Saint Joannicius of Montenegro

A life of faith

Joannicius was born Jovan Lipovac in Stoliv in 1890. He served as a parish priest and teacher before becoming a monk and bishop in 1940, then metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral. His wartime meetings with Italian and German officials form part of the disputed historical context preserved in his received life. He left Cetinje with clergy, civilians and retreating Chetnik forces. Captured near the war’s end, he was taken to Serbia and killed near Aranđelovac in 1945. The account preserves differing witness reports, and his exact grave remains unknown.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remembers saints in prayer and commemoration. Their lives offer examples for Christians learning to live their faith.

A reflection

Remembering a violent past calls for care in the present. Listen patiently to people affected by loss without turning grief into hostility.

Read the Orthodox source

Serbian Orthodox Church Typikon 2023, calendar page 9

Orthodox Church in America calendar listing

Feast dates follow the linked source. Local calendars and commemorations may vary. Themes describe a saint’s life; quiz suggestions do not assign a baptismal patron. Discuss choosing a patron saint with your priest.