The Voice † of St. George Winter 2020—Spring 2021

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central & South America Table of Contents: 3. Father Bratso’s letter to the Saint George parish. 5. The Nativity Encyclical of the Serbian Orthodox Church. 14. St. George parish news and events. “Christmas gifts for kids in Serbia” by Maja Topalovic. 15. The Serbian-American Foundation for Kosovo: SAFKOS. 16. St. George Christmas 2021 celebration in pictures. 18. Biography of His Holiness Irinej, Arch- bishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Bel- grade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch.

19. A prayerful farewell to our Patriarch and Father Irinej, the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. 22. Biography of Metropolitan Amphilohije (Radovic). 23. Funeral service and burial of Metropoli- tan of Montenegro and the Coastlands Front page: St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, San Diego, CA. Amphilohije.

Diocesan Bishop: The Right Rev. Bishop 26. Sermon of Saint Sava on the True Faith Dr. Maxim (Vasiljevic) delivered in Monastery Zica. Diocesan website http://westsrbdio.org ______29. St. George Stewardship List Editor: Father Bratso Krsic Mail your materials to Natalia Valenti at 30. God Bless Our Graduates. [email protected] 31. Good Samaritan Fund. “Christmas gifts for Serbian kids in needs” photos.

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north side of the parish house or or house parish the of side north

ophany, God has manifested and and manifested has God ophany,

outside in the patio area on the the on area patio the in outside

of our Lord (Feb. 15). On The- On 15). (Feb. Lord our of

have also met with many of you you of many with met also have

Lord (Jan. 19), and the Meeting Meeting the and 19), (Jan. Lord

prayer for your loved ones. I I ones. loved your for prayer

Theophany, the Baptism of our our of Baptism the Theophany, Krsic Bratso Father

memorial service or a special special a or service memorial

forthcoming Feast Days, mainly mainly Days, Feast forthcoming

Lord, our Christ in love my of all With dle and have asked me to serve a a serve to me asked have and dle

We now look ahead to the the to ahead look now We

days to say a prayer, light a can- a light prayer, a say to days phone. mobile

19. - Covid week- on church to come have phone calls are forwarded to my my to forwarded are calls phone

dition and traditions, not even even not traditions, and dition you of some Yet, visit. pastoral number 619 number 5827. All office office All 5827. - 276 -

and following our Orthodox Tra- Orthodox our following and this to agreed have you as home, reach me at our office phone phone office our at me reach

riencing the joy of the Nativity Nativity the of joy the riencing at visited have I you of some Please, know that you can can you that know Please,

Nothing could stop us from expe- from us stop could Nothing and you, of some with phone

prayers.

I have spoken on the the on spoken have I on both days. days. both on go to food had

You all are in my daily daily my in are all You

usually have, we nonetheless, nonetheless, we have, usually

the patio area which is covered. is which area patio the

organizations. auxiliary our we as together lunch day mas

outside, behind the social hall, in in hall, social the behind outside,

Board members and leaders of of leaders and members Board Christ- and dinner Vece Badnje

we are serving the Divine Liturgy Liturgy Divine the serving are we

parish. Thank you to our Church Church our to you Thank parish. - Eve Nativity the enjoy not could

with 25% capacity and currently currently and capacity 25% with

port of our cherished St. George George St. cherished our of port we Though homes. your from

have served inside the church church the inside served have

Thank you for your sup- your for you Thank support prayerful of way by you

church. Of course, at times, we we times, at course, Of church.

ing in the services, and some of of some and services, the in ing

serving any liturgies, etc. in our our in etc. liturgies, any serving us. before vanish and

some of you directly participat- directly you of some

vices. Yes, we never stopped stopped never we Yes, vices. 19 be lifted up up lifted be 19 - Covid of clouds

mas. It was so wonderful to see see to wonderful so was It mas.

of you I see regularly at the ser- the at regularly see I you of guidance and that the dark dark the that and guidance

Christ- – Lord our of Nativity the

seen some of you, but yet some some yet but you, of some seen be filled with God’s grace and and grace God’s with filled be

We have just celebrated celebrated just have We

It’s been a while since I’ve I’ve since while a been It’s I pray that our days ahead ahead days our that pray I

feet. more

itual and physical state. physical and itual civil authorities and each other. other. each and authorities civil

cial encounters, be it at six or or six at it be encounters, cial

letter finds you all in a good spir- good a in all you finds letter souls, families, parish, country, country, parish, families, souls,

should not disengage in our so- our in disengage not should

I hope and pray that this this that pray and hope I intercessory prayers for our our for prayers intercessory

cial distancing, meaning, we we meaning, distancing, cial

asked to meet the Lord with our our with Lord the meet to asked

Friends,

But, we should not partake of so- of partake not should we But,

morning and evening. We are are We evening. and morning

My dear Parishioners and and Parishioners dear My

erings or when in public places. places. public in when or erings

with our family members every every members family our with

wear a mask during public gath- public during mask a wear

asked to meet Him in prayer prayer in Him meet to asked

a physical distance (6feet) and and (6feet) distance physical a

open and repented heart. We are are We heart. repented and open

we have been asked to maintain maintain to asked been have we

to meet the Lord with our clean, clean, our with Lord the meet to

As I have stated before, before, stated have I As

we are asked to go to our church church our to go to asked are we

day old infant, infant, old day - 40 a as temple the guidelines. health

Lord, when He was brought into into brought was He when Lord, the follow we as other, each

During the Meeting of our our of Meeting the During for caring continue we that and

19, 19, - Covid amidst even continue,

Him. by saken

you that our parish ministries ministries parish our that you

stance of our life. We are not for- not are We life. our of stance

I say all of this to remind remind to this of all say I

us always and in every circum- every in and always us

One God Who cares for for cares Who God One – Trinity hall. cial

revealed Himself as the Holy Holy the as Himself revealed so- the behind gazebo small the

PARISH THE TO LETTER BRATSO’S FATHER

Пастирско слово протојереја Братислава Браце Кршића

Драги ми Парохијани и установа. Господње. На Богојављење Бог Пријатељи, Све ово кажем да бих вас се открио и јавља као један Бог Надам се да Вас ово писмо подсетио да рад и духовна у Тројици, Отац, Син и Дух затиче у добром духовном и брига и старање у парохији иде Свети – Бог који нас воли и који физичком здрављу. својим током. Подсећам све нас жели да имамо живот вечни. Већ дуже времена нисам видео да се старамо за здравље једни Док празник Сретење Господње неке од Вас због других, дистанца од шест стопа, нас позива да идемо у сусрет предострожности у време али никако социјална дистанце, Господу у Светој Литургији, пандемије, а неке од Вас виђам тј. да се затворимо у кућу и да наших ближњих, и једних сваке недеље на Светој не општимо једни са другима. других. Празник нас позива да Литургији. Заиста, никада Ми смо бића створена за се молимо за наше спасење, за нисмо престали да служимо заједницу једних са другима. парохију, цивилне власти, за Свету Литургију као и сва Недавно смо прославили мир у нашој држави и целоме остала богослужења. Истина, у Рођење Господа и Спаса нашега свету.Узносим своје молитве задњих десет месеци служили Исуса Христа – Божић. Господу да дани који су пред смо или у цркви или иза Обрадовао сам се свима који су нама буду испуњени благодаћу црквене сале у привременој дошли и учествовали на Божијом, промислом и да капели. божићним богослужењима, као мрачни облаци Ковида-19 Са некима са разговарао преко и вама који сте молитвом и нестану испред нас.Хвала вам телефона, имејла, док сам неке мислима били са нама у ове на прилозима нашој парохији породице посетио у домовима благе дане. Служили смо, дакле, Св. Великомученика Георгија. по њиховој сагласности. Али, сва богослужења, али нисмо Захваљујем се свим члановима исто тако неке од вас виђам били у могућности да имамо Управе као и свим члановима редовно на богослужењима, док посну вечеру на Бадње вече и наших парохијских неки пак навраћају у току божићни ручак. Али смо организација.Молим се Господу недеље, тј. радним даном, да би паковали храну у оба дана и за све вас. И на крају, не запалили свећу, или да би смо парохијани су имали заборавите да ме увек можете пак служили парастос за могућности да их понесу кући и назвати на број наше упокојене или затражили да поделе са својим најближим. парохијске канцеларије 619 276 прочитам молитву за здравље Ништа нас није могло спречити 5827. Сви телефонски позиви на или друге духовне потребе. Са да прославимо Божић, чак ни број канцеларије се аутоматски некима са имао састанак испред Ковид-19 по нашем Предању и прослеђују на мој мобилни цркве, иза сале или у дворишту традицији. број.У Христу Господу нашем, с са северне стране парохијске Сада се обазиремо и гледамо у поштовањем, куће где је све безбедно и по празнике који су пред нама, а то свим смерницама здравствених су, Богојављење и Сретење Протојереј Братислав Брацо

THE THE VOICE VOICE OF OF ST. ST. GEORGE GEORGE † † Spring Winter 2021 4

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mon, and these same words we, six- we, words same these and mon, Christmas greeting: Christmas

joy is not like any earthly joy; rather rather joy; earthly any like not is joy

Theologian begins his Nativity ser- Nativity his begins Theologian the Holy Spirit, with the joyous joyous the with Spirit, Holy the that announced and then fulfilled fulfilled then and announced that

With these words Saint Gregory the the Gregory Saint words these With ther and our Lord Jesus Christ and and Christ Jesus Lord our and ther man’s life is to comprehend how how comprehend to is life man’s

mercy, and peace from God the Fa- the God from peace and mercy, filled. The most difficult task of of task difficult most The filled.

earth! the all Lord the unto Sing daughters of our Holy Church: grace, grace, Church: Holy our of daughters (Genesis 12:3; 18:15) has been ful- been has 18:15) 12:3; (Genesis

up! lifted be earth, on is Christ monastics, and all the sons and and sons the all and monastics, Micah 5:2) and the righteous righteous the and 5:2) Micah

Him! welcome Orthodox Church, to all the clergy, clergy, the all to Church, Orthodox 6; Ezekiel 34:23; 34:23; Ezekiel 6; - 23:5 Jeremiah 6;

Christ is come from Heaven, Heaven, from come is Christ With all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Serbian the of Hierarchs the all With 3; 9, 9, 3; - 2:2 (Isaiah prophets Testament

