Serbian Orthodox Diocese
of Eastern America
Monday May 5, 2008

Hermitage, Pa – The St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Hermitage, Pa celebrated their Church Slava on Sunday May 4, 2008. His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern America officiated at the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, assisted by parish priest Protonamesnik Rev. Milovan Katanic and Diocesan Secretary Deacon Dragoslav Kosic.

In his words to the faithful Bishop Mitrophan told of how St. Seraphim of Sarov used to greet everyone with the words “Christ is risen, my joy”. Very often, the bishop pointed out, we only coldly greet each other with the Paschal greeting or the Nativity greeting, words we hear over and over in our churches. Yet, the beauty of our faith is in our greeting one another with our entire beings, in our joy of the feast. The bishop spoke in depth about the Apostle St. Thomas as this was Thomas Sunday. The doubt that the apostle Thomas had, the bishop mentioned, is not to be confused with anything atheistic. Rather, his doubt is his little faith which His Grace even compared to our doubts when we don't agree with a certain teaching our church holds, when we disagree with the words of the bishop, or the priest or even Holy Scripture.

Cross bearer, fans, banners, flags, the Slava kolach and icon led the bishop, priest and deacon out of the church for the Slava Litiya after the prayer before the ambon, while the cutting of the Slava kolach with this year's kum, Mr. Milos Miodrag, was officiated by His Grace in the church hall. Remarks were made at the slava banquet by the church board president, the kum, the parish priest and His Grace Bishop Mitrophan. Special guest speaker was D. Hunter Haynes of the Orthodox Christian Advocacy Institute who gave a moving presentation about the sufferings of Christians, particularly the Orthodox, throughout the world who are, as he pointed out, the most persecuted peoples in the world today.

 

Columbus, OH - The most glorious and joyous day in the history of mankind – the day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, was for the parishioners of St. Stephen of Dechani in Columbus even more joyous with the presence of a group of soldiers from Serbia who attended their church.

These soldiers are currently in Columbus, Ohio where they are taking part in the recently established program of cooperation between the Army of the Republic of Serbia and the Ohio National Guard, which is also the host of these Serbian soldiers.

At the constant insistance of these soldiers to their authorities at the army base, they expressed their desire to go to the local Serbian Church on the occasion of the great feast of Pascha. Due to their resposibilities at the army base they were unable to be present at the Divine Liturgy but arrived as most of the parishioners had already left. Those few parishioners that were still at the church when the soldiers arrived engaged in joyous conversation with the soldiers, the main topic and interst being Kosovo and the need to endure in the rightoues and God pleasing defense of the Serbian Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the necessity for us a people to remain loyal to the Kosovo covenant. Tears of joy were at times mixed with those of sadness because of the injustices which have been dealt to the much suffering Serbian poeple by the mighty of this world.

All of our hope is in the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ for just as our Lord endured the worst possible sufferings, insults and even death, on the third day He resurrected in His glory. Our hope is that the Serbian people, after countless pains and persecutions, will await the final establishing of God's justice on earth, in spite of all opposing efforts of the powers of this world.

Fr. Isak Kisin

 

New York, NY - The Twenty- First Annual Washington Deanery Christian Education Meeting was held at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City on Bright Wednesday, April 30, 2008.

His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN designated Reverend Father Zoran Radovic of St.George Serbian Orthodox Church, Elizabeth, New Jersey to be the feastured speaker.

His Grace officiated at the Paschal Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with attending clergy serving and singing responses.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Cathedral Dean Protopresbyter Djkokan Majstorovic expressed his pleasure in having His Grace and Brothers in Christ present for the meeting.

Protopresbyer Stavrofor Srboljub Jockovich gave welcoming remarks emphasizing Christian education in the Deanery.

Father Radovic's well-prepared presentation stimulated discussion particularly regarding contemporary issues facing parents and children. Challenges regarding use of the internet, television and reading practices drew considerable attention.

Parish reports reviewing Christian education in each parish were presented by attending clergy including clergy mentioned and Protopresbyter Stavrofor Toma Stojsich, Protopresbyter Aleksandar Vlajkovic, Protopresbyter Ivan Marjanovic, and Reverend Father Aleksa Micich. Protopresbyter
Stavrofor Pregrad Micich, Protopresbyter Dr.Rodney Torbic, Father Vladislav Radujkovic and Father Deacon Alex Pavichevich also participated in the meeting.

The Washington Deanery consists of the Pennsylvania parishes in Steelton, Lebanon and Philadelphia; the New Jersey parishes in Paterson and Elizabeth; the New York City parish and parishes in Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine and Washington D.C.

His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN schedules and actively participates in the Deanery meetings for the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Washington and St. Petersburg Deaneries every year. His Grace's consistent scheduling of the meetings and His participation is the strongest evidence of the importance of Christian education in the Diocese.

Deanery meetings have been held annually since 1987 in the Eastern American Diocese. Clergy and teachers in each Deanery are always invited to attend and participate.

The meetings provide an opportunity to learn from the speaker and for participants to share and learn from each other.

Father Rodney Torbic

 

Greensboro, NC - The Paschal celebration,led by parish priest Fr. Dragan Zaric, began on a rainy morning at 4am at the St. Basil Serbian Church in Greensboro. The rains stopped as the procession around the church began with the congregation joyously singing the Resurrection hymns. Many parishioners attended the service together Russian Orthodox.

 

Orlando, FL - A beautiful and joyous Paschal liturgy was served on Bright Tuesday at the St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in Orlando, Florida. The parish priest Fr. Ljubisa Brnjos was joined by Fr. Milovan Katanic of St. George in Hermitage at the holy altar.  A brunch was prepared by Popadija for the guests who were joined by the parishioners for fellowship.

Afterwards Fr. Ljubisa gave the clergy and guests a tour of their small candle shop. This candle making technique Fr. Ljubisa brought with him from his native Diocese of Zahum and Hercegovina. The candles are made of 100% beeswax and come in a variety of sizes. For more information about the candles please contact Fr. Ljubisa 407-831-SERB.

 

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