ERP KIM Info Service
Gracanica, May 20, 2004

Abbot Teodosije (Sibalic), elder of Visoki Decani Monastery, appointed vicar bishop of Lipljan

Abbot Teodosije, born Zivko Sibalic, was born on June 29, 1963 in Cacak to Milan and Biljana (nee Jovic), now Sister Marta, a nun in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren. Upon completing his elementary and secondary school studies in Gorjani and Uzice, he studied theology at the Theological Faculty in Belgrade, graduating in the year 2000 while at Decani Monastery.

On January 6, 1987 he became a novice in Crna Reka Monastery near Novi Pazar where he began his monastic life under the spiritual guidance of then Abbot Artemije (presently the bishop of Raska and Prizren). In Crna Reka Zivko took his monastic vows on the Feast of Holy Archangels, November 21, 1989, the patron saint's day of the monastery. He received the monastic name of Teodosije (Teodosios) after St. Teodosios the Great, the founder of monastic communal life (cenobitism).

He was ordained hierodeacon by then Bishop Pavle of Raska and Prizren (presently the Serbian Patriarch) on the first Wednesday after Holy Pascha (Bright Wednesday) in 1990 in St. George Cathedral in Prizren. Bishop Artemije ordained him as hieromonk in the monastery of Chelije near Valjevo on the first Sunday after the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord (Sretenje) in 1992.

From May 1991 to March 1992 Father Teodosije served in the Bishop's residence in Prizren as deacon and Bishop Artemije's personal chauffer. In March 1992 he joined Visoki Decani Monastery with several other monks from Crna Reka, where he was appointed by Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren as the monastery elder and decorated on October 22, 1992 with the rank of abbot.

Under the spiritual guidance of Bishop Artemije and Father Teodosije as the abbot, Visoki Decani Monastery has grown into the largest male monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church, numbering 30 monks and novices today. Since the renewal of Decani cenobitism in 1992, the monastery has developed several activities, including engraving, icon painting, candle making, publishing, etc. In its vineyards in Velika Hoca near Orahovac, the monastery also produces traditional Decani wine and grape brandy (rakija). During the war and post-war years in Kosovo and Metohija, Abbot Teodosije and his brethren have been and remain active in organizing humanitarian aid for the suffering population regardless of religious affiliation or ethnicity

TLipljan. The Old church of the Holy Virgin Mary (Theotokos) and the new church of Holy martyrs Florus and Laurus. Florus and Laurus were martyred in the city of Ulpiana in the 2nd century for their profession of Christian faith. Serbian Orthodox Church kept memory of these martyrs and consecrated their church in the vicinity of their place of martyrdom. The old church dates from the 14th century and was built on the remains of an old Byzantine Orthodox basilica.

Abbot Teodosije will be the bishop of the titular see of Lipljan, ancient Roman-Byzantine city of Ulpiana (also called Justiniana Secunda, near today's Gracanica Monastery). This see was later known as the Diocese of Lipljan and was one of the oldest Orthodox dioceses in this region. As a vicar of Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren, the newly appointed vicar bishop of Lipljan will assist the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, his spiritual father, in church affairs on the territory of Kosovo, Metohija and the district of Raska.

The Information Service of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren will provide further information regarding the date and place of the ordination of the bishop of Lipljan.