Him! glorify born, is Christ for the joy prophesied by the Old Old the by prophesied joy the for

vices. Sing to the Lord, all the earth, earth, the all Lord, the to Sing vices. Church Orthodox Serbian the

teen centuries later, sing in our ser- our in sing later, centuries teen of Synod Hierarchical Holy The Born! is Christ God! from Peace

CHURCH ORTHODOX SERBIAN THE NATIVITY ENCYCLICAL OF THE THE OF ENCYCLICAL NATIVITY THE

it represents the very essence of which witnesses to us that the Son to the respective local churches. life and our faith. Every earthly joy of God, while remaining that which With the calling to peace, we begin and celebration is limited by time He is, becomes that which He was serving the Divine Liturgy. And and space, but the joy of Christmas not (St. Matthew 1:1-23). While peace, our dear brothers and sis- is an event which lasts, giving remaining true God, He becomes ters, is a state of heart and soul. meaning to all of our relationships true Man. By this He has made all This Gospel and Christ’s peace, as and our whole life here and now. people who believe in Him and are many have attested, we have rec- This joy has manifested itself, it baptized children of God. For if it is ognized in the life and deeds of the has begun, it is already given to us possible that the Son of God be- newly reposed Archpastor of our according to Christ’s words: “Your comes the Son of Man, then it like- Church, Patriarch Irinej of blessed joy no one will take from you.” (St. wise is possible that sons of men memory, as well as in the life of John 16:22) become sons of God according to the two virtuous hierarchs of our the gift of adoption to sonship. Our Church, Metropolitan Amphilohije The birth of Christ reveals to us sonship to God is a direct conse- and Bishop Milutin, who also this the Mystery of God’s unlimited quence of the Incarnation of the year were translated into the love. Only God, Who is Love, (St. Son of God and is shown as the Heavenly Kingdom. In the con- John 4:8) was able to humble him- highest manifestation of the love sciousness of the people and in the self and be born as a true Man, as of God the Father towards man- Church’s memory they will remain the God-Man, without ceasing to kind. people of peace and good will, be truly God and our Savior from more precisely, as those through sin as the source of evil, decay and The angels greeted Christ’s birth whom, in our days, Christ’s peace death. In the Creed of our faith, we with a song: “Glory to God in the was manifested, the peace of the confess that the Incarnation has highest, and on earth peace, good- first and only King of taken place for us and for our sal- will towards men!” (St. Luke 2:14) peace (Revelation 1:5). vation, that “the Son of God has This angelic hymn becomes life’s become the Son of Man so that in motto of faith and it moves us to The message of today’s feast day of the end men could become sons of action and creativity, to the move- the birth in the flesh of the Son of God,” as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons ment out of passivity, for the glori- God obliges us also to build peace has said. Christmas is foremost a fication of God and the spreading all around us. We all know what it time when the Church powerfully of peace on earth are deeply and means when restlessness enters and mightily glorifies that Good essentially creative human activi- into our heart, when the lack of News with the words: “Today, God ties. Peace is one of the most often peace paralyzes the mind, when a has come to earth, and man has encountered terms in the Holy person begins to run away from ascended to heaven. Glory and Scriptures (St. Matthew 5:9, St. others and when he closes himself thanks be to the One Who is newly Mark 5:34; St. John 16:33; Romans within his fragile fortress, being born on earth, Who has made us 15:13). Everything begins and lost and weak for any good deed earthly beings divine.” By His birth ends with peace. The Lord has and for meeting with others. To- Christ brings the richness of divin- greeted all with peace, and with day, certainly not by accident, we ity for us; He brings the indescrib- peace he has responded to the greet each other with the words: able joy to which the Church calls greetings. With the blessing of Peace from God, Christ is born! all peoples and all things: Sing to peace He departed from His disci- the Lord, all the earth! ples by saying: “Peace I leave with We are not seeking some uncer- you, my peace I give to you; not as tain, calculated, oftentimes ambig- Being children of God is the great- the world gives do I give to you. uous human peace, but rather, the est Christian ideal, the ideal that Let not your heart be troubled, peace of Christ which reconciles us needs to be constantly achieved neither let it be afraid.” (St. John with God the Father and with each and proven (I John 3:1-3). The en- 14:27-28) The Holy Apostle Paul other, a peace of conscience, that tire Gospel points to this, begin- begins and ends his every epistle true feeling of the fulness of ful- ning with the genealogy of Christ lesson with the greeting of peace filling the will of God. The opposite

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2021 6

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part of every feast day, its colorful colorful its day, feast every of part all, and not only love as a good atti- good a as love only not and all, 5:16). Matthew (St. us recognize

beautiful traditions are an integral integral an are traditions beautiful are called to have this love towards towards love this have to called are should people which by Gospel,

eration and every person. Our Our person. every and eration which has enlightened us today, we we today, us enlightened has which the to according lived life is Faith

important for the life of every gen- every of life the for important On this foundation of Christ’s love love Christ’s of foundation this On Orthodox The power. and strength

rather it is an Event we celebrate as as celebrate we Event an is it rather many ideologies, void of life’s life’s of void ideologies, many

as a historical remembrance, but but remembrance, historical a as paper, having become just one of of one just become having paper, fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). (Ephesians Christ of fulness

meaning of Christmas is not simply simply not is Christmas of meaning does not stay as a dead letter on on letter dead a as stay not does our growth into the stature of the the of stature the into growth our

necessary to point out that the the that out point to necessary progress in virtues, so that our faith faith our that so virtues, in progress a foundation upon which to build build to which upon foundation a

united Serbian Church. Still, it is is it Still, Church. Serbian united tion toward a virtuous life and our our and life virtuous a toward tion Corinthians 13:13). they need to be be to need they 13:13). Corinthians

This concretely means our orienta- our means concretely This the of Assembly Hierarchical the these are: faith, hope and love (I (I love and hope faith, are: these

chal Palace in Sremski Karlovci by by Karlovci Sremski in Palace chal essentially important virtues, and and virtues, important essentially

Serbian Patriarchate at the Patriar- the at Patriarchate Serbian all rest on the triad of eternal and and eternal of triad the on rest all 1:15). Mark (St. life Christian tical

reestablishment and renewal of the the of renewal and reestablishment and historical moment. Still, they they Still, moment. historical and prac- the toward him direct clearly

commemorate a century since the the since century a commemorate depend on each concrete person person concrete each on depend to repentance through and ance,

emphasize this in the year when we we when year the in this emphasize There are many of them, and they they and them, of many are There repent- for desire a person every

ence of our people. We especially especially We people. our of ence ginning of our edification in virtues. virtues. in edification our of ginning in awaken to needs God of Son the

the richness of the historical exist- historical the of richness the (St. John 1:14). Christmas is the be- the is Christmas 1:14). John (St. of birth The forgotten. and looked

plethora of traditions that attest to to attest that traditions of plethora Man and when our salvation begins begins salvation our when and Man over- is Day Feast this of meaning

Son of God is a feast day that has a a has that day feast a is God of Son day when the Son of God becomes becomes God of Son the when day giving - life the traditions the on ing

The celebration of the birth of the the of birth the of celebration The a virtuous life begins exactly on the the on exactly begins life virtuous a focus- in that happens sometimes

is necessary that the message about about message the that necessary is It understanding. of void works

Lord Jesus Christ. For this reason, it it reason, this For Christ. Jesus Lord certain of completion mechanical ty ion.

their fulfillment in the Person of the the of Person the in fulfillment their emp- some become not do they that commun- and joy God’s of void life

so that his words and deeds find find deeds and words his that so so formed, are traditions the which a and emptiness spiritual of quence

like, like, - Christ becomes person a life, around center the reach we that conse- a is people, today’s flicts

Living a virtuous and sacramental sacramental and virtuous a Living necessary is it but representation, in- which peace of lack the that, of

tude towards someone or some- ple! We are an ancient Christian our dear spiritual children, that in thing. That kind of love has little nation, which through baptism, the these challenging days for the en- meaning. We are talking about love inheritance of Saints Cyril and tire human race you safeguard as a way of life. Furthermore, we Methodious and of Saint Sava, en- your health and your life, and that are talking about love which is a lightenment became a part of the you protect others in the way rec- way of God’s existence (I John culture of the entire Christian ommended by the health services 4:16), and we, being godlike world. of our homeland and the countries (Genesis 1:27), are called to have where our people live throughout this kind of love for each other. To Filled with that love, this Christmas the world. Doing this, you do not have this kind of love means that if we remember all those in distress show a lack of faith or little faith; we want life, if we want existence, and suffering, all people who have instead, you demonstrate that you then we can have it only in the suffered injustice, and especially respect the holiness of life, that you community of freedom and love those who in these difficult days, in love your neighbor and that you with others. To see God in others is the midst of this terrible illness, love the Lord Who is Life Himself. Christ’s calling. His words are that have lost their most dear and loved he who says he loves God, but ones. To them we send the words Celebrating in this kind of love of hates another person lies. For “If of consolation that we find in our our Lord, let us rejoice in God and someone says, 'I love God,' and Lord Jesus Christ, whose Birth we Christmas and let us glorify Christ hates his brother, he is a liar; for celebrate, in the Lord Who became the Divine Child as the only thing how can you love God, Whom you a man for us and our salvation. The new under the sun (II Corinthians do not see, if you do not love the Lord Himself has gone through the 5:17). If sadness has pressed upon person you do see?” (I John 4:20) path of death, asking the Father to our hearts this entire year, may joy glorify Him, which the Father does be born in them today for we cele- Illuminated by that love, we are, by resurrecting Him from the dead brate the Birth of the greatest Joy, this Christmas, together again with by the Holy Spirit (St. John 12:28). the Birth of the Son of God Jesus our brothers and sisters in Kosovo That is why the Lord tells all of us Christ! If during this year hatred, and Metohija – the cradle of our not to fear, because those who are pride and malice have poisoned people. Their destroyed homes are united with Christ, even though our hearts, let us expel this poison also our homes, their burned they die, yet they will live (St. John from them today, for we celebrate homesteads are also our home- 11:25). the Birth of the heavenly Love, His steads, the centuries-old churches incarnation in human nature! and monasteries that have been The love of the newly-born God- destroyed are also our churches Child reminds and invites us to May this Christmas, our dear spir- and monasteries. That is why we give thanks in these days of great itual children, bring to your homes pray to our Lord that He grants temptation to the doctors and all peace, love, unity, joy and blessing strength to them and to us, sending the medical staff who selflessly en- in all the days of your life! May the them the words of encouragement deavor to help everyone, often- newborn God-Child Christ grant that Christ gave to His disciples: times even at the expense of their repentance and readiness to for- “Do not fear, little flock!” (St. Luke own lives. In this way, through give! If there be among you even 12:32) their unselfish sacrifice, they show today those who are quarreling, we that indeed they are God’s chil- call upon them in the joy of Christ- We send Bethlehem’s greeting to dren, ready to hear and fulfill the mas to ask for forgiveness of each all the fulness of our God-loving words of Christ that greater love other, husband from his wife, wife people throughout the world with has no one than this, to lay down from her husband, children from a message to safeguard the Ortho- one’s life for his friends (St. John their parents, parents from their dox Faith, the language and alpha- 15:13). children, neighbor from his neigh- bet, regardless which continent bor. and in which country they might This love and sacrifice oblige us to live. Be proud and dignified peo- call upon you and to appeal to you, We must ask for forgiveness of

