History of our Church

In 1978, a small group of dedicated, determined, and devout people decided to establish a mission of the Serbian Orthodox Church in South Florida.

After receiving the blessing and permission of the then Bishop, His Grace + Christopher, the mission was formed and the first Board of Trustees was elected: Michael J. Marinčić, president; Branislav Kvajić, co-president; Rudy Matijević, treasurer; Olga Matijević, secretary; Members: Petar Knežević, Andrej Kosović, Stanimir (Stanley) Stojković and Janet Meštrović.

After receiving the blessing and permission of the then Bishop, His Grace + Christopher, the mission was formed and the first Board of Trustees was elected: Michael J. Marinčić, president; Branislav Kvajić, co-president; Rudy Matijević, treasurer; Olga Matijević, secretary; Members: Petar Knežević, Andrej Kosović, Stanimir (Stanley) Stojković and Janet Meštrović.

In the very beginning, services were held in private homes with the first priest, Protopresbyter Petar Milošević. At that time, the president of the church board was Mike Marinčić. In 1979, after extensive research, a small house with suitable property was purchased: The following year, an addition measuring 20′ × 40′ was built. The guarantors for the mortgage on this property were Rudy and Olga Matijević, and the mortgage was paid off in 1986. year.

The next parish priest-missionary (1981-84) was appointed priest, Protopresbyter Nikola Sekulić. At that time, the president of the Church Board was Petar Knežević, followed by: Vaso Marinković, Živomir Obradović, Sam Janković, Tomo Bjelajac and Mirko Stanimirović. At that time, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Christopher, our church changed from a Mission to the parish of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Streaming.

Young priest Petar Petrović came to St. Simeon parish in 1984 from Serbia and lived with his family in the house that served as a church, hall, and priest’s residence. He remained at the parish until 1991 when he left for Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Then on August 1, 1991, year Father Stokan Ćirković (1991-99) came to the parish and spent the next eight years as parish priest.

Branko Franović was elected president of the church board in 1995. Realizing that the building they had been using was small, it was decided to purchase the adjacent lot for the construction of a multipurpose building that would meet the religious and social needs of the growing Serbian community in South Florida. The newly purchased land was cleared, raised and filled with 360 truckloads of river rock and prepared for the construction of the new multipurpose building. Also, during Franović’s presidency, two major and memorable events were held to fund the construction of the new building: the “Second Golf Tournament” of the Serbian National Federation and the “First Serbian Ball” held at the Rusty Pelican restaurant, under the patronage of St. Simeon Church.

In 1999, after Father Stokan suddenly decided to return to the Homeland, Bishop Mitrofan temporarily appointed retired Mitrophoric Protopresbyter-Stavrophore Hadži-Aleksandar Radenković to the parish. Protopresbyter Svetozar Veselinović became priest of St. Simeon in 1999, where he remained until his repose in 2015. year.

During those years, when Ratko Kravljanac was elected president of the Church Board, under his presidency the construction of the multipurpose (church) building began, and in the next four years the shell of the building was completed. In the completed hall, which was designed to have a modern equipped kitchen, small auxiliary rooms for the hall’s needs, an apartment was built where the priest lives with his family, as well as a large stage – which served as an altar.

In 2013, construction of the new temple began on the same property right next to the existing building. With great efforts from parishioners and great physical and financial assistance, construction of the church began. Since the parishioners decided not to take a loan, the church building was built slowly, but therefore without any debt.

In September 2015, Protopresbyter Svetozar reposed, and then the parish remained without a permanent priest with services provided by retired Protopresbyter Lazar Kostur and Fr. Todor Dmitrov, until August 2016, when Protopresbyter-Stavrophore Milan Krstić came from Aliquippa in Pennsylvania as pastor of St. Simeon Church in Miami. Assessing the course of construction, Father Milan suggested that some details on the Altar and other parts of the temple be corrected. The floors and walls of the temple were completed, including air conditioning and electricity. In the meantime, Father Milan prepared a design for the marble floor and ordered two medallions with a Byzantine eagle design, one for the solea in front of the altar, and the other was placed under the dome. Rade Penjević, who devoted himself to the construction of the church, spent enormous time with the workers, and where there was a need for quick financial support, he generously provided it.

The Circle of Serbian Sisters ordered mahogany doors from Honduras for the church, and they were installed upon delivery. The priest collected several bids for wood carving and iconography, and based on the reviewed bids, the Church Board decided that Dragan Petrović from Belgrade would do all the wood carving, and that iconographer Mile Todorović from Jagodina would create the icons. Then brass lights and a chandelier were ordered from Greece, and thanks to generous donors, these items were purchased without any debt. The construction of the church was completed, and His Grace Bishop Irinei performed the lesser consecration so that Divine Service could be held inside the church for the church feast in 2018.

Sunday School was organized, classrooms were renovated, and with the help of teachers, it is held every Sunday. Every year, with the help of the church board and volunteers, a very successful Serbian festival is held according to our standards. The Balkan Folk Group ensures that visitors have a pleasant day with a quality program.

There is a noticeable increase in attendance and participation in church services. Young people who are newer to the Church are always ready to come and help, in the same way as those who have been active there from the very beginning.

We are truly blessed with a large group of generous, dedicated, and hardworking people.