Our father among the saints '''Mardarije''' (secular name '''Ivan Uskoković''', ''Иван Ускоковић''; [[December 22]], 1889 - – December 12, 1935; also '''Mardarius''') was the First Serbian [[Bishop ]] of America and Canada. His He was glorified as a saint on [[May 29]], 2015, and his feast day is celebrated on [[December 12]].

Bishop Mardarije was born in Podgorica on December 22, 1889, his to father, Pero, being who was a tribal captain and mother , Jela, nee née Bozovic. He finished elementary school in Cetinje where he started high school, continuing in Belgrade. Leaving high school in his fifth year, he went to [[Studenica Monastery]]. In 1906, with the blessing of Bishop [[Sava (Barać) of Zica]], he took [[monastic ]] vows and was ordained a [[deacon]].

He graduated from the Seminary seminary in Kishenev where a collection of his sermons was published. From here he went to St. Petersburg, graduating from the Theological Academy in 1916.

As a theological student Hieromonk Mardarije, at the behest of the Holy holy prisoners' camps in Siberia, Turkestan , and Bukhara. On this journey he delivered , journeyed to deliver lectures and talked to prisoners of Slav extraction from Austro-Hungary.

In 1917 the Russian Orthodox Church sent Synkell Mardarije to America to organize the Serbian Orthodox Church. Here he served as head of the Serbian Mission, and at the Cleveland Conference of the Russian Metropolitanate he was elected the Serbian Bishop. But Archimandrite Mardarije did not wish to accept episcopal [[consecration ]] without the knowledge and approval of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Homelandhomeland. Instead, he returned to his country and became head of Rakovica Monastery and Rector rector of its Monastic Schoolmonastic school.

Here he remained until early 1923 when he returned to America as Administrator of the American-Canadian Diocese, holding this office until elected the first Serbian Bishop of America and Canada. The election of Archimandrite Mardarije as Bishop of America and Canada occurred when he was in fairly poor health, so that he could not travel to Belgrade.

The election of Archimandrite Mardarije as was consecrated Bishop in the Orthodox Cathedral in Belgrade on [[April 25]], 1926, by [[Patriarch]] [[Dimitrije (Pavlovic) of Serbia|Dimitrije]] and the Bishop Danilo of America Dalmatia and Istria and Canada occurred when he Bishop [[Seraphim (Jovanović) of Raška and Prizren|Serafim of Zletovo and Strumica]]. Also present at the consecration and Liturgy was Gordon Paddock, Chargé d'Affaires at the American Embassy in fairly poor health, so that he could not travel to Belgrade.

Archimandrite Bishop Mardarije was consecrated Bishop arrived in the Orthodox Cathedral his Diocese in Belgrade New York on April 25[[July 1]]/14, 1926 by notifying Patriarch Dimitrije and the Bishop Danilo of Dalmatia this by telegram, and Istria and Bishop Serafim of Zletovo and Strumica. Also present at sent his first Report to the Consecration and Liturgy was Gordon Paddockpatriarch in early September, Charge d'Affaires at the American Embassy in Belgrade1926.

In his first hierarchic message to the clergy and people, Bishop Mardarije arrived in his Diocese in New York on July l/14acknowledged all, including the deceased, notifying Patriarch Dimitrije "who had worked for the welfare of this by telegram, and sent his first Report to the patriarch Serbian Church in early September, 1926America."

In his A wide range of activities awaited the first hierarchic message to the clergy Serbian bishop in America and people Canada. Bishop Mardarije acknowledged alldid not spare himself nor did he fear work, including though he knew he was gravely ill. Bishop Mardarije convened the first National Church Assembly of the deceasedSerbian Orthodox American-Canadian Diocese with his Fourth Archpastoral Message for [[September 1]], 1927, at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, "who had worked for on the welfare basis of the Serbian Church Resolution adopted at the National Assembly in AmericaChicago on [[May 29]], 1927."

A wide range of activities awaited the first Serbian bishop in America and Canada. Bishop Mardarije did not spare himself nor did he fear workdied on December 12, 1935, though he knew he and was gravely ill. Bishop Mardarije convened the first National Church Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox American-Canadian Diocese with his Fourth Archpastoral Message for September lburied on [[December 18]], 192 7 1935 at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, on which, together with the basis of the Resolution adopted Serbian people, he had built at the National Assembly in Chicago on May 29, 1927great sacrifice and superhuman effort.

* ''Bishop Sava of Sumadija, History of the Serbian Orthodoc Orthodox Church in America and Canada: 1891-1941'', Kragujevac 1998.

* [http://www.eserbia.org/people/prosopography/281-bishop-mardarije-uskokovicBishop Mardarije (Uskokovic)]