Very Rev. Dositei Obradovich; Serbian Orthodox Church Leader

The Very Rev. Dositei Obradovich, a spiritual leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and for decades the only celibate American monk to carry the ancient title of archimandrite, has died. He was 84.

Archimandrite Obradovich died in his sleep Tuesday at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena from cardiac arrest brought on by pneumonia and renal failure. He also suffered from diabetes. He was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago.

His death drew to a close a long career of ministering to Serbian Orthodox Christians in Pennsylvania and the Western United States and Canada. He started St. John the Baptist parish and school in San Francisco in 1945, and served congregations in the California gold country, Oakland, and Butte, Mont.

“He’s probably married, buried and baptized more Serbians in the Western United States than all the Serbian priests in the West,” said William Dorich of Los Angeles, husband of Obradovich’s niece, Anita Dorich.

The Very Rev. Nicholas Ceko, dean of St. Stevan’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra, said Obradovich was known throughout the church for his “incredible accomplishments.”

“The monastic tradition was not very large in those days. He was a pioneer,” Ceko said. At the time Obradovich was ordained, in 1941, it was unusual for an American-born Serbian to become a celibate Serbian monk.

The title of archimandrite was conferred on Obradovich in 1965 because of the church he built in Butte.

Historically, the title was accorded to the presiding monk of a large monastery. Now, it is conferred by a bishop on celibate priests engaged in church administration. In rank, the archimandrite is second only to the bishop. Currently, bishops are usually chosen from among the ranks of archimandrites, although a celibate priest not bearing the rank may also become a bishop.

Born in Steelton, Pa., Dragan Obradovich seemed destined from his youth to enter church life, Dorich said, serving as an altar acolyte, cantor and Serbian schoolteacher at St. Nicholas parish in Steelton.

He studied at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Ill., where he was tonsured a monk with the name Dositei. In 1941 he was ordained a deacon in Lebanon, Pa., and a priest at his home parish in Steelton.

He also studied at Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary in Nashotah, Wis., and later was named an honorary member of the Episcopal Priests Fellowship in San Francisco.

He established the San Francisco parish in 1945, and its church was consecrated in 1954. He served an Oakland parish while overseeing the San Francisco church, and organized Serbian Orthodox communities in Sacramento and Fresno.

“He was a true missionary priest,” Dorich said.

Besides William and Anita Dorich, Obradovich is survived by his sister, Mildred Radovich of Glendale, nephew John Radovich, and great-niece Anastasia Radovich of Mill Valley.

A prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at St. Stevan’s. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the cathedral, after an 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy officiated by His Grace Bishop Jovan of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America.

Obradovich will be buried in the Serbian Cemetery in San Francisco alongside his parents, George and Petra Obradovich, on Monday at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to St. Stevan’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 1621 W. Garvey Ave., Alhambra, CA 91803, to form an endowment fund for sick and elderly clergy.