San Diego Parish Celebrated Vidovdan on Sunday, June 28, 2009
On the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, the faithful of Saint George Serbian Orthodox parish in San Diego together with their hierarch, His Grace Bishop Maxim and local Orthodox clergy, celebrated this Feast, with a Hierarchical Liturgy, blessing of the Kolyva, and a program.
A great number of parishioners, parish friends and supporters gathered at the Liturgy that started at ten oclock in the morning. His Grace Bishop Maxim served the Liturgy with concelebration of Protopresbyter Bratso Krsic, deacon Paul Germain, and hierodeacon Jelisej from Kovilj monastery in Serbia. The Liturgy was truly a communion with God and with one another; it was a true participatory event, a communal experience of Gods presence. The choir did an excellent job leading and incorporating people into the Church and communal worship.
In his sermon, Bishop Maxim shared the meaning of this Feast power in weakness. His Grace wished a blessed Feast to all calling them to, like Great-martyr Lazar, the commanders and soldiers from Kosovo until today, be ever ready to sacrifice their life for our neighbors.
At the invitation in the fear of God, with faith and love, draw near children and adults lined up with their arms crossed on their chest and prayerfully approached the chalice the cup of immortality.
Following the Liturgy the faithful proceeded to the hall for lunch and a festal program. The parish priest, Protopresbyter Bratso Krsic, welcomed His Grace, and those that came for the celebration.
Mr. Nemanja Selezan, the president of the Church Executive Board, announced the program and welcomed guest speakers: Dr. Vojin Joksimovic, who promoted his book, Kosovo is Serbia, and a Serbian poet, Ms. Milica Miladinovic-Keserovic, read her poem, 1389 Kosovski Venac.
Bishop Maxim greeted all by reminding them about the importance of unity and harmony in the life of one parish. His Grace also spoke about the meaning of Vidovdan, i.e. its Gospel ethos and unconditional love for Christ and ones neighbor.
In addition His Grace spoke about the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops held in May of this year in Belgrade, Serbia. This decision was regarding the administrative unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America. He also mentioned that at this Holy Assembly the oneness of spirit and of mind of the Fathers of our Church was revealed in that there was no more unnecessary mention of the inappropriate questions of the so-called old and new ways of serving, for at the meeting it was said that we all serve the one and same Divine Service, even though there might be variations in certain details, as there always have been and there are in the living and life-creating Church of Christ from the East throughout the ages. Just as there is one Gospel of Christ even though there are four Evangelists, and in them, just as in the Orthodox Liturgies, and there are four of them as well, there appears a polyphonic symphony and a symphonic polyphony of the Holy Pentecostal, fiery spirit-filled Grace of the Spirit, the Comforter of the Church, Who calls all to unity. |
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