HIS GRACE BISHOP MAXIM

Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic) was elected Bishop of Los Angeles and the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 2006. He graduated from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, in 1993. He completed his Master of Theology at the University of Athens in 1996, and then three years later, in 1999, at the same university, he defended his doctorate in the field of Dogmatics and Patristics. He worked for one year on his post-doctorate in Paris and the Sorbonne in 2003-04, in the field of Byzantine History and Hagiography. During this time, he also delved in the theory and practical application of painting at the French Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. Bishop Maxim is a professor of Patristics and was teaching Christian Anthropology, Byzantine Philosophy, Canon Law, and Dogmatics at various universities and schools. He speaks Greek, French, Russian, and English. He was the editor of “Theology” – Journal of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade. He also leads the Diocesan school of iconography. Bishop Maxim’s scholarly books, studies, and articles include essays on Holy Fathers and Saints; he has also written on the hagiographical and iconographical themes.

Born 1968
Doctorate in Theology, University of Athens (1999)
Lecturer in Hagiography, University of Belgrade (2000-2005)
Lecturer in Christian Anthropology, University of Sarajevo (2000-2006)
Lecturer in Byzantine Philosophy, University of Sarajevo (2001-2002).
Professor of Canon Law, School of Orthodox Theology, Libertyville, ILL (20011-2014)
Professor of Dogmatics, School of Orthodox Theology, Libertyville, ILL (2014-2017)
Professor of Patristics, the University of Belgrade (2004-2020)
Professor of Theology, Holy Cross Greek Schoool (2021-)
Bishop of Los Angeles (2006-)

Selected major works:

[1] Illumination and  Surprise: A Journey Through the Art of Painting and Its Graceful Revelations (Athens-Los Angeles, 2024).
[2.] Wonder as the Beginning of Faith (Holy Cross Orthodox Press: 2022).
[3] Portraits of Dostoevsky’s Heroes and Heroines (Laguna, Belgrade 2022). [In Serbian] [4] Athanasije: A Life Story (Tvrdoš Monastery, 2022). [In Serbian]

[5] The Vision of the Invisible and Facing Reality (Laguna, Belgrade 2020). [In Serbian] [6] Symeon the Metaphrast: Biography, Redaction, Theology (Los Angeles-Paris-Vrnjci 2020). [In Serbian] [7] Theology as Surprise: Patristic and Pastoral Insights (New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2018).
[8] Diary of the Council: Reflections from the Holy and Great Council at the Orthodox Academy in Crete, June 17-26, 2016 (Los Angeles-Crete 2016).
[9] History, Truth, Holiness: Studies in Theological Ontology and Epistemology (Los Angeles: Sebastian Press, 2011).
[10] Holiness: Divine and Human (Belgrade: Faculty of Orthodox Theology, 2010). [In Serbian]

