elected him in May, 1989, to serve as the bishop of Šabac and Valjevo. He was transferred, and enthroned in Šabac on 23 July, 1989. In this position, he succeeded Bishop Jovan (Velimirović). He continued the activity initiated by Bishop Jovan in the missionary publishing house "Voice of the Church" of the Diocese of Šabac and Valjevo. This establishment printed a large number of books, and established both an Orthodox radio and an Orthodox TV station.

Vladika Lavrentije devoted much attention to the reconstruction of old Temples and the building of new Temples. One of the new Temples was Holy Resurrection Church in Valjevo. Its construction began in 1992, and when the Diocese of Valjevo was restored in 2006, it became the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection in Valjevo.

Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Valjevo

Establishment of the Saint Nicholas of Serbia Monastery, Soko City, 1994

In 1994, Bishop Lavrentije blessed and supervised the establishment, construction and development of the new Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Serbia (named for the Holy Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović)) at Soko City ("Soko Grad"), situated on a plateau at the foot of Mount Soko. Constructed in the late Moravian style, the Temple of Saint Nicholas is accompanied by other facilities. There are monastic quarters, a guest-house, a spacious dining-room, and a workshop for monastic activities. "Dom patrijarha Pavla" (the Patriarch Pavle Building) is equipped with accommodation facilities, modern library materials and has a large multimedia hall for seminars and lectures. There is also a museum dedicated to Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović).

Monastery of Saint Nikolaj of Serbia, Soko Grad, Serbia

His efforts had led to the transfer of the relics of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) from the USA to Serbia on 12 May, 1991, to the Lelić Monastery. He helped around the monastery, and he joined the army that made the journey to the monastery in 2001.

Other archpastoral activities

Bishop Lavrentije was the editor of the newspaper "Orthodox Missionary" (1998), and he wrote several articles of religious and educational content for this publication.

Radio is a vehicle for the rapprochement of children from the “diaspora” with children in Serbia, within the "Moba" which has been held every year since 2001.

Vladika Lavrentije was assigned to serve as a member of the Holy Synod from 2002 to 2004.

Vladika Lavrentije spoke English, German and Russian besides Serbian.

As a representative and deputy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Vladika Lavrentije participated in many oecumenical meetings. He gave lectures and presented papers at many meetings.

Bishop of Šabac, 2006

In response to the proposal of Bishop Lavrentije, the Holy Assembly of Bishops (Sabor), at its regular session in May, 2006, divided the large Diocese of Šabac and Valjevo into 2 dioceses : the Diocese of Šabac, which is based in Šabac, and the Diocese of Valjevo, which is based in Valjevo. Since then, Vladika Lavrentije has been Bishop of Sabac. In Valjevo, the Assembly of Bishops assigned Bishop Milutin (Knežević) (who until then had been the bishop of Australia and New Zealand) to be Bishop of Valjevo.

The creation of the Diocese of Valjevo as a distinct diocese (after 300 years of having being suppressed) came about through the work of Bishop Lavrentije, and there was soon great gratitude expressed to him because of this significant act.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Šabac

In January, 2011, Bishop Lavrentije in Loznica gave his consent to become an “organ donor” ; that is, he pledged to donate his organs after his death for transplanting into needy patients.

 As part of the Loznica Health Center 'Dr. Milenko Marin' and the eparchy of Šabac, the Bishop 
 of Šabac Lavrentije, as the first dignitary of the Serbian Orthodox Church to do so, donated 
 his organs for cadaveric transplants in Loznica.  After signing the agreement giving the 
 legacy authority, Bishop Laurence told 'Tanjug' that he sees that medical advances allow for 
 organ transplants, and one who does not and cannot do anything else to help their loved ones, 
 can do this.

In 2012, he collected medical help in Europe (where he had previously served as a bishop) in the form of beds and dialysis machines for the Šabac hospital.

In 2016, Bishop Lavrentije received the Order of Saint Arsenije of Srem, which was given by the Diocese of Srem.

In 2017, Bishop Lavrentije received the Order of Saint Sava, first degree.

In July, 2017, he solemnly marked 50 years of hierarchical service.

At that time, he was awarded the Order of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj of the Diocese of Valjevo.

Bishop Milutin awarded Bishop Lavrentije with the Order of Saint Nikolaj

On 20 September, 2019, Bishop Lavrentije was named an honourary citizen of Krupanj (in the Mačva District of Western Serbia).

On 31 March, 2020, Bishop Lavrentije was assigned to serve as administrator of the Diocese of Valjevo (after the repose of Bishop Milutin (Knežević)).

On 27 June, 2021, the Feast of All Saints, the newly-elected Bishop Hesychius (Rogić) (Serbian spelling : Isihije (Rogić)) was enthroned in Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Valjevo.

On 30 June, 2021, Bishop Lavrentije returned to make a formal fraternal visit to Bishop Isihije (Hesychius) (Rogić), the new Bishop of Valjevo. On this occasion, Bishop Lavrentije congratulated Bishop Isihije on his enthronement in the Diocese of Valjevo, and expressed his hope that the new bishop would, with God's help, lead the spiritual flock entrusted to him successfully in the days and years to come.

