Milutin Knežević facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Grace Milutin (Knežević)
Bishop Milutin in 2012
Born	Mihailo Knežević (1949-01-10)10 January 1949 Mijači, Valjevo, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia
Died	30 March 2020(2020-03-30) (aged 71) Belgrade, Serbia
Nationality	Serbian
Title	Bishop (Serbian Orthodox Church)

Milutin Knežević (born Mihailo Knežević; January 10, 1949 – March 30, 2020) was an important leader in the Serbian Orthodox Church. He served as a bishop in two different regions. From 2003 to 2006, he was the Bishop of Australia and New Zealand. Later, from 2006 until his death in 2020, he was the Bishop of Valjevo in Serbia. He passed away on March 30, 2020, due to health problems related to COVID-19.

Early Life and Becoming a Monk

Milutin Knežević was born Mihailo Knežević on January 10, 1949. His birthplace was Mijači, a village near Valjevo in Serbia. He grew up in a family that followed the Serbian Orthodox faith. He was baptized at the famous Pustinja Monastery.

In 1963, when he was 14 years old, he finished elementary school. After that, he went to the Kaona Monastery. On October 26, 1963, he became a monk at the Petkovica Monastery. Bishop Jovan Velimirović gave him the monastic name Milutin. This name honored the medieval Serbian king, Stefan Uroš II Milutin.

The very next day, he became a hierodeacon, which is a type of church official. On November 8 of the same year, he became a hieromonk in Osečina, near Valjevo. A hieromonk is a monk who is also a priest.

Education and Return to Monastic Life

In 1967, Milutin began attending a special monastic secondary school. This school was located at the Ostrog Monastery. After finishing his studies there, he returned to the Kaona Monastery. He became the head of the monastery and its priest.

He continued his education at the Theological School of St. Sava in Belgrade. He also studied for a year at the Belgrade Theological Faculty. Later, he moved to the United States to continue his studies. He attended the Theological Faculty of St. Sava in Libertyville, Illinois. He graduated with excellent grades from this school.

For six months, he worked as the secretary for the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada. He also served as a parish priest for six months in Niagara Falls, Canada.

After his time abroad, he returned to Serbia. He rejoined his beloved Kaona Monastery. He worked hard to help the monastery grow and become an important spiritual center. Over the years, he received higher ranks within the church. In 1981, he became a synkellos, and in 1987, a protosyncellus. In 1994, he was promoted to hegumen, and in 1998, to archimandrite. These are all steps in a monk's journey to higher leadership.

Becoming a Bishop

In the middle of 2003, the Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church chose him. They elected him to be the Bishop of Australia and New Zealand. On July 20, 2003, a special ceremony took place. It was held at St. Michael's Cathedral, Belgrade. Many important church leaders were there, including Patriarch Pavle of Serbia. They officially made him a bishop.

He was formally welcomed into his new role on December 30, 2003. This ceremony happened at St. Sava Monastery in Canberra, Australia. His predecessor, Nikanor Bogunović, led the ceremony.

On May 27, 2006, Bishop Milutin received a new assignment. He was appointed to lead the restored Diocese of Valjevo. His official welcome to this new role took place on September 26. The ceremony was held in the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Valjevo.

Later Life and Passing

Bishop Milutin served the Eparchy of Valjevo until his death. He passed away on March 30, 2020. He was at the University Hospital Center Dr Dragiša Mišović in Belgrade. His death was due to health problems from the COVID-19 infection. He was the first Eastern Orthodox bishop to die from COVID-19.

See also

In Spanish: Milutin Knežević para niños