Križevci, (IKA) – On Saturday, July 4, Nikola Nino Kekić, the newly appointed bishop of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Križevci, was ordained in the Greek Catholic cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Križevci. The consecrator was Msgr. Slavomir Miklovš, the apostolic administrator of the Eparchy of Križevci. The co-consecrators were the archbishop and metropolitan of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari, who read the bull of appointment at the beginning of the ceremony.
In the homily, Cardinal Bozanić noted that this episcopal ordination conducted according to the Byzantine-Slavic Rite in the Greek Catholic cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Križevci has historical significance. According to the chronicles, all the bishops of Kreževci have been installed outside their episcopal see. He also called attention to the significance of this Byzantine-Slavic ceremony of episcopal ordination, which consists of three parts: the announcement of the appointment, profession of faith and consecration.
Addressing Bishop Kekić, Cardinal Bozanić noted that the motto he has chosen, “God is Love,” expresses the Christian image of God in a concise and very clear manner. Since God first loved us, Christian love is not a commandment but rather a response to the gift of love. The cardinal urged Bishop Kekić as a good shepherd to assemble his scattered and small flock of Greek Catholic Croats, Rusyns and Ukrainians in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia, to strengthen them in Catholic faith and encourage them, although they are small in number, to be proud of their Church heritage.
Cardinal Bozanić urged the new bishop of Križevci to safeguard and build the community of presbyters, religious and Christ’s lay faithful throughout the entire eparchy,
Bishop Kekić thanked everyone who has accompanied him thus far on his path of life. He thanked Pope Benedict XVI who appointed him as the thirteenth bishop of Križevci, and the twenty-ninth in the series of bishops of Marča-Križevci, as well as the co-consecrators. On his own behalf as well as on behalf of the priests and faithful of the Eparchy of Križevci, he particularly thanked Msgr. Slavomir Miklovš, who had led the diocese for 26 years, including the war years. Bishop Kekić greeted the assembled clergy with special joy. He urged the faithful to pray fervently for the clergy that they may rise above mediocrity, to be holy bishops and holy priests. He suggested that Croatian families should spend more time together. Let us find time for each other, despite the devastating tempo of life that tramples every person and his dignity, said the bishop.
The participants in the liturgy included the Croatian archbishops and bishops, led by the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, bishops of neighboring countries and numerous priests of the Eastern and Western Rites. Also attending were representatives of other Christian Churches in Croatia, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Marinko Juretić on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church; the Rev. Kirko Velinski representing the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Rev. Emil Angelov representing the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and Vicar Branko Berić on behalf of the Evangelical Church. The ordination was attended by many of the faithful, some of whom wore folk costumes from Žumberak, the birthplace of the new bishop.
The liturgical singing was led by the Cyril-Methodius Choir of Zagreb, the Cathedral Choir of Križevci and the Most Holy Virgin Choir of Samobor.
The Diocese of Križevci encompasses the Greek Catholics in the entire territory of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Greek Catholic Church or the Church of the Eastern Slavic Rite is a Church sui juris employing the Byzantine Rite and the Greek, Old Slavic or vernacular language during worship. It is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and recognizes the Pope as the Supreme Pontiff. The Greek Catholic Church in Croatia was organized by Christians of the Greek-Slavic Rite who left their villages in Dalmatia, Bosnia and Slavonia during the 16th and 17th centuries in order to flee the Turks and resettle in the free parts of the Croatian Military Frontier. The center of Greek Catholic Church life was Marča as the first diocesan see in 1511 after entering into union with Rome. In 1777, the Diocese of Križevci was established for the faithful of the Eastern Rite. The residence and cathedral of the Greek Catholic bishops are located in Križevci. The Diocese of Križevci was initially within Esztergom and subsequently made part of the Zagreb Metropolis when it was established in 1852. Since 1996, the diocesan see has been in Zagreb, where the Greek Catholic seminary built in the second half of the 17th century and the co-cathedral of SS. Cyril and Methodius are also located.