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2021 8

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HERUVIM Baranja and Polje - Osek of Bishop

DAVID Stobi of Bishop Vicar

GRIGORIJE Germany and Düsseldorf of Bishop

NIKODIM Dalmatia of Bishop

MARKO Bregalnica of Bishop

JOANIKIJE Niksic & Budimlje of Bishop

SILUAN politanate

JOAKIM Kumanovo and Polog of Bishop

ATANASIJE Mileseva of Bishop

Bishop of Australia and New Zealand Metro- Zealand New and Australia of Bishop

JOVAN Skoplje

Bishop of Zvornik of Bishop FOTIJE Tuzla -

KIRILO America

Archbishop of Ochrid and Metropolitan of of Metropolitan and Ochrid of Archbishop

IGNATIJE Branicevo of Bishop Bishop of Buenos Aires and South Central Central South and Aires Buenos of Bishop

JOVAN Sumadija of Bishop

ARSENIJE Nis of Bishop

THE ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF OCHRID: OF ARCHDIOCESE ORTHODOX THE

PAHOMIJE Vranje of Bishop ILARION Timok of Bishop

JUSTIN Zicha of Bishop SERGIJE Petrovac - Bihac of Bishop

LUKA Europe Western of Bishop METODIJE Diokleia of Bishop Vicar ANDREJ Switzerland and Austria of Bishop

DOSITEJ &Scandinavia Britain Great of Bishop Vicar Bishop of Mohac ISIHIJE Mohac of Bishop Vicar JOVAN Slavonia of Bishop

IRINEJ Backa of Bishop STEFAN Remezijan of Bishop Vicar DAVID Krusevac of Bishop

MITROPHAN Canada of Bishop Vicar Bishop of Moravica ANTONIJE Moravica of Bishop Vicar IRINEJ America Eastern of Bishop

LONGIN ca GERASIM Karlovac Gornji of Bishop

Midwestern Ameri- Midwestern - Gracanica New of Bishop TRIJE MAXIM America Western of Bishop

NIKANOR Banat of Bishop Bishop of Zahumlje and Hercegovina DIMI- Hercegovina and Zahumlje of Bishop TEODOSIJE Prizren and Ras of Bishop

LUKIJAN Budim of Bishop

JEFREM Luka Banja of Bishop

VASILIJE Srem of Bishop

LAVRENTIJE Sabac of Bishop

PORFIRIJE

Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana Ljubljana and Zagreb of Metropolitan

of the Serbian Patriarchs Serbian the of

- Locum and Synod tenens of the throne throne the of tenens

TOM, president of the Holy Hierarchical Hierarchical Holy the of president TOM,

Metropolitan of Dabro of Metropolitan Bosna CHRYSOS- Bosna -

Child:

cradle of the divine Christ divine the of cradle -

Your intercessors before the the before intercessors Your

2020.

chate in Belgrade at Christmas, Christmas, at Belgrade in chate

Given at the Serbian Patriar- Serbian the at Given

CHRIST IS BORN! IS CHRIST

- GOD FROM PEACE

men. among will good and

heaven, and on earth peace peace earth on and heaven,

the glorification of God in in God of glorification the

greeting which carries in itself itself in carries which greeting

you with the joyous Christmas Christmas joyous the with you

the New Year 2021, greeting greeting 2021, Year New the

wish you every true good in in good true every you wish

to the Divine Child Christ, we we Christ, Child Divine the to

With these wishes and prayers prayers and wishes these With

Him.

and for us to be all these in in these all be to us for and

as joy, happiness and blessing, blessing, and happiness joy, as

to God and to have Christmas Christmas have to and God to each other if we wish to belong belong to wish we if other each

Српска Православна Црква својој духовној деци о БОЖИЋУ 2020. године

СВЕТИ АРХИЈЕРЕЈСКИ СИНОД СРПСКЕ ПРАВОСЛАВНЕ ЦРКВЕ

са свим Архијерејима Српске Православне Цркве – свештенству, монаштву и свим синовима и кћерима наше свете Цркве: благодат, милост и мир од Бога Оца, и Господа нашега Исуса Христа, и

Духа Светога, уз радосни божићни поздрав:

МИР БОЖЈИ – ХРИСТОС СЕ РОДИ!

Христос се рађа – прослављајте Га! Христос с неба – сусрећите Га! Христос на земљи – узвисите се!

Овим речима почео је своју Христос доноси богатство божићну беседу свети Григорије обожења, доноси неисказану Богослов и њих, од тада, већ радост у коју Црква позива и све шеснаест векова, певамо на људе и сву твар: Певај Господу, нашем богослужењу. Певај сва земљо! Господу, сва земљо, јер се испунила радост коју су Богосиновство је највећи вековима наговештавали хришћански идеал, идеал који се старозаветни пророци (Ис 2, 2-3; мора непрестано остваривати и 9, 6; Јер 23, 5-6; Јез 34, 23; Мих 5, доказивати (1 Јн 3,1-3). На то нам 2) и праведници (1Мој 12, 3; 1Мој указује целокупно Јеванђеље, 18, 15). Најтежи задатак почевши од родослова Господа човековог живота је да схвати Исуса Христа које нам сведочи да како та најављена, па испуњена Син Божји, остајући оно што је радост није ни налик било којој био, постаје и оно што није био овоземаљској радости већ се као истинити Човек, као (Мт 1, 1-23). Остајући истинити представља саму суштину Богочовек, не престајући бити Бог, постаје истинити Човек. живота и наше вере. Свака истинити Бог и Спаситељ од Тиме је све људе који у Њега овоземаљска радост и весеље су греха као извора зла, повероваше и у Њега се крстише ограничени временом и трулежности и смрти. У Символу учинио синовима Божјим. Јер, простором, а радост Божића је вере исповедамо да се ако је могуће да Син Божји догађај који траје Оваплоћење збило ради нас постане Син Човечји, онда је исто осмишљавајући све наше односе људи и ради нашега спасења, да тако могуће да и синови човечји и сав наш живот, и то овде и „Син Божји постаде Син Човечји постану синови Божји по дару и сада. Та се радост показала, она да би на крају и човек могао да кроз усиновљење. Наше је наступила, она нам је већ дата, постане син Божји”, како је богосиновство је директна по речима Христовим: „Радост говорио свети Иринеј Лионски. последица Оваплоћења Сина вашу нико неће узети од вас” (Јн Божић је нарочито време, када Божјег и показује се као највиша 16, 22). Црква силно и моћно славослови пројава љубави Бога Оца према ту Благу Вест речима: „Данас Бог људском роду. Рођење Христово нам открива на земљу дође, а човек на небеса Тајну бескрајне љубави Божје. узиђе. Слава и хвала на земљи Христово Рођење анђели су Само је Бог, Који је Љубав (Јн 4, Рођеноме, Који је обожио поздравили песмом: „Слава на 8), могао себе понизити и родити земаљско биће”. Рађајући се, висини Богу, а на земљи мир,

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2021 10

11

љубав не значи много. Ми Ми много. значи не љубав механичко пуко постали

5). 1,

обичаји плету, да они не би би не они да плету, обичаји према некоме или нечему. Таква Таква нечему. или некоме према

(Отк (Отк мира Кнеза јединог и првог

љубав као добро расположење расположење добро као љубав се кога око језгра до допремо

пројављивао Христов мир, мир мир мир, Христов пројављивао

колорит, али је неопходно и да да и неопходно је али колорит, имамо према свима, и то не не то и свима, према имамо

које се у наше дане најбоље најбоље дане наше у се које

позвани смо да и ми такву љубав љубав такву ми и да смо позвани његов празника, сваког део

добре воље, заправо као они кроз кроз они као заправо воље, добре

која нас је данас обасјала обасјала данас је нас која саставни јесу обичаји лепи Наши

запамћени као људи мира и и мира људи као запамћени

На том темељу љубави Христове Христове љубави темељу том На човека. сваког за и нараштај

памћењу Цркве они ће остати остати ће они Цркве памћењу

животно значајан за сваки сваки за значајан животно

13). 4, у и људи свести У небеско. Догађај који прослављамо прослављамо који Догађај

меру раста пуноће Христове (Еф (Еф Христове пуноће раста меру Царство у преселили године

историјском сећању већ да је је да већ сећању историјском

коме се зида наше узрастање у у узрастање наше зида се коме ове се су који Милутина, владике

Божића не исцрпљује у у исцрпљује не Божића

13). Оне треба да буду темељ на на темељ буду да треба Оне 13). и Амфилохија митрополита

указати на то да се смисао смисао се да то на указати

јерараха наше Цркве, Цркве, наше јерараха су: вера, нада и љубав (1Кор 13, 13, (1Кор љубав и нада вера, су:

Патријаршије. Ипак, неопходно је је неопходно Ипак, Патријаршије.

суштински важних врлина, а то то а врлина, важних суштински врлих двојице животима

васпостављање и обнову Српске Српске обнову и васпостављање

на тријади свевремених и и свевремених тријади на у и као Иринеја, патријарха

Српске Цркве свечано прогласио прогласио свечано Цркве Српске

првојерарха наше Цркве, Цркве, наше првојерарха тренутка. Ипак, све оне почивају почивају оне све Ипак, тренутка.