Bishops Hesychius and Lavrentije in Valjevo

Repose, 2022

On 23 January, 2022, Bishop Lavrentie fell asleep in the Lord in Šabac.

On 26 January, 2022, the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were offered for the newly-departed Bishop Lavrentije in Šabac.

After the conclusion of the funeral services, the body of Bishop Lavrentije was interred in front of the Temple in the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Serbia in Soko Grad near Ljubovije, which was in accordance with his will.

— Bishop of Moravica 1967-1969. Preceded by : Bishop Sava (Vuković). Succeeded by : Bishop Irinej (Milutinović).

— Vicar-Bishop to the patriarch 1967-1969.

— Bishop of Western Europe and Australia 1969-1973. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___. Bishop Nikolaj (Mrđa).

— Bishop of Western Europe 1973-1989. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : Bishop Damaskin (Davidović).

— Bishop of Šabac and Valjevo 1989-2006. Preceded by : Bishop Jovan (Velimirović). Succeeded in Valjevo (2006) by : Bishop Milutin (Knežević).

— Bishop of Šabac 2006-2022. Preceded by : See created. Succeeded by : ___.

— Member of the Holy Synod 2002-2004.

Reflections

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the ordination to the Holy Episcopate, there was a celebration in the Diocese of Valjevo.

On this occasion, Bishop Milutin (Knezević) decorated Bishop Lavrentije with the award of the Order of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj for half a century of dedicated archpastoral work in the field of the Lord of the Serbian Orthodox Church and for his immeasurable contribution to spreading the work and teachings of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj. The gathering ended with agapes in the Diocesan House. Included in the ceremony were members of the Government of Serbia's Directorate for Co-operation with Churches and Religious Communities, Dr. Mileta Radojević, drama artist Rados Bajić, businessman and great benefactor Vidoje Vujić, as well as many beloved guests and friends of the Diocese of Valjevo.

In his homily, Bishop Milutin said :

 Bishop Lavrentije collected the most precious pearls in Western Europe and with those precious 
 pearls, which cannot be bought in any store, Bishop Lavrentije decorated the Serbian people and 
 the Serbian Church. Those pearls, that priceless treasure, were the records, letters, booklets 
 and sermons of Saint Bishop Nikolaj.  No one could do that before.  Our dear Bishop Lavrentije 
 collected all this, tirelessly arranging, preparing and printing the works of Bishop Nikolaj 
 in Western Europe day and night, when the word of Bishop Nikolaj was banned in Serbia due to 
 communist terror. [...] Bishop Lavrentije created an immortal work in Europe.

Archpriest-stavrophore Ljubisav Adzic of Valjevo spoke about Vladkia Lavrentije at the celebratory dinner :

 He encouraged us with his gentle word and taught us not to be afraid of anything : to pray to God ; 
 we believe that everything will be fine.  When he saw one of the students sad, he would come 
 to comfort him.  Even today, as a relic, I keep the Christmas card he sent me in 1961. [...] It stayed 
 with the book for a whole century.  By teaching himself, he taught others as well.  If Bishop Nikolaj 
 deserves gratitude for everything he wrote for the Serbian people, Bishop Lavrentije deserves the same 
 because he collected and preserved it for future generations. [...]

He also recalled the valuable contribution of Bishop Lavrentije to the transfer of the relics of Saint Bishop Nikolaj, his canonisation, as well as the construction and renovation of shrines, the return of religious education to schools and many other God-pleasing endeavours.

At the end of the meeting, another unforgettable moment followed. Namely, Bishop Lavrentije saw a typewriter that belonged to Bishop Nikolaj in the salon of the Bishop's House. Seeing the enthusiasm on his face, Bishop Milutin gave it to him at the same time, happy that he could thank him with that gesture for everything we have from Bishop Nikolaj today, which would not have happened without the extraordinary work and sacrifice of Bishop Lavrentije.

On 23 January, 2022, Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) fell asleep in the Lord. At the time of the repose, Patriarch Porfirije (Perić) emphasised that Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) was part of the constellation of Serbian bishops who "preserved the vineyard of God" during the time of Patriarch German (Đorić).

"The bishop passed away in peace and silence, surrounded by priests and prayer, just as he lived", the priest of the Diocese of Sabac, Mirko Vilotić, told "Tanjug" Serbian News Agency.

Memorial Service on the 40th day after repose, 2022

On 3 March, 2022 (the Feast-day of Saint Leo, Bishop of Rome), with the blessing of Bishop Fotije (Sladojević) of Zvornik-Tuzla and administrator of the Diocese of Šabac, Metropolitan Joanikije (Mićović) of Montenegro and the Littoral officiated at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Ohrid at Soko Grad in Sokobanja. He was assisted by Bishop Teodosije (Šibalić) of Raska-Prizren, numerous priests, deacons, and Faithful who had gathered in memory of Bishop Lavrentije of blessed memory. Bishop Isihije (Rogić) of Valjevo prayerfully attended the eucharistic gathering. Then, following the Divine Liturgy, a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was served at the grave on the 40th day following the repose of Bishop Lavrentije.