‘Our doors will be open to everyone in the community’... Serbian Orthodox Church finds new home in Mornington

The only Serbian Orthodox Church in Ireland has found a permanent spiritual home in Mornington and its doors "will be open to everyone in the community" according to the head of the religion in this country.

Fr Mladen Gardovic, the only Serbian Orthodox priest in Ireland confirmed the religious outfit recently completed the purchase of the old church building in Mornington for €135,000. The funds were raised entirely through donations by the approximately 200 Serbian Orthodox families living across the country.

“This was achieved, first of all, by God's will,” said Fr Mladen, who lives in Donore. “It was also the result of unselfish and true Christian love from His Grace, Bishop Tom Deenihan, who offered us this opportunity so we could finally have our permanent spiritual home.”

The Mornington catholic church building that has not been used for over 30 years while structurally sound, requires significant restoration before it can be opened for worship. Fr Mladen estimates it will take around two years before the first liturgies are held in the church that dates back to 1841.

“When the time comes, the doors will be open to everyone in the community,” he added.

“We hope this church becomes a living spiritual house for all, a refuge for every lost soul in need of God’s guidance.”

A new church building was constructed in Morningon in 1989 to replace the original ancient place of worship.

The Serbian Orthodox community, while small in number, has been active in Ireland for years. For a time, they held services in a rented space in Dublin. However, that lease recently fell through, prompting Fr Mladen to begin the search for a new location.

“It was a very difficult time for us. We didn’t know where we would go,” he said.

“Then Bishop Deenihan reached out with this offer. It was unexpected and deeply appreciated. It showed the kind of Christian brotherhood that exists across traditions.”

Currently, there are approximately 50 practicing Serbian Orthodox families in the east Meath area alone and the rest are spread throughout the country, including in Dublin, Cork, and Galway according to the priest.

Fr Mladen plans to hold two Sunday services each month in the Mornington church, as well as services on major weekday feast days.

He believes the location will serve the community well, noting that most parishioners travel via public transport and that there should be minimal impact on the surrounding area.

It is understood that there is some disappointment in the area that the community was not consulted on the purchase of the church, however Fr Mladen says he is eager to share the rich spiritual heritage of his tradition with the wider community.

While Orthodox Christianity is relatively unknown in Ireland, its ancient roots and deep reverence for tradition make it a natural complement to the spiritual landscape of the country according to Fr Mladen who believes there are many shared values between the Serbian and Irish people, particularly in their history of hardship and perseverance.

“Our people have a lot in common,” he said. “We both have legacies of challenges, struggles, and strong family and faith traditions. There’s a mutual respect, and I believe this church can become a bridge between our communities.”

The purchase of the Mornington church was made possible through a grassroots fundraising effort among Serbian Orthodox families in Ireland. Fr Mladen says the generosity and commitment of the community have been overwhelming.

“These 200 families, our parishioners came together to make this happen. Without their donations and belief in this vision, we could not have done it,” he said.

While it may be another two years before regular services begin in Mornington, the excitement within the Serbian Orthodox community is already palpable.

“This church will become our spiritual home, but also a place where we can share our faith, our culture, and our lives with others,” said Fr Mladen.

“We are here to serve not only our own, but anyone seeking peace, faith, or simply a place to reflect.”

“We truly believe that, with God’s help, this old church will soon be filled with life again,” said Fr Mladen. “It will not be just a Serbian church. It will be a place for everyone.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Meath said:

"The old Church in Mornington, which was vacant and unused for over thirty years, has been sold to the Serbian Orthodox community. Their priest, Fr Mladen, is resident in Donore and there is a growing Serbian Orthodox community in the area. They have been renting a church in Dublin for the past few years but were anxious to obtain their own property. They have been in contact with the conservation people in Meath County Council so that the protected structure and architectural features will be preserved."