Архијерејски Сабор уједињене уједињене Сабор Архијерејски

успомене новопрестављеног новопрестављеног успомене конкретног човека и историјског историјског и човека конкретног

двору у Сремским Карловцима Карловцима Сремским у двору

животу и делима блажене блажене делима и животу много и оне зависе од сваког сваког од зависе оне и много

откако је у Патријашијском Патријашијском у је откако

посведочили, препознали смо у у смо препознали посведочили, васпитавања за врлине. А њих је је њих А врлине. за васпитавања

години у којој обележавамо век век обележавамо којој у години

мир, како су то многи многи то су како мир, 14). Божић је почетак нашег нашег почетак је Божић 14).

народа. То посебно истичемо у у истичемо посебно То народа.

и душе. Јеванђелски, Христов Христов Јеванђелски, душе. и започиње наше спасење (Јн 1, 1, (Јн спасење наше започиње

историјског постојања нашег нашег постојања историјског

наша браћо и сестре, стање срца срца стање сестре, и браћо наша Син Божји постаје Човек и када када и Човек постаје Божји Син

обичаја који исказују богатство богатство исказују који обичаја

свете Литургије. А мир је, драга драга је, мир А Литургије. свете животу почне баш на дан када када дан на баш почне животу

Божјег је код нас празник препун препун празник нас код је Божјег

мир започињемо и служење служење и започињемо мир потребно да реч о врлинском врлинском о реч да потребно

Прослављање Рођења Сина Сина Рођења Прослављање

појединих Цркава. Позивом на на Позивом Цркава. појединих Исуса Христа. Из тог разлога је је разлога тог Из Христа. Исуса

поздравом мира хришћанима хришћанима мира поздравом испуњење у Личности Господа Господа Личности у испуњење близине. Божје радости

Посланицу започиње и завршава завршава и започиње Посланицу тако да његове речи и дела нађу нађу дела и речи његове да тако лишеног живота и празнине

Апостол Павле сваку своју своју сваку Павле Апостол животом, човек се охристовљује охристовљује се човек животом, духовне је последица људе

нека се не боји! (Јн 14, 14, (Јн боји! не се нека врлинским и светотајинским светотајинским и врлинским данашње захвата који немир 28)”. - 27

Нека се не збуњује срце ваше и и ваше срце збуњује не се Нека препознају (Мт 5, 16). Живећи Живећи 16). 5, (Мт препознају томе, Насупрот Божје. воље

дајем вам га као што свет даје. даје. свет што као га вам дајем кога људи треба да нас нас да треба људи кога испуњење као пуноће осећање

остављам, мир свој дајем вам; не не вам; дајем свој мир остављам, живот по Јеванђељу на основу основу на Јеванђељу по живот истинско оно савести, у мир

снаге и силе. Православље је је Православље силе. и снаге другима, са једне и Оцем Богом вам Мир „ им: рекавши ученика,

без животне животне без a идеологиј низу са мири нас који Христов мир већ Својих од растао и се мира

на папиру и постала још једна у у једна још постала и папиру на мир, људски двосмислени често благословом Са отпоздрављао.

да вера не би остала мртво слово слово мртво остала би не вера да срачунати, колебљиви, тражимо миром и поздрављао

и наше напредовање у врлини, врлини, у напредовање наше и Не роди! се Христос Божји, миром је Господ завршава. све

усмерење ка врлинском животу животу врлинском ка усмерење Мир са: поздрављамо случајно, се миром и започиње све Миром

То конкретно значи наше наше значи конкретно То не свакако данас, се Ми другим. 13). 15, Рм 33; 16, Јн 34; 5, Мк

хришћанском животу (Мк 1, 15). 15). 1, (Мк животу хришћанском са сусрет и дело добро свако 9; 5, (Мт Писму Светом у срећемо

јасно усмери ка практичном практичном ка усмери јасно за немоћан и изгубљен тврђаву, који појмова најчешћих од

покајањем и да га кроз покајање покајање кроз га да и покајањем крхку своју у затвара се да један је Мир активности. људске

човеку пробуди жељу за за жељу пробуди човеку и других од бежи да почне човек стваралачке суштински и дубоко

Сина Божјега треба да у сваком сваком у да треба Божјега Сина када разум, паралише немир земљи на мира ширење и Богу

превиди или заборави. Рођење Рођење заборави. или превиди када срце, у усели немир се када славословље и су јер пасивности,

смисао и самог овог Празника Празника овог самог и смисао значи то шта знамо ми Сви мир. из излазак на стваралаштво, на

животодавни животодавни a обичај због се да градимо себе око свуда да нас нас покреће и вере мото животни

лишених разумевања. Догађа се се Догађа разумевања. лишених и обавезује Божјег Сина Рођења постаје песма анђеоска Та 14).

извршавање одређених радњи радњи одређених извршавање празника данашњег Порука 2, (Лк ” воља добра људима међу

говоримо о љубави као начину хришћанског света. наше матичне земље и земаља у живота. Говоримо, штавише, о којима живи наш народ, широм љубави која је начин Божјег Испуњени том љубављу, овог света. Тако чинећи, ви не постојања (1Јн 4, 16), а ми, Божића се сећамо и свих показујете одсуство вере или будући боголики (1Мој 1, 27), невољника и страдалника, свих маловерје већ сведочите да позвани смо да такву љубав људи којима је учињена било поштујете светињу живота, да имамо једни према другима. каква неправда, а посебно оних волите ближње и да љубите Имати такву љубав значи да ако којих су у овим тешким данима Господа Који је Сами Живот. желимо живот, ако желимо услед последица опаке болести постојање, онда то можемо остали без својих милих и Славећи у таквој љубави имати само у заједници слободе драгих. Њима пружамо речи Господа, зарадујмо се Богу и и љубави са другим човеком. утехе коју налазимо у Господу Божићу и прославимо Христа Видети у другом човеку Бога, то Исусу Христу, чије Рођење Богомладенца као једино ново је Христов призив. Његове су прослављамо, у Господу Који је под сунцем (2Кор 5, 17)! А ако речи да лаже онај ко говори да постао човек ради нас и ради нам је, можда, целе године туга воли Бога, а притом не воли нашега спасења, Који је и Сa м притискала срце, нека се данас човека. Јер, „како можеш волети прошао пут смрти тражећи од роди радост у њему јер славимо Бога кога не видиш ако не Оца да Га прослави, што Отац и Рођење највеће Радости, Рођење волиш човека кога видиш”? (1Јн чини васкрсавши га Духом Сина Божјег Исуса Христа! Ако 4, 20). Светим из мртвих (Јн 12, 28). су нам целе године мржња, Зато нам свима Господ и гордост и злоба тровали срце, Озарени том љубављу, и овог поручује да се не бојимо јер који избацимо данас отров из њега Божића смо заједно са нашом су са Христом сједињени, ако и јер славимо Рођење небеске браћом и сестрама на Косову и умру, живеће (Јн 11, 25). Љубави, оваплоћене у људској Метохији, у колевци нашег природи! народа. Њихови разорени Љубав новорођенога домови су и наши домови, Богомладенца подсећа нас и Нека овај Божић, децо наша њихова спаљена огњишта су и позива да у овим данима духовна, унесе у ваше домове наша огњишта, вековни великих искушења мир, љубав, слогу, радост и храмови који су порушени наши заблагодаримо лекарима и благослов у све дане вашег су храмови. Зато се молимо свему медицинском особљу које живота! Нека нам новорођени Господу да њима и нама подари се несебично труди да помогне Младенац Христос подари снаге, упућујући им речи сваком човеку, често и по цену покајање и спремност на охрабрења које је Христос сопственог живота. На овај праштање! Уколико међу вама и упутио Својим ученицима: „Не начин, кроз своју несебичну данас има оних који су у свађи, бој се, мало стадо!” (Лк 12, 32). жртву, они показују да су заиста позивамо их да у божићној деца Божја, спремна да чују и радости једни од других затраже Витлејемски поздрав упућујемо изврше реч Христову да нема опроштај, муж од жене, а жена и свој пуноћи нашег веће љубави од ове да ко живот од мужа, деца од родитељa , а богољубивог народа широм свој положи за ближње своје (Јн родитељи од деце, сусед од света, поручујући му да чува 15, 13). суседа. Морамо затражити своју православну веру, свој опроштај једни од других ако језик и своје писмо, ма на којем Та љубав и жртва обавезују да хоћемо да будемо Божји и да континенту и у којој земљи све вас, децо наша духовна, нам Божић буде радостан, живео. Будите поносни и позовемо и замолимо да у овим срећан и благословен, и ми у достојанствени! Ми смо древни данима, тешким за свеколики Њему. хришћански народ, који је кроз род људски, чувате своје крштење, кирило-методијевско здравље и свој живот, као и да Са овим жељама и молитвама наслеђе и светосавску просвету чувате друге на начин како то Богомладенцу Христу желимо постао део културе свецелог препоручују здравствене службе вам свако истинско добро у

THE THE VOICE VOICE OF OF ST. ST. GEORGE GEORGE † †Spring Winter 2021 12

13

ДАВИД стобијски Епископ Викарни

МАРКО брегалнички Епископ

ЈОАКИМ кумановски

- полошко Епископ

ЈОВАН скопски Митрополит

Архиепископ охридски и и охридски Архиепископ

ОХРИДСКА АРХИЕПИСКОПИЈА: ОХРИДСКА

диоклијски МЕТОДИЈЕ

Викарни Епископ Епископ Викарни

мохачки ИСИХИЈЕ

Викарни Епископ Епископ Викарни

ремезијански СТЕФАН

Викарни Епископ Епископ Викарни

АНТОНИЈЕ моравички

Викарни Епископ Епископ Викарни

ДИМИТРИЈЕ херцеговачки

- захумско Епископ

ХЕРУВИМ барањски

Епископ осечкопољски и и осечкопољски Епископ

НИКОДИМ далматински Епископ

СИЛУАН новозеландске

- аустралијско

Епископ Митрополије Митрополије Епископ

КИРИЛО јужноцентралноамерички

Епископ буеносаирески и и буеносаирески Епископ

АРСЕНИЈЕ нишки Епископ

ИЛАРИОН тимочки Епископ

СЕРГИЈЕ петровачки

- бихаћко Епископ

АНДРЕЈ швајцарски

- аустријско Епископ

ЈОВАН славонски Епископ

ДАВИД крушевачки Епископ

ИРИНЕЈ источноамерички Епископ

ГЕРАСИМ горњокарловачки

- британско Епископ

Епископ Епископ Христом: Богомладенцем

ИРИНЕЈ бачки Епископ

МАКСИМ западноамерички

Ваши молитвеници пред пред молитвеници Ваши

МИТРОФАН канадски Епископ

Епископ Епископ

ЛОНГИН средњезападноамерички

ТЕОДОСИЈЕ призренски

године.

