The consecration of Archimandrite Serafim as the Bishop of Kostajnica, Vicar of the Metropolitan of Midwestern America
The consecration of the elected Bishop of Kostajnica Serafim will take place on Sunday, 13 October 2024, starting at 9 a.m. in the Church of Saint Sava on Vračar, during the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy, which will be officiated by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije, together with other Hierarchs and clergy.
The day before, on Saturday, 12 October 2024, starting at 6 p.m., the act of the appointment of the elected Bishop will be performed in the Cathedral Church of Saint Archangel Michael in Belgrade.
Biography of the elected Bishop of Kostajnica Serafim
Archimandrite Serafim (Baltić) was born on 7 May 1978 in Zagreb, to father Veljko and mother Radojka. He was given the name Bojan at his baptism. The Baltić family originates from Banija. He completed elementary school and three years of secondary electro-technical school in his hometown. Due to the war in August 1995, he moved to the United States, to Florida, where he finished high school and obtained a degree in Information Technology. During his education, he met Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, who was sent to America by God, and his monks and nuns. The contact with the Athonite monks, participation in their divine services, and spiritual advice and confessions shaped the course of his future life.
After completing his undergraduate studies, he visited several Orthodox monasteries throughout America, Serbia, and Greece. In the late 1990s, he met Bishop Longin (Krčo) during his pastoral visits to parishes in Florida. With his blessing, he entered the New Gračanica Monastery in 2003. That same year, he enrolled in the Holy Trinity Seminary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Jordanville, graduating in 2008 with honors, magna cum laude.
During his studies, on Holy Thursday in 2006, he was tonsured a monk at the New Gračanica Monastery. He was ordained to the rank of Hierodeacon the same year, on the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah. After completing his theological studies, on the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos in 2008, Bishop Longin ordained him to the rank of Hieromonk. During his service in the monastery, he translated works by Saint Nikolaj Velimirović into English. To better acquaint himself with the monastic typikon of Mount Athos, he went to the Holy Monastery of Hilandar, where he spent six months in 2010.
Upon returning to America, he took on various pastoral duties, including working with children and youth in diocesan summer camps and youth councils. At the Saint Sava Theological Seminary in Libertyville, he served as a steward while also managing the missionary parish of Saint Petka in Nashville. Since 2015, he has served as the secretary of the Diocese of New Gračanica–Midwestern America. That same year, he obtained MBA degree – Master of Business Administration. In late 2020, Bishop Longin sent him to Serbia, where he spent six months in the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Kovilj. From 2021 until August 2024, he served at the Cathedral Church of Saint Sava in Milwaukee.
At the regular meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, held from 14 to 18 May 2024 in Belgrade, the highly-dignified Archimandrite Serafim was elected as the Vicar of the Metropolitan of Midwestern America with the title of Bishop of Kostajnica.
The day before, on Saturday, 12 October 2024, starting at 6 p.m., the act of the appointment of the elected Bishop will be performed in the Cathedral Church of Saint Archangel Michael in Belgrade.
Biography of the elected Bishop of Kostajnica Serafim
Archimandrite Serafim (Baltić) was born on 7 May 1978 in Zagreb, to father Veljko and mother Radojka. He was given the name Bojan at his baptism. The Baltić family originates from Banija. He completed elementary school and three years of secondary electro-technical school in his hometown. Due to the war in August 1995, he moved to the United States, to Florida, where he finished high school and obtained a degree in Information Technology. During his education, he met Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, who was sent to America by God, and his monks and nuns. The contact with the Athonite monks, participation in their divine services, and spiritual advice and confessions shaped the course of his future life.
After completing his undergraduate studies, he visited several Orthodox monasteries throughout America, Serbia, and Greece. In the late 1990s, he met Bishop Longin (Krčo) during his pastoral visits to parishes in Florida. With his blessing, he entered the New Gračanica Monastery in 2003. That same year, he enrolled in the Holy Trinity Seminary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Jordanville, graduating in 2008 with honors, magna cum laude.
During his studies, on Holy Thursday in 2006, he was tonsured a monk at the New Gračanica Monastery. He was ordained to the rank of Hierodeacon the same year, on the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah. After completing his theological studies, on the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos in 2008, Bishop Longin ordained him to the rank of Hieromonk. During his service in the monastery, he translated works by Saint Nikolaj Velimirović into English. To better acquaint himself with the monastic typikon of Mount Athos, he went to the Holy Monastery of Hilandar, where he spent six months in 2010.
Upon returning to America, he took on various pastoral duties, including working with children and youth in diocesan summer camps and youth councils. At the Saint Sava Theological Seminary in Libertyville, he served as a steward while also managing the missionary parish of Saint Petka in Nashville. Since 2015, he has served as the secretary of the Diocese of New Gračanica–Midwestern America. That same year, he obtained MBA degree – Master of Business Administration. In late 2020, Bishop Longin sent him to Serbia, where he spent six months in the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Kovilj. From 2021 until August 2024, he served at the Cathedral Church of Saint Sava in Milwaukee.
At the regular meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, held from 14 to 18 May 2024 in Belgrade, the highly-dignified Archimandrite Serafim was elected as the Vicar of the Metropolitan of Midwestern America with the title of Bishop of Kostajnica.
