Christopher Kovacevich
Encyclopedia
Christopher (December 25, 1928 – August 18, 2010) was metropolitan bishop
of Libertyville and Chicago in the Serbian Orthodox Church
(Serbian: Митрополит Либертивилско-чикашки Христофор; secular name Velimir Kovacevich). As such, he was Primate
of Serbian Orthodox Christians in America. He was also the first American-born bishop to serve a diocese of the Serbian Church in North America.
in the family of Serbian immigrants (he was the ninth of twelve children). His baptismal and secular name was Velimir Kovacevich.
After graduation from high school he attended Nashotah House
, an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church
located in Nashotah, Wisconsin
and subsequently studied and graduated from St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Seminary in Libertyville, Illinois
. He earned a B.A. (Philosophy) and a Master of Letters (History) at the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts. He also completed courses and examinations for a doctorate at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Later in life Metropolitan Christopher was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, by Nashotah House.
he married the late Milka Kovacevich and afterward was ordained
to the diaconate and priesthood in 1951. During his parochial ministry he served Serbian Orthodox parishes in Johnstown, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. While ministering to parishes in the Pennsylvania and Chicago areas, he served as chaplain
at four local universities.
Becoming a widower in 1970, he was elevated to the episcopate (i.e. he became a bishop) by the Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade
in 1978 and tonsured with the monastic name of Christopher, becoming the first American-born bishop to serve a diocese of the Serbian Church in North America (he was consecrated bishop of the Eastern American diocese, serving in that capacity from 1978 until 1991). Upon the 70th anniversary of the Midwestern Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States in 1991, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan, making him the first metropolitan of the newly formed Metropolitanate of Midwestern America, thereby becoming the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox in America. In 2009, during the restructuring of the dioceses in the United States and Canada, the Metropolitanate of Midwestern America became the Metropolitanate of Libertyville-Chicago. In May 2010 he served as secretary of the North American Episcopal Assembly of the Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Christopher also frequently returned to the city of his birth to preside at weddings and baptisms at Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church
.
, from complications from bone, brain and stomach cancer.
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Libertyville and Chicago in the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
(Serbian: Митрополит Либертивилско-чикашки Христофор; secular name Velimir Kovacevich). As such, he was Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of Serbian Orthodox Christians in America. He was also the first American-born bishop to serve a diocese of the Serbian Church in North America.
Early life
Metropolitan Christopher (Kovacevich) was born in Galveston, TexasGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
in the family of Serbian immigrants (he was the ninth of twelve children). His baptismal and secular name was Velimir Kovacevich.
After graduation from high school he attended Nashotah House
Nashotah House
Nashotah House is an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. The seminary opened its doors in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847...
, an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
located in Nashotah, Wisconsin
Nashotah, Wisconsin
Nashotah is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,266 at the 2000 census.-Education:Nashotah House, a seminary of The Episcopal Church, is in Nashotah.-Geography:...
and subsequently studied and graduated from St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Seminary in Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
. He earned a B.A. (Philosophy) and a Master of Letters (History) at the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts. He also completed courses and examinations for a doctorate at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Later in life Metropolitan Christopher was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, by Nashotah House.
Priesthood
After graduating from St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox SeminarySt. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Seminary
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology is the professional theological school in the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada. The school is located in Libertyville, Illinois, USA, collocated with the St...
he married the late Milka Kovacevich and afterward was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the diaconate and priesthood in 1951. During his parochial ministry he served Serbian Orthodox parishes in Johnstown, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. While ministering to parishes in the Pennsylvania and Chicago areas, he served as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at four local universities.
Becoming a widower in 1970, he was elevated to the episcopate (i.e. he became a bishop) by the Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
in 1978 and tonsured with the monastic name of Christopher, becoming the first American-born bishop to serve a diocese of the Serbian Church in North America (he was consecrated bishop of the Eastern American diocese, serving in that capacity from 1978 until 1991). Upon the 70th anniversary of the Midwestern Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States in 1991, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan, making him the first metropolitan of the newly formed Metropolitanate of Midwestern America, thereby becoming the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox in America. In 2009, during the restructuring of the dioceses in the United States and Canada, the Metropolitanate of Midwestern America became the Metropolitanate of Libertyville-Chicago. In May 2010 he served as secretary of the North American Episcopal Assembly of the Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Christopher also frequently returned to the city of his birth to preside at weddings and baptisms at Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church
Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church
The Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church is a Serbian Orthodox church located in Galveston, Texas, USA. It is a parish of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanica - Midwestern America.-History:...
.
Death
Metropolitan Christopher died on August 18, 2010 in Libertyville, IllinoisLibertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
, from complications from bone, brain and stomach cancer.
External links
- http://www.midwestmetropolitanate.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26
- http://www.st-george-church.org/English/Metropolitan_Christopher.htm
- http://www.spc.rs/sr/metropolitan_christopher_libertyvillechicago_fell_asleep_lord
- http://www.oca.org/news/2236
- http://www.antiochian.org/node/23537