- новограчаничко Епископ - рашко Епископ

НИКАНОР банатски Епископ Београду, о Божићу 2020. 2020. Божићу о Београду, ГРИГОРИЈЕ немачки

ЛУКИЈАН будимски Епископ

Епископ диселдорфски и и диселдорфски Епископ Дано у Патријаршији српској у у српској Патријаршији у Дано

ЈЕФРЕМ бањалучки Епископ

ЈОАНИКИЈЕ никшићки

ВАСИЛИЈЕ сремски Епископ

- будимљанско Епископ

роди! се Христос Божји, Мир ЛАВРЕНТИЈЕ шабачки Епископ

АТАНАСИЈЕ милешевски Епископ

ПОРФИРИЈЕ љубљански ФОТИЈЕ тузлански

- загребачко Митрополит вољу. добру људима - зворничко Епископ

ИГЊАТИЈЕ браничевски Епископ небу, на земљи мир, а међу међу а мир, земљи на небу,

српских патријараха

ЈОВАН шумадијски Епископ

себи носи слављење Бога на на Бога слављење носи себи

Синода и мјестобљуститељ трона трона мјестобљуститељ и Синода

ПАХОМИЈЕ врањски Епископ

божићним поздравом који у у који поздравом божићним

председник Светог Архијерејског Архијерејског Светог председник ЈУСТИН жички Епископ

поздрављајући вас радосним радосним вас поздрављајући

ХРИЗОСТОМ, ХРИЗОСТОМ, дабробосански ЛУКА западноевропски Епископ

Новој, 2021. години, години, 2021. Новој, Митрополит Митрополит ДОСИТЕЈ скандинавски

SAINT GEORGE PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS

CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO CHILDREN IN NEED IN SERBIA

The St. George Serbian Or- tributions. I also wish to extend my thodox Church’s Gооd Samaritan gratitude to our Church Parish Fund has launched a humanitarian Council, Kolo Sestara, MORAVA Sr., project: Christmas Gifts for Chil- the St. George Church Choir and Fa- dren in Serbia. This program has ther Bratso. It was my honor and benefited children in Serbia and privilege to lead this humanitarian Kosovo who are living in poverty project on behalf of our beloved and have special needs. Saint George Serbian Orthodox We have collected $9,710 Church. (see more pics on p. 31) and have sent $5,000 to 2 charity organizations in Serbia. The distri- Драги Парохијани, Много Вам bution of the remaining $4,710 Хвала на подршци. Успели смо да starts on the day of the celebration сакупимо $9,710. Од те суме of St Sava, bringing enormous hap- $5,000 смо проследили у Србију и piness and joy to Kosovo children поклони су подељени who deserve it! сиромашној деци и деци са Of the $5000, we специјалним потребама. have sent $3000 to the organization Укупно је подељено 407 поклона Pomoc Srpskoj Deci. The organiza- широм Србије. tion has purchased the gifts and, due to Covid-19, has mailed them to Преосталих 4,710 шаљемо на children in need all around Serbia. Косово деци поклоне приликом $2000 was sent to the humanitari- Светосавке Приредбе. Хвала an organization “Stolar Mile,” who такође много нашем Milorad Mile elected to travel and distribute gifts Jurkovic (STOLAR MILE) i Humanti- in person and focused their efforts arnoj Organizaciji Pomoc Srpskoj on children with special needs liv- Deci ing in Valjevo, Vrbas, Sremska Mi- Хвла свима вама који сте trovica, Arandjelovac, and Susek. допринели да успемо и Both organizations distributed a обрадујемо малишане. Колико total of 406 gifts, bringing smiles смо им радости донели and even tears of joy to the chil- процените сами по dren. фотографијама. I would like to sincerely Свако добро и још thank all the donors for their con- једном велико ХВАЛА. Maja Topalovic

FOOD DRIVE

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 3025 Denver St., San Diego, CA 92117, was, once again, a collection place for the 15th Annual Bay Park Community Food Drive organized by Laura Hollister from eXp Realty. Great job to Laura, her team, St. George parish and Bay Park neighbors! God bless you all!

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2021 14

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Youtube.com

ties in Kosovo through assistance assistance through Kosovo in ties We are on Facebook and and Facebook on are We

the remaining Serbian communi- Serbian remaining the

many.

ing conditions and sustainability of of sustainability and conditions ing A penny and penny laid up will be be will up laid penny and penny A

mitted to improvement of the liv- the of improvement to mitted

Kosovo. in communities

for Kosovo (SAFROS) remains com- remains (SAFROS) Kosovo for fund growth of Serbian Serbian of growth fund - Crowd

The Serbian American Foundation Foundation American Serbian The [email protected]

www.safkos.org animals. 30 houses and

January 2021, the farm is complete complete is farm the 2021, January CEO Popovic, Djordje

We are pleased to inform that, as of of as that, inform to pleased are We

yours, Sincerely

dox Diocese of Ras and Prizren. Prizren. and Ras of Diocese dox

in Gracanica for the Serbian Ortho- Serbian the for Gracanica in

rodi! se Hristos — Boziji Mir farm cattle a build to project tion’s

donation of $15,000 to our founda- our to $15,000 of donation

318.4606. 323. at reached

you personally for the generous generous the for personally you

[email protected] , or or , [email protected]

Serbian Orthodox Church and to to and Church Orthodox Serbian

be written to to written be

Board members of the St George George St the of members Board

me if you have any questions. I can can I questions. any have you if me

gratitude to the parishioners and and parishioners the to gratitude

Please do not hesitate to contact contact to hesitate not do Please

I would like to express my deepest deepest my express to like would I

activities. future our about inform

Dear Father Bratso, Bratso, Father Dear

ic opportunities. We will keep you you keep will We opportunities. ic

SAFKOS TO ST. GEORGE SOC GEORGE ST. TO SAFKOS vices, and creation of new econom- new of creation and vices,

LETTER OF GRATITUDE FROM FROM GRATITUDE OF LETTER to health care facilities, child ser- child facilities, care health to

you!! and parishioners George St. by Metohija. and Kosovo

bless God all! you Thank possible made was donation This in faithful her and Church thodox

parishes. CA, Saratoga, - chael $22,204. Or- Serbian support to continues

Fresno, CA and St. Archangel Mi- Archangel St. and CA Fresno, project: farm Monastery Gracanica Popovic Djordje parishioner our

- Peter St. WA, Seattle, - Sava St. the to contribution parish George by founded SAFKOS - Kosovo for

friends as well as donations from from donations as well as friends St. of total the see please, Below, Foundation American Serbian The

KOSOVO FOR FOUNDATION AMERICAN SERBIAN

OUR PARISH NATIVITY-CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN 2020/21.

Christmas Česnica bread

Fantastic Kitchen Crews

We offer our heartfelt gratitude to Santa Clause’s assistants Dimitrije & Adera Dadic for bringing extra joy to our kids! Gifts for kids in Serbia

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † Spring CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN 2020/21.

St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) landing

BIOGRAPHY OF HIS HOLINESS IRINEJ, ARCHBISHOP OF PEC, METROPOLITAN OF BELGRADE-KARLOVCI AND SERBIAN PATRIARCH

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej Theological Seminary, but before negro, from where he returned (Gavrilovic) of Serbia was born in assuming this assignment he was back to Prizren and became Princi- the village of Vidova, near town of tonsured by the late Serbian Patri- pal of the Prizren Seminary. From Cacak, Serbia, on 28 August, 1930. arch Herman (German) and got the that office he was elected as Vicar His baptismal name is Miroslav. monastic name Irinej, at the Ra- Bishop of the then Patriarch of Ser- He finished elementary school in kovica monastery near Belgrade in bia with the title of Bishop of Mora- his village, and later on high school October 1959. vica in May, 1974. A year later, in in Cacak. Thereupon he enrolled That same month, on the Feat of St. 1975, he was elected as diocesan and completed Theological Semi- Paraskeva, October 27, 1959, at the Bishop of Nis and enthroned in the nary in Prizren, Kosovo and Ruzica church within the Kalemeg- Holy Trinity Cathedral in Nis on 15 Metochia, and graduated at the dan old town of Belgrade, he was June, 1975. As Bishop he headed Faculty of Orthodox Theology in ordained hieromonk. While he the Diocese of Nis for the next 35 Belgrade. Upon graduation, he did worked as a professor at the Priz- years. his army service for a year and a ren Seminary he spent a period of The Holy Assembly of Bishops half. time at post-graduate studies in elected Bishop Irinej as Archbishop The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Athens. In 1969 he was appointed of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade- Serbian Orthodox Church appoint- as Principal of the Monastic School Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch on ed him a professor of the Prizren in the Monastery of Ostrog, Monte- January 22, 2010, as successor of

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2021 18

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rectorate for Cooperation with with Cooperation for rectorate Dio- of Metodije Mohacs, of Isihije

Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian Member Member Serbian Vucic, Aleksandar

Herzegovina, Antonije of Moravica, Moravica, of Antonije Herzegovina, Milan Knezevic, Director of the Di- the of Director Knezevic, Milan

President of the Republic of Serbia Serbia of Republic the of President

Montenegro Andrija Mandic and and Mandic Andrija Montenegro - Zahumlye of Dimitrije Nis,

and Burial were attended by the the by attended were Burial and

leaders of the Democratic Front of of Front Democratic the of leaders of Arsenije Timok, of Ilarion vac,

