The celebration of the jubilee of the Venerable Father Justin - 130 years since his birth, 45 years since his presentation to the Lord and 10 years since the transfer of his relics, on the feast of the Annunciation, was rounded off by the Solemn Academy in the Omni Center in Valjevo, with a feast of beautiful words, which were offered by the Patriarch of Serbia in honor of the great God-pleaser Mr. Porfirije, Bishop of Bačka Mr. Irinej and Bishop Valjevski Mr. Hesychius.

The artistic part of the program included the Chamber Choir "Emanuil" with the conductor Vanja Urošević, the Choir "St. John Damaskin" from Novi Sad under the direction of deacon Dr. sermon of the same name, even more relevant today

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be", are the words of the Lord, the fulfillment of which we see today, in which we celebrate the obedience of the Most Holy Mother of God who accepted the will of God and chose her heart for the Kingdom of Heaven. We Serbs were chosen for the Kingdom of God by Saint Sava, Saint Bishop Nikolay, and in recent times no one like Reverend Father Justin Ćelijski. That's why, in his welcoming letter, the Patriarch of Serbia, Mr. Porphyry, today we shout: Blessed are we because of the Annunciation and blessed are we because of the one who gathered us today in the monastery of Ćelije and Valjevo! The Čelija valley is one of the spiritual cradles of our people, along with the Patriarchate of Peć, Studenica, Gračanica, Hilandar... The Čelije Monastery was added to the rosary of our spiritual cradles because in our time it has become a source of good news, a source of the spiritual water of Christ, because it contains father Justin lived and strived, the spiritual parent of the younger generations who lived in his time and of all subsequent generations until our days.

- We Serbs are blessed to have more such gospels, which have preserved us in difficult times of trials and impending doom. It is enough to mention the enlightenment of St. Sava, the catechism of Bishop Nikolaj and the fiery faith of Father Justin, which in the time of the most difficult and darkest periods in which our people lived, like blessed water flowed from the Čelija monastery in streams and watered every inch of our land, our homeland and wherever Serbs live. Wherever that river flowed, it gave and continues to give manifold spiritual fruits. Despite the trials of the dark age in which father Justin lived, but also the trials, doubts, confusions and ultimatums of our time and everything that worries us as a people throughout history, like courage, the joy of the gospel shines unquenchably in a world that lies in evil. Therefore, there is certainly hope for us now and in the future - said Patriarch Porfirije.

The drama artist Nikola Vujović conducted the collection through the life of Reverend Father Justin. Special joy was provided by the story about the cellular divine sage Bishop of Bački Mr. Irinej, one of his most prominent students, near whom many clergymen and archbishops of the Serbian Church have become in our time. - Father Justin shines with the light of the God-man Christ. The Holy Spirit was present and active in him. He is a Christ-bearer, a spirit-bearer and a God-bearer - said Bishop Irinej.

- Ava Justin showed with his whole being that he is a true Christian man - a Holy Man, as Saint Bishop Nikolay used to say. A baptized person is one who reflects Christ in every word and deed, and before that in his inner being. He radiated the beauty of the image of Christ and that is why his word, spoken or written, was the incorruptible seed of the word of Christ. Everyone who was in the Cells can remember his inimitable speeches, how he delivered them burning with his whole being. The image of Christ and the word of Christ acted on Father Justin as a force that magnetizes and disables people for evil. This is how his written word works until now, and it will work in the future as well - it is a part of the great and moving talk of the archbishop of Bač about the spiritual wilderness that he passed by on his first theological and then pastoral journey. Ava Justin is present not only in the Ćelije monastery, not only in Serbia, but all over the world, in all Orthodox countries, and thanks to his spiritual radiation, even some non-Christians have become Orthodox. His prayer help is felt by Serbs, Greeks, and Russians as well... In his person, he achieved "ascetic theology" - he showed that the hermit's ascetic feat and academic theology do not exclude each other, but constitute an experience of the path of salvation - explained Bishop Irinej, pointing out that precisely because of this Father Justin is more important in our days than during his earthly life.

Father Justin's holy work is based on the Gospel and Trinitarian experience of the Church, imbued with love for the God-man Christ and the Church as His body. The theological thought of Abba Justin reached the unspeakable heights of the Trinitarian life expressed in human words by the gift of the Holy Spirit, and at the same time as an experience and sharing of the uncreated energies of the life of the Holy Trinity, the words in honor of father Justin, the Most Reverend Bishop of Valjevski, Mr. Hesychia.

- A deep feeling for sinful and fallen man was born in the personality of Father Justin, a knower of the heart and an infallible interpreter of contemporary civilization and culture. The living word of Abba Justin is the testimony of a transparent priest, a gentle and sensitive prayer leader, a fiery and thunderous witness and teacher, who stands and preaches on the rock of faith of the Old Testament prophets, teachers and fathers of the Church - said Bishop Hesyhije. With the magnificent three jubilee, we witness and call for the return of Father Justin through the effort in contemplation and interpretation of his thoughts and words, said the archbishop of Valjevo, pointing out that we desperately need a road that bears witness to Father Justin's work today and thanking all the participants of the gathering in honor of Father Justin.

In addition to church dignitaries, the ceremonial academy was attended by representatives of the City of Valjevo, the Serbian Army, the Police Department, cultural and educational institutions, and numerous religious people.

Source: Diocese of Valjevska