Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Leads Jajinci Memorial in Belgrade

Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic) of Pech led a memorial today at Jajinci in Belgrade for the victims of the mass executions in Serbia during World War II that resulted in the deaths of 80,000 Serbs, Roma, and Jews. The commemorative events were attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, other prominent Serbian officials, and veterans and survivors of the Holocaust in Serbia. More (in Serbian) here.

Patriarch Philaret Leads Babyn Yar Memorial

Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church has led a memorial commemorating the victims of the Nazi mass executions at Babyn Yar. The memorial was organized at Babyn Yar for the 70th anniversary of the executions this past Wednesday. After the memorial Patriarch Philaret called for the establishment of a chapel on the site of a memorial to Ukrainian nationalists killed by the Nazis. More (in Ukrainian) here.

The Soviet and Holocaust memorials at Babyn Yar are truly haunting. The district was farmland at the time of the Nazis' massacres and it's said that after the war had ended Kiev's residents refused to buy produce from its fields out of respect for the tens of thousands murdered and buried there.

Emigre Metropolitan Reburied in Latvia

Metropolitan Alexander (Kudryashov) of the Orthodox Church in Latvia served the reburial of his predecessor Metropolitan Augustine (Petersons) of Riga. Metropolitan Augustine, a native Latvian, served as First Hierarch of the Latvian Orthodox Church until the occupation of Latvia by the USSR during World War II, after which he took refuge in Germany, where he reposed in 1955.

Although buried in Germany following his repose, Metropolitan Augustine left instructions in his will that he be reburied in Latvia after it regained its independence. More (in Russian) here.

Ustashe Victims Commemorated in Jadovno

Bishop Gerasim (Popovic) of Gornyo-Karlovac earlier today celebrated the Divine Liturgy and a memorial on the site of the Jadovno concentration camp in western Croatia, where during World War II the Croatian Ustashe killed roughly 38,000 Serbs and 2,000 Jews. The services were attended by pilgrims from throughout Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia, many of whom had relatives who died in the Jadovno camp. More (in Serbian) here.

Patriarch Cyril Commemorates WWII Dead

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's entrance into World War II (due to its invasion by the Nazis) Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow has served a memorial in Moscow's historic Transfiguration Cemetery for the many Soviet soldiers who died during the conflict with the Axis powers. More (in Russian) here.

"Shades of Grey: The Record of Archbishop Stepinac"

An excellent survey on why many have reservations over the veneration of Roman Catholic Archbishop Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac of Zagreb can be found here. Yes, the biases and past political associations of the author, Srdja Trifkovic, are well known. They do not, however, change Cardinal Stepinac's words or actions, and the article is therefore worth a read.

Kuban Cossacks in USA Commemorate World War II Massacre

This past Sunday the Lienz Tragedy, when 20,000 Kuban Cossacks were rounded up and handed over to the Soviet Union for execution following World War II, was commemorated by Russian Orthodox clergy and Kuban Cossacks visiting the Russian cemetery in Jackson, New Jersey, with a memorial. The ataman of the Kuban Cossacks living abroad was in attendance and spoke about the massacre following the memorial. More here.

St. Platon of Banja Luka

Christ is risen! Joyous feast! St. Platon was a clergyman and hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church who served in both pre-WWI Serbia and royal Yugoslavia, eventually being elected Bishop of Banja Luka in Bosnia.

When what today is Bosnia-Herzegovina was occupied by Ustashe Croatia during World War II St. Platon was ordered to leave his diocese. He refused, however, saying that he had bound himself "to take care of [his] spiritual flock permanently and firmly, regardless of any events." The day following St. Platon's reply he was arrested by the Ustashe, taken out of the city, tortured, and martyred, with his relics eventually being recovered from the Vrbanja River and being enshrined in Banja Luka's cathedral.

The Serbian Orthodox Church formally glorified St. Platon as a new hieromartyr in 1998. More on his life can be found here. May his blessing and prayers be with us all!

Possible Site of Dragoljub Mihailovic's Grave Found

Serbian officials say that they may have located the grave of Dragoljub Mihailovic, the leader of Yugoslav royalist resistance to the Nazis during World War II and the Yugoslav Communists in the aftermath of the war. More here.

Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau on the Roma

During the celebrations in Moldova last week marking the International Day of the Roma the Moldovan Orthodox Church's Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau sent a message noting the great suffering the Roma underwent during World War II and saying in part that, "Every small nation, every ethnicity has the right to exist and peaceful existence because 'there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free...'" During the celebrations the leader of Moldova's Roma, Arthur, was awarded the Order of St. Paisius (Velichkovskiy) of Neamts. More here.

Latvians Honor Pro-Nazi Soldiers in Riga

Hundreds of pro-Nazi marchers met in Riga, Latvia, today to honor World War II veterans who fought with Nazi Germany in the Waffen SS. The previously banned demonstration took place thanks to a ruling from a Latvian court. During the march others gathered to support Latvia's opposition to Fascism during World War II. More here.

Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland

On this Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland, originally a Soviet holiday to commemorate the soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War/World War II, commemorative services and events have taken place throughout the former USSR and at monuments to the Great Patriotic War abroad. More here (for Russia), here (for Ukraine), here (for Belarus), here (for Armenia), and here (for Bulgaria).