The funeral Liturgy, Funeral Rite Rite Funeral Liturgy, funeral The

je of Raska of je Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapic, Krivokapic, Zdravko Montenegro Kruse- of David Prizren, -

Rite of the Serbian Patriarch Irinej. Irinej. Patriarch Serbian the of Rite

designate of of designate - Minister Prime lovic, Teodosi- Vranje, of Pahomije Backa,

an people live attended the Funeral Funeral the attended live people an

Bishops: Jovan of Sumadija, Irinej of of Irinej Sumadija, of Jovan Bishops: Serbian Army General Milan Mojsi- Milan General Army Serbian

and all the regions where the Serbi- the where regions the all and

bia, Chief of the General Staff of the the of Staff General the of Chief bia, Graces Their Ljubljana; - Zagreb

Serbian people from the homeland homeland the from people Serbian

Government of the Republic of Ser- of Republic the of Government of Porfirije Metropolitan Eminence

The highest representatives of the the of representatives highest The

Vulin and other members of the the of members other and Vulin His Jovan; Skopje of Metropolitan

Minister of the Interior Aleksandar Aleksandar Interior the of Minister sermon. a held Backa, the and Ohrid of Archbishop tude

of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovis, Selakovis, Nikola Affairs Foreign of of Bishop Irinej, Grace His gy, Beati- His Patriarchate; Moscow the

fense Nebojsa Stefanovic, Minister Minister Stefanovic, Nebojsa fense Litur- Holy the During Herzegovina. of Church Orthodox Ukrainian the

Prime Minister and Minister of De- of Minister and Minister Prime - Zahumlye of Atanasije Bishop from Brovary, and Borispol of ny

ernment Ana Brnabic, Deputy Deputy Brnabic, Ana ernment retired and Remesiana of Stefan ny, Anto- and Patriarchate Moscow the

Prime Minister of the Serbian Gov- Serbian the of Minister Prime Germa- and Dusseldorf of Grigorije from Volokolamsk of Hilarion tans

of the Their Eminences Metropoli- Eminences Their the of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic, Dacic, Ivica Serbia of Republic the Bishop Grace His of presence

the Liturgy, with the concelebration concelebration the with Liturgy, the dent of the National Assembly of of Assembly National the of dent prayerful the in Churches, Orthodox

Bosnia, presided over over presided Bosnia, - Dabar of tom Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, Presi- Dodik, Milorad Herzegovina local other from guests and Church

His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizos- Metropolitan Eminence His of the Presidency of Bosnia and and Bosnia of Presidency the of Orthodox Serbian the of clergy clea,

the 45 the Church Orthodox Serbian the of Patriarch

th

A Prayerful Farewell to our Patriarch and Father Irinej, Irinej, Father and Patriarch our to Farewell Prayerful A

spc.rs Source: resentatives of all sister Orthodox Orthodox sister all of resentatives

the question of whether he was wor- was he whether of question the

2010, with participation of the rep- the of participation with 2010, AM. 7:07 at 2020,

leaf in the wind, that it trembled at at trembled it that wind, the in leaf

chate of Pec monastery on 3 October October 3 on monastery Pec of chate November 20, 20, November Friday, on Belgrade,

said that his heart fluttered like a a like fluttered heart his that said

Serbian Patriarchs in the Patriar- the in Patriarchs Serbian

Covid Hospital "Karaburma" in in "Karaburma" Hospital Covid tary

dies, but also its joys. His Holiness Holiness His joys. its also but dies,

throned to the ancient throne of the the of throne ancient the to throned in the Mili- the in Lord the in posed

in the fate of our people, its trage- its people, our of fate the in

triarch Irinej was formally en- formally was Irinej triarch (Gavrilovic) re- (Gavrilovic) Irinej Patriarch an

ness of our national history, sharing sharing history, national our of ness

the Russian and Greek Churches. Pa- Churches. Greek and Russian the and Serbi- and Karlovci - Belgrade of

sentative before God and in the full- the in and God before sentative

cons, as well as representatives of of representatives as well as cons,

Pec, Metropolitan Metropolitan Pec, of Archbishop The

an patriarch was always the repre- the always was patriarch an

brothers Bishops, priests and dea- and priests Bishops, brothers

away. passing Serbi- the for people, our and Church

Irinej with the concelebration of his his of concelebration the with Irinej

love and goodness of God until his his until God of goodness and love our him, for day great a was it that

ated by the elected Serbian Patriarch Patriarch Serbian elected the by ated

path of Saint Sava, witnessing the the witnessing Sava, Saint of path noted Irinej Patriarch thronement,

chael. The solemn Liturgy was offici- was Liturgy solemn The chael.

our Holy Church faithfully on the the on faithfully Church Holy our en- his at delivered homily, his In

Cathedral church of Archangel Mi- Archangel of church Cathedral

the Serbian Orthodox Church, led led Church, Orthodox Serbian the

predecessors. Belgrade’s in Liturgy Hierarchical

on the throne of the first hierarch of of hierarch first the of throne the on

all the Serbian holy and honorable honorable and holy Serbian the all Holy the during 2010, 23, January

patriarch patriarch 45 the Irinej, Holiness His

th worthy successor of Saint Sava and and Sava Saint of successor worthy on performed was Patriarch, Serbian

Patriarch. the said mercy,” and ness a be he that were wishes philohije’s and Karlovci - Belgrade of ropolitan

who has awarded me with His kind- His with me awarded has who Am- Metropolitan Pavle. Patriarch of Met- Pec, of Archbishop Irinej, ness

Savior, the Archpastor of the Church, Church, the of Archpastor the Savior, sacrifices and struggles spiritual and Holi- His of enthronement of act The

thoughts are directed at God, my my God, at directed are thoughts life the of him reminded Amphilohije

Church. dox

“For this reason at this moment my my moment this at reason this “For Metropolitan insignia, patriarchal

Patriarch of the Serbian Ortho- Serbian the of Patriarch 45

th

Upon granting Patriarch Irinej the the Irinej Patriarch granting Upon

responsibility. the is he Consequently, (Stojcevic).

thy of such a high calling, honor and and honor calling, high a such of thy Churches. Pavle Patriarch previous the

Churches and Religious Communi- dent of the Department for Exter- with the Serbian Orthodox Church ties Dr. Mileta Radojevic, members nal Church Relations of the Mos- and testifying that together they of the Crown Council, representa- cow Patriarchate Metropolitan Hi- are centuries-old, lasting and tives of the highest cultural, scien- larion of Volokolamsk; principal of strongest pillars of the Serbian tific and public institutions, mem- the Cathedral church of the Holy state. The Serbian Army guards bers of the diplomatic corps, Mufti Archangel Michael in Belgrade, carried the coffin with the body of of Belgrade Mustafa ef. Jusufspahic archpriest-staurophor Petar Lukic; the Patriarch of blessed memory on behalf of the Islamic Communi- President of the Republic of Serbia and formed honorary lines both in ty of Serbia, Apostolic Nuncio in Mr. Aleksandar Vucic and the Ser- front of the Cathedral and the Belgrade Archbishop Suriano Luci- bian member of the Presidency of Church of St. Sava. ano, Roman-Catholic Archbishop of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Mi- A team of artists from the Russian Belgrade Stanislav Hocevar, repre- lorad Dodik, delivered speeches. Federation, headed by the promi- sentatives of traditional Churches The Patriarch's body was then bur- nent people’s artist Nikolai Muhin, and religious communities in Ser- ied in the crypt of the Cathedral who for years under the watchful bia. church of Saint Sava eye of the Patriarch performed Immediately after the Divine Litur- Members of the Serbian Army and works on the interior decoration of gy, the Funeral rite was performed, Police, together with their people, the church of St. Sava, honored the when the chairman of the Holy honored the late Serbian Patriarch Serbian Patriarch by their pres- Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Irinej in the most dignified man- ence. Source: Serbian Patriarchate website Orthodox Church, Metropolitan ner, thus confirming their unity Hrizostom of Dabar Bosnia; Presi- † “God gave the Church of Saint Sava a wise Patriarch…filled with true Christian love for others, who did not spare his strength, always working to be with his people… and in his last hours of this earthly life he shared in the sufferings of all those whose lives were affected by this terrible epidemic. Patriarch Irinej accomplished much in pre- serving the unity of Orthodoxy and the canonical order of the Ortho- dox Church. The completion of the interior of the Church of Saint Sava on Vracar will enter in the history books as his greatest accomplish in his ministry as patriarch” His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

“Patriarch Irinej worked tirelessly and cared for our Church and our people…He led the Serbian Ortho- dox Church quietly, wisely and pa- tiently”, and with his death “he

THETHE VOICE VOICE OF OF ST. ST. GEORGE GEORGE † †Spring Winter 2021 20

21

St. Nikolai Velimirovich, Thoughts on Good and Evil and Good on Thoughts Velimirovich, Nikolai St. –

heavenly fatherland.” fatherland.” heavenly

Christians constantly remember the end of their lives and their return to their their to return their and lives their of end the remember constantly Christians

for eternal life. And as soldiers think with joy about returning home, so also also so home, returning about joy with think soldiers as And life. eternal for

than war. So we also enter this temporal life for the sake of something greater: greater: something of sake the for life temporal this enter also we So war. than

in order to be saved from it. People go to was for the sake of something greater greater something of sake the for was to go People it. from saved be to order in

saved from war, so we do not enter this world in order to enjoy this world, but but world, this enjoy to order in world this enter not do we so war, from saved

“Just as people do not enter a war in order to enjoy war, but in order to be be to order in but war, enjoy to order in war a enter not do people as “Just

treated everyone with care and and care with everyone treated

Bosna - Dabar

even closer to Christ our Lord. He He Lord. our Christ to closer even His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizostom of of Hrizostom Metropolitan Eminence His

larly patience….death brought him him brought patience….death larly

people”

was enriched with virtues, particu- virtues, with enriched was

dean of St. Archangel Michael Cathedral Cathedral Michael Archangel St. of dean a great loss for our Church and and Church our for loss great a

lives….Patriarch and father Irinej Irinej father and lives….Patriarch stavrophor Petar Lukic, Lukic, Petar stavrophor - Protopresybter honor and image of our people….it people….it our of image and honor

deeds during our entire entire our during deeds

ness”. the preserving in fighter promising

calling with our entire beings and and beings entire our with calling

greatest indicator of his great- his of indicator greatest uncom- an was He Pavle. Patriarch

birth, but we should strive for this this for strive should we but birth,

blessed repose is perhaps the the perhaps is repose blessed to successor worthy a and Church

doesn’t mean to be one merely by by merely one be to mean doesn’t

Church after Patriarch Pavle of of Pavle Patriarch after Church Sava St. our of pillar unshakeable