Secondary Works

[1]“The Icon and the Ultimate State of Existence”, in Stamatis Skliris, In the Mirror, Los Angeles 2007, 205-209.
[2] “An Existential Interpretation of Dogmatics: Theological Language and Dogma in the Face of the Culture of Pluralism”, St Vladimir’s Seminary Quarterly 51 (2007) 395-422.
[3] „La conception de la sainteté dans l’œuvre hagiographique de Syméon le Métaphraste“, Revue des Études Byzantines 66 (2008) 191-207.
[4] “Truth and History: Implications in Theology and Science”, Centennial Commemorative Book, Los Angeles 2010.
[5] “Holiness and Otherness”, Θεολογία (theological journal, Athens), 1 (2010) 77-98.
[6] “Συνάντηση σὲ ἐπίπεδο ἐλευθερίας καὶ ἀγάπης. Σύντομη παρουσίαση της θεολογικής προτάσεως του π. Ιουστίνου Πόποβιτς”, Πειραϊκὴ Ἐκκλησία, Μάιος 2010, 24-27.
[7] “Trois théologiens serbes entre l’Orient et l’Occident. Nicolas Velimirovic, Justin Popovic et Athanase Jevtic”, Istina LVI (2011) 63-78.
[8] “A Prolegomenon to a Study on Gender and Otherness: With Particular Reference to the Theology of John Zizioulas”, Philotheos, 11 (2011) 261-269.
[9] “St Maximus the Confessor’s Contribution to the Problem of Trans­cending the Createdness”, Sobornost 6 (2012), 15-36.
[10] “Death, Resurrection, and the Church”, in Knowing the Purpose of Creation through the Resurrection, Proceedings of the Symposium on St Maximus the Confessor, Belgrade October 18-21, 2012, Sebastian Press & University of Belgrade 2013, 357-378.
[11] “On the Fear of Death: Theological and Pastoral Reflections”, Philotheos 13 (2013) 84-91.
[12] “Ile tempo nella vita della chiesa”, La eta della vita spiritual, Atti del XXI Convegno ecumenico intenazionale di spiritualita ortodossa, Bose, 4-7 settembre 2013, a cura di Luigi d’Ayala Valva, Lisa Cremaschi e Adalberto Mainardi monaci di Bose, Traduzione dall’ originale ingle­se di Frederico Rigamonti, Edizioni Qiqajon Comunita di Bose 2014, 317-140.
[13] “Time in Ecclesial Life”, Philotheos 14 (2014) 237-247.
[14] “Reflections on Authority and Synodality: A Eucharistic, Relational, and Eschatological Perspective”, у: Primacy in the Church: The Office of Primate and the Authority of Councils, vol. 2, ed. John Chryssavgis (Yonkers, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2016), 531-552.
[15] “What Does “Rising from the Dead” Mean?”, у: Between Being and Time: From Ontology to Eschatology, eds. Andrew T.J. Kaethler, Sotiris Mitralexis, Maryland, Lexington Books 2019, 125-142; такође: Theo­logy as a Surprise, 47-70.
[16] „Στοχαζόμενος, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἀποφαινόμενος: St. Maximus the Confessor as an Interpreter of St. Gregory the Theologian”, Theologicon, 5 (2016), 81-96.
[17] “Embodying the Living Truth in America,” The Serbian Christian Heritage of America: The Historical, Spiritual, and Cultural Presence of the Serbian Diaspora in North America 1814-2019, ed. Maxim Vasiljevic, Los Angeles-Chicago-New York-Montreal-Belgrade 2019, 15-18.
[18] “The Paradox of Ecclesial Asceticism”, Public Orthodoxy, 13. дец. 2019, https://publicorthodoxy.org/2019/12/13/the-paradox-of-ecclesial-as-ceticism/.
[19] “Existential Truth in Virtual Communication: Exploring Metropolitan John Zizioulas’ Theological Insights”, Acts of the International Theological Conference: Orthodox Theology on the Way to the “Dematerialized Reality” of Late Modernity, Athens, 11-14 October 2023, Theologia vol. 95/1 (2024) 249-267.
[20] “Pentecost and the Mission of the Church Today with Particular Reference to the Theology of Metropolitan John Zizioulas”, A presentation at the Orthodox Center Ambiorix, Bruxelles, May 25, 2023, Sabornost 7 (2023) 25-39
[21] “The Hypostatic and Liberating Aspects of George Kordis’ Art”, in: George Kordis, Light from Light: The Portable Icons of George Kordis, ed. Lambros Kamperidis (Montreal: Alexander Press 2022), pp. 7–12.
[22] “The Orthodox Church Is a Synodal Church: Toward a Syn-odical Ontology of the Church”, in “Listening to the East. Synodality in Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Church Traditions”, edited by Intitute for Ecumenical Studies of the Angelicum and Pro Oriente Foundation, Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2023, pp. 35-52.
[23] “The Mother of God—the Icon of a Supreme Freedom: The Theotokos in Orthodox Theology and Devotion”, in: Full of Grace: Representations of Mother of God in Serbian Medieval Wall Painting, Лагуна-Београд и Српско благо-Лос Анђелес, 2022, pp. 13–27.
[24] “Both in the East and in the West: Some Aspects of Holy Bishop Nicholai’s Presence in North America (January 9, 1946—March 18, 1956)”, in: Bishop Nicholai Velimirović: Old Controversies in Historical and Theological Context, eds. Dragan Bakić & Vladimir Cvetković, Institute for Balkan Studies, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts & St. Sebastian Press, Belgrade – Los Angeles 2022, pp. 361–387.