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{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
The '''Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA North and CanadaSouth America''' consists of four five [[diocese]]s of the [[Church of Serbia]] (Serbian Patriarchate) that are governed by the [[Bishop]] of America and Canada Longin (New Gracanica Metropolitanate). The four five dioceses of the [[Church]] in North America the Americas are : the Dioceses of Eastern America (Bp. [[Mitrophan(Kodic) of Eastern America|Mitrophan]]), New Gracanica and Midwestern America (MetrBp. [[Christopher Mitrophan (KovacevichKodic) of Midwestern Eastern America|ChristopherMitrophan (Kodic)]]), and Western America (Bp. [[Maxim (Vasilijevic) of Western America|Maxim]]) in the United States and , the Diocese of Canada (Bp. [[Georgije (Djokic) of Canada|Georgije]] ), and the Diocese of Buenos Aires (Metr. Amphilohije - Administrator).
==History==
With the disintegration of the American diocese following the Bolshevik coup in 1917 the diocese was unable to consecrate Archimandrite Mardarije (Uskokovic) as bishop for the Serbian parishes, in 1919, and the mission diocese requested his consecration by the new Serbian Patriarch Dimitriye. But, Pat. Dimitriye made Mardary head of the Rakovitsa Monastery instead. The American Serbians then asked the Patriarch to sent Bp. Nicolai (Velimirovich), which he did, with Archimandrite Mardary as his deputy. Serving as a parish priest in Chicago, Fr. Mardary did much of the organizational work for the diocese, including purchasing with his own funds the St Sava Monastery site in Libertyville, Illinois.
Archimandrite Mardary was called back to Belgrade and consecrated by the Serbian Patriarch Dimitriye in April 1926 as head of the ''Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of America and Canada'', After his consecration, Bp. Mardary returned to the United States on [[May 8]], 1927. He convened the first Church Assembly in Chicago [[May 29]]-30, 1927. Against various problems Bp. Mardary continued organizing the diocese, although an advancing case of tuberculosis began to take its toll, resulting in his death on [[December 12]], 1935 at the age of 46. In 1940, Bishop [[Dionisije (Milivojevich) of United States and Canada|Dionisije]] was assigned to the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of America and Canada in the United States with Hieromonk [[Fermilian (Ocokoljich) of Midwestern America|Firmilian ]] as his assistant.
When World War II enveloped the Serbian Patriarchate in 1941 with disruptions of peaceful life, first by the Nazis and then by the Communists, disorder came to the American diocese. Yet the need was evident that the size of the north North American diocese prevented the ruling bishop from having close association with the far flung parishes. In 1963, The Holy Assembly of Bishops, at the request of the diocesan bishop, Bp. Dionisije, created three new dioceses and elected bishops to rule the diocese. However, this action also resulted in the [[deposition]] of Bp. Dionisije and a split among the Serbian Orthodox in America and litigation. Eventually, the reorganization was accomplished.
Through the years since 1963 a succession of bishops have served the dioceses. Today (20092012) the ruling bishops of the four five dioceses are:** Eastern American Diocese America - Bp. [[Mitrophan (Kodic) of Eastern America|Mitrophan (Kodic)]]** New Gracanica and Midwestern American Diocese America - Bp. [[Longin (Krco) of America and Canada|Longin (Krčo)]]** Western Diocese America - Bp. Dr. [[Maxim (Vasilijevic)of Western America|Maxim (Vasilijevic)]]** Canadian Diocese - Bp. [[Georgije (Djokic) of Canada|Georgije (Djokic)]]** Metropolitanate of Libertyville-ChicagoBuenos Aires - Metr. ChristopherAmphilohije - Temporary Administrator
A [[seminary]], the [[St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Seminary (Libertyville, Illinois)|St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology]] is located at the [[St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery (Libertyville, Illinois)|St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery]] in Libertyville, Illinois.
The Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of Church in North and South America and Canada is a member of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas ([[SCOBA]]), represented by Metr. Christopher.
==Reference==
*Constance J. Tarasar, ''Orthodox America 1794-1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America'', Syosett, New York, The Orthodox Church in America, 1975
*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/stnikolai.aspx Life of St. Nikolai Velimirovich]
==SourceSources==*[http://www.serborth.org/ The Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America] Official website
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/serbia/bios/fermilian_25th_anniversary.htm His Grace the Right Reverend †Fermilian]
==External links==
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/church_history/serbian_america_history.htm "The Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America and Canada: 25 Years of Maturing"] by Fr. Rade Merick (Orthodox Research Institute)
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/church_history/serbian_eastern_american_diocese.htm "The Eastern American and Canadian Diocese through a Quarter Century"] by Fr. Rade Merick (Orthodox Research Institute)