“He taught us that to ‘be a man’ man’ a ‘be to that us taught “He

throne of the Serbian Orthodox Orthodox Serbian the of throne an was He take. will time, own our

caution…his ascension to the the to ascension caution…his in us, of all which path the showed

Biography of Metropolitan Amphilohije (Radovic)

Russian St. Sergius Or- Theological Academy since 2006 thodox Theological In- and of the Institute of Theology of stitute, in Rome at the the Belarusian State University Pontifical Oriental In- since 2008, etc. stitute and in Bern at On 21th July 1968, on the feast of the Old Catholic Facul- Holy Great-martyr Procopius of ty. He completed his The Holy Assembly of Bishops of postgraduate studies the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bern and Rome, and elected him as Bishop of Banat in then moved to Greece May 1985. He was consecrated in where he lived for sev- the Cathedral Church in Belgrade en years, took monas- on 16th June 1985 by the late Ser- tic vows and worked as bian Patriarch German with the a hieromonk of the concelebration of Metropolitan Greek Orthodox Danilo of Montenegro and the Lit- Church. toral and Bishops Nikanor of Amfiolohije was or- Backa, Hrisostom of Branicevo, dained as hieromonk Stefan of Zicaa, Sava of Sumadija, at the Monastery of St. Nikolai of Dalmatia, Milutin of Gerasimus of Kefalonia Timok, Vasilije of Zvornik and Tu- in Argostoli, in Greek zla, Vasilije of Australia and New Province Kefalonia. Zealand, Jefrem of Banja Luka and The day before he had Danilo of Marcha. Metropolitan been ordained as hi- Procopius of Kefalonia was among erodeacon by the same them as well. Amfilohije’s en- Amfilohije was born Risto Radovic Metropolitan of Kefalonia, by thronement took place in Vrsac on (Ристо Радовић) in Bare Radovic a whom who had taken monastic 21st July 1985. in Lower Morac a, Kingdom of Yu- vows in 1967. Many times has His By a decision of the Holy Assembly goslavia (now Montenegro). Eminence Amfilohije emphasized of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox He is a descendant of vojvoda Mina that Metropolitan Procopius Church, Bishop Amfilohije of Banat Radovic who participated in the played an important role in his life. was promoted as Metropolitan of unification of the Morac a region In Athens, he completed his doc- Montenegro and the Littoral with a with the Principality of Montene- toral thesis on Saint Gregory Pala- seat in Cetinje in December 1990. gro in 1820. He studied at St. Sava mas and earned a doctor of theolo- On 30th December 1990 the sol- Seminary and graduated from the gy degree. After spending one year emn enthronement was performed Faculty of Theology in Belgrade in at Mount Athos, he moved to Paris by Patriarch Pavle of the blessed 1962. During his time as a semi- and worked as a professor at the memory with concelebration of narian in the late 1950s, Amfilohije St. Sergius Orthodox Theological bishops at the Monastery of Ceti- knew the great theologian Justin Institute. nje. Popovic , who infklubnced his In 1976 he became a docent and Metropolitan Amfilohije spoke thought a great deal. He also stud- later professor of Orthodox catech- Greek, Russian, Italian, German ied classical philosophy at the Uni- esis at the Orthodox Faculty of and French. He is a member of the versity of Belgrade. Theology in Belgrade. He is an Association of Writers of Serbia In Paris, Amfilohije studied at the honorary doctor of the Moscow and Montenegro.

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2021 22

23

society. of spheres

Their Graces Joanikije, Bishop of of Bishop Joanikije, Graces Their Government of Montenegro Montenegro of Government

spected personalities from all all from personalities spected

Porfirije of Zagreb of Porfirije for the composition of the new new the of composition the for and Ljubljana -

Montenegro, and many other re- other many and Montenegro,

(Albanian Orthodox Church) and and Church) Orthodox (Albanian In attendance was the mandator mandator the was attendance In

nities operating on the territory of of territory the on operating nities

chate; Andon, of Elbasan Elbasan of Andon, chate;

sentatives of all religious commu- religious all of sentatives faithful. of thousands of tion

Church of the Moscow Patriar- Moscow the of Church

Holiness Kyril, as well as repre- as well as Kyril, Holiness participa- prayerful the through

from the Ukrainian Orthodox Orthodox Ukrainian the from

arch of Moscow and All Russia, His His Russia, All and Moscow of arch and Churches local other and

Antony of Borispol and Brovary, Brovary, and Borispol of Antony

so present on behalf of the Patri- the of behalf on present so our for monastics clergy, many

concelebration of Their Eminences Eminences Their of concelebration

gion. A Russian delegation was al- was delegation Russian A gion. and Hercegovina, and Zahum

Serbian Patriarch Irinej with the the with Irinej Patriarch Serbian

tutions of Montenegro and the re- the and Montenegro of tutions of bishop retired Atanasije, and

urgy was served by His Holiness Holiness His by served was urgy

as representatives of cultural insti- cultural of representatives as Diokleia of Metodije Remezijan,

The Holy Hierarchical Divine Lit- Divine Hierarchical Holy The

tives of foreign countries, as well well as countries, foreign of tives of Stefan Hercegovina, and Zahum

blessed metropolitan. blessed palities, diplomatic representa- diplomatic palities, of Dimitrije Nis, of Arsenije Timok,

all Montenegrin cities and munici- and cities Montenegrin all of Ilarion Petrovac, and Bihac their of farewell prayer the for

resentatives and senior officials of of officials senior and resentatives of Sergije Slavonia, of Jovan vac, Podgorica in Resurrection Christ's

Montenegro, political leaders, rep- leaders, political Montenegro, Kruse- of David Prizren, and Ras of of church the in gathered hije

ber of MPs in the Parliament of of Parliament the in MPs of ber Teodosije Kumanovo, and Polog of Amphilo- Metropolitan of mirers

of BiH Milorad Dodik, a large num- large a Dodik, Milorad BiH of Joakim Germany, and Dusseldorf ad- many and friends relatives, the

Serbian member of the Presidency Presidency the of member Serbian of Grigorije Milesevo, of nasije people, faithful the and monastics

tion from the Serbian government, government, Serbian the from tion Ata- Sumadija, of Jovan Backa, clergy, Churches, Orthodox local

Aleksandar Vucic with his delega- his with Vucic Aleksandar of Irinej Coastlands, the and gro other and Serbian the of hierarch

the Parliament, Serbian President President Serbian Parliament, the Montene- of Metropolitane the tor the 2020, 1, November on rection,

Zdravko Krivokapic, president of of president Krivokapic, Zdravko Administra- and Niksic and Budim Resur- the in hope and faith With

Coastlands the & Montenegro of Amphilohije Funeral Service and Burial of Metropolitan Metropolitan of Burial and Service Funeral

His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa sets on its blessed path to the Lord by the Church and people. “He delivered a homily following the on this very day of the Resurrec- was,” the patriarch continued, “the reading from the gospel noting tion of Christ as every Sunday dur- initiator and bearer of the spiritual that apart from the sadness in the ing the church year and in the renovations in Montenegro, our parting with our metropolitan, our church which is dedicated to the dear metropolitan was supported greatest joy is in knowing that our Resurrection. by the clergy, the monastics and parting is temporary. This is a day He reminded all the faithful that the faithful people of Montenegro. of sadness, the bishop noted, as we Metropolitan Amphilohije, while And for this reason will his name are parted from our dear bishop still a child, which was very rare at be etched in gold in the Serbian who labored in many places for that time during communism, as history books, as a respected fig-

young man from Moraca received Christ, for the glory of God, for His Christ fully into his heart. He also ure. He was among our top theolo- Holy Church, and for the longest noted that it is not true that the gians and as such was respected in amount of time he spent here, in metropolitan had the virus but all of Orthodoxy. His theological Montenegro, as the archpastor of that for eleven days he was victo- writings belong to the pleiad of the people of God. He added, “We rious over the virus but “his or- contemporary theological works. hope not only that we will once ganism and bodily weakness were He participated in many meetings again be together, but that that not able to sustain that tempta- and gatherings, representing our will be in the bosom of Abraham, tion.” Bishop Irinej said the metro- Church, both in Orthodox coun- in the bosom of our heavenly Fa- politan’s life motto was “All for tries and throughout the world. ther in communion with the Christ and Christ for nothing” and News of his passing quickly Saints, in the communion of the added that in speaking thus he reached all Orthodox Churches Church which we called heaven, doesn’t wish to create a cult figure who responded with their condo- and which begins already here on out of the metropolitan nor did lences. His passing leaves a great earth for it is one Church. And not Metropolitan Amphilohije ever void in the life of our Church, par- only because of this but because ticularly in the resolution of the strive for that. we can have joy in our hearts for it problem of our Church here in is not by coincidence – as nothing Following the Liturgy the metro- Montenegro. He leaves us at a mo- is coincidental in history, nor in politan’s body was taken outside ment he is most needed by the our lives – that the metropolitan the church and the funeral service Church and the people. We hope passed away on the eve of the was served in front of the church. that with his prayers before the monastery Slava, on the eve of the In his eulogy His Holiness Patri- Throne of God he will intercede on Feast of St. Petar of Cetinje and his arch Irinej noted that Metropoli- our behalf that he situation in bodily remains were in the church tan Amphilohije passed away at a Montenegro be resolved in the on the very feast and today his moment when he is most needed best and most helpful manner for body is laid to rest and his soul is the Church and Serbian people

THE THE VOICE VOICE OF OF ST. ST. GEORGE GEORGE † †Spring Winter 2021 24

25

ses. It is especially impressive with with impressive especially is It ses. ion. spc.rs Source:

the mystery of the Serbian Golgo- Serbian the of mystery the

(KCCG) after receiving commun- receiving after (KCCG) Mo- legislator and prophet ment

mystery of Kosovo and Metohija as as Metohija and Kosovo of mystery

and legislator, with the Old Testa- Old the with legislator, and Clinical Center of Montenegro Montenegro of Center Clinical

God, allowed him to encounter the the encounter to him allowed God,

Peter the Great, as a peacemaker peacemaker a as Great, the Peter Feast of St. Petar of Cetinje, at the the at Cetinje, of Petar St. of Feast

Christ, for the truth and justice of of justice and truth the for Christ,

October 30, 2020, on the eve of the the of eve the on 2020, 30, October predecessor your compared you

His sacrifice for the Church and for for and Church the for sacrifice His

reposed in the Lord at 8:20 am, am, 8:20 at Lord the in reposed which in gathering scientific a at

his prayers and through his words. words. his through and prayers his

laws, was symbolically showcased showcased symbolically was laws, of Montenegro and the Coastlands, Coastlands, the and Montenegro of

he poured out in this life through through life this in out poured he

bishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan Metropolitan and Cetinje of bishop just of necessity the of idea the on

self with God’s love, and that love love that and love, God’s with self

His Eminence Amphilohije, Arch- Amphilohije, Eminence His also but principles, gospel on only

cause he rested on and united him- united and on rested he cause

That your ethics were based not not based were ethics your That

Resurrection. Christ's of

the human soul, and this is all be- all is this and soul, human the

so much and offering it all as a gift. gift. a as all it offering and much so

terred in the crypt of the Cathedral Cathedral the of crypt the in terred

minds and emotions and ennobles ennobles and emotions and minds

much, giving everything, building building everything, giving much,

Metropolitan Amfilohije was in- was Amfilohije Metropolitan

which enlightens the thoughts and and thoughts the enlightens which

taking nothing, accomplishing accomplishing nothing, taking

his word was the light of the word word the of light the was word his

immortals can defend in this way, way, this in defend can immortals

Amphilohije.” Amphilohije.”

theology of the Resurrection. And And Resurrection. the of theology

gentle in action. Only the great and and great the Only action. in gentle

parting from their Metropolitan Metropolitan their from parting

Christ. “And his theology was the the was theology his “And Christ.

you were sharp in expression and and expression in sharp were you

Orthodox world who weep at this this at weep who world Orthodox

Christ and the Resurrection of of Resurrection the and Christ

tuary within. As a son of Moraca, Moraca, of son a As within. tuary

fort to all of those throughout the the throughout those of all to fort

Christ, man of the Golgotha of of Golgotha the of man Christ,

thus because you carried the sanc- the carried you because thus

much further and will bring com- bring will and further much

politan Amphilohije was a man of of man a was Amphilohije politan

wouldn't resent you. But you acted acted you But you. resent wouldn't

gro and Coastlands but I’m sure sure I’m but Coastlands and gro

Bishop Joanikije stated that Metro- that stated Joanikije Bishop

that there is no Montenegrin who who Montenegrin no is there that

this Metropolitanate of Montene- of Metropolitanate this

ing everyone. Had you not done done not you Had everyone. ing tan.

formed into a great joy, not only of of only not joy, great a into formed

ple, and you defended it by forgiv- by it defended you and ple, being led by our dear metropoli- dear our by led being

by God’s mercy, will be trans- be will mercy, God’s by

fend the Church from his own peo- own his from Church the fend ners of Montenegro and they are are they and Montenegro of ners

sadness, but it is a sadness which, which, sadness a is it but sadness,

last bishop who will have to de- to have will who bishop last which have merged from all cor- all from merged have which

perience as a victory. It is a great great a is It victory. a as perience

time. "I hope that you will be the the be will you that hope "I time. litija of all previous processions processions previous all of litija

blessed end of his life we ex- we life his of end blessed

and theologians of our our of theologians and

For this reason his death, the the death, his reason this For

greatest spiritual leaders leaders spiritual greatest

of his victories to this day. day. this to victories his of

farewell to one of the the of one to farewell

ous and his death sealed all all sealed death his and ous

today we are bidding bidding are we today

why he was always victori- always was he why

Aleksa Becic, said that that said Becic, Aleksa

ance and forgiveness! That’s That’s forgiveness! and ance

liament of Montenegro, Montenegro, of liament

love and prayer and endur- and prayer and love

The President of the Par- the of President The

truth and justice, but also also but justice, and truth

deadliest of weapons! God’s God’s weapons! of deadliest ple”.

did he do battle? With the the With battle? do he did peo- their to loyalty and

served the faith’. But how how But faith’. the served brothers their for love

ished the Church, I pre- I Church, the ished in and Christ Jesus ior

fought the good fight, I fin- I fight, good the fought Sav- and Lord our to tion

tan can say today, ‘I have have ‘I today, say can tan dedica- and love in faith

continued, “Our metropoli- “Our continued, the in unity preserve

Moraca!” Bishop Joanikije Joanikije Bishop Moraca!” and on build they that

that this day is a procession and and procession a is day this that

Patriarchate, Gracanica, Devic and and Devic Gracanica, Patriarchate, metropolitan, reposed newly our

negro Zdravko Krivokapic noted noted Krivokapic Zdravko negro

Monastery, we will not give our our give not will we Monastery, of message and example elevated

of the new Government of Monte- of Government new the of

meant: Ostrog, Decane, Cetinje Cetinje Decane, Ostrog, meant: the follow to left are Montenegro

for the composition composition the for mandator The

not give up our sanctuaries!” This This sanctuaries!” our up give not of people faithful The enlighteners.

gro when he exclaimed: “We will will “We exclaimed: he when gro earth.” and Saints Serbian the all and trog

of Kosovo was sealed in Montene- in sealed was Kosovo of on lived Christ years the as articles Os- of Vasilije St. will as this in him

Testament of Kosovo and mystery mystery and Kosovo of Testament many as has Code Mountain and help will Cetinje of Petar St. Surely

gro. And he revealed to us that the the that us to revealed he And gro. Montenegrin General the that fact Montenegro. in live who others all

also Jasenovac and Montene- and Jasenovac also tha; the emphasized you depth what and people Serbian and Church the

Sermon of Saint Sava on the True Faith delivered at Monastery Zica

Brethren and friends, fathers and to you concerning our salvation, ical Councils. Upon this foundation children called by God, bow your which when you hear it with love, of holy faith, we can then build with God-loving hearts to the hearing of keep it so that we too may take our the “gold, silver and precious Divine commandments! Hearing place with the saints. stones” (1 Corinthians 3:12) which these holy words, place them there- are our good deeds. For neither is fore, in your hearts and on the con- Build your deeds on the founda- there use in a correctness of life science of your souls and before the tion of True Faith without true and enlightened faith in eyes of your mind, and understand Therefore, I foremost ask of you God, nor can our true confession of them! brethren and children, placing all faith without good deeds bring us our hope in God, that above all else, before the Lord. So we must have The All-Merciful God, who loves of we hold onto His True Faith, for as them both, that “the man of God may mankind, having immeasurable be perfect,” (2 Timothy 3:17) mercy for humanity, bowed the and that our life not falter be- Heavens and descended to earth. cause of such lacking. For, By His Divine dispensation and “faith is saving” as the Apostle by the enduring numerous suf- says, “for faith works by ferings to His Divine Body, He love.” (Galatians 5:6) enlightened us and sent the Holy Apostles into the whole world Therefore, we believe in the saying to them: “Go and teach all Father and the Son and the Ho- nations, baptizing them in the ly Spirit, and sing to the Divine Name of the Father and the Son Trinity, as the Source and Crea- and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew tor of everything, visible and 28:19) As they themselves did invisible. He is one essence, not personally come to us, how- that is, one nature in three per- ever, our fathers, having heard sons, a unity of persons, by the truth of their words, believed which we do not mean appear- them. The All-Gracious God who ance or difference in three has endless mercy and desires Gods, or three natures, or three that no one should die (1 Timo- essences. Let us strive to un- thy 2:4), by that same first com- derstand, or rather, to confess, mandment and in the same man- One God and His One simple ner, according to the teaching and bodiless nature and es- and preaching of the Holy Apos- sence, yet distinct Persons, ac- tles, elevates me to that holiness, the Apostle says, “no other founda- knowledging His distinct hypostasis; wanting through me “to fill up in my tion can a man lay than what is bowing before the Trinity in Unity flesh what is lacking in the afflictions laid,” (1 Corinthians 3:11); the faith and Unity in Trinity, a Hypostatic of Christ, for the sake of His body, of the holy apostles and God-bearing Unity and Trinity of One Essence and which is the Church,” (Colossians fathers inspired by the Holy Spirit Power who is without beginning. 1:24). And by His Holy Spirit He and the faith confirmed and This One God we recognize as eter- commands me to announce my word preached by the holy Seven Ecumen- nal, ever-existing, uncreated, immor-

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2018 26

27

received. has Church is anointed through faith considered considered faith through anointed is incarnation, the after and carnation

gelical teaching, and which the the which and teaching, gelical mained unchanged, so that He who who He that so unchanged, mained in- the before same the and one but

establishment of the Orthodox evan- Orthodox the of establishment n wo re- who and Divinity, with anointed another, or other not Man, perfect

at various times and places for the the for places and times various at We know Him as perfect God and and God perfect as Him know We , , Logos the God of Incarnation kind’s

which were gathered by God’s grace grace God’s by gathered were which

oy mg o man- of image holy - all the venerate

tians. We accept all the Holy Councils Councils Holy the all accept We tians. With this in mind, we bow down and and down bow we mind, in this With sin. expect things, all in us resembles

hm iposy nutn al Chris- all insulting impiously them, He illusion, not and truth in servant,

nounced the holy icons nor venerate venerate nor icons holy the nounced 15:52) a of form the Himself upon Taking

ahrd gis toe h re- who those against gathered .“ (I Corinthians Corinthians (I .“ judgment of rection not. was He which that becoming

Council, that of 350 holy fathers fathers holy 350 of that Council, those who done evil deeds to a resur- a to deeds evil done who those and was He which that remaining

Metropolis of Nicea, the seventh seventh the Nicea, of Metropolis “will be risen to eternal life, and and life, eternal to risen be “will faith change, nor mingling neither fered

likewise the one, a little later in the the in later little a one, the likewise ae i brh namd H suf- He unharmed. birth Him gave “ with true true with “ deeds good did who those

stantinople, of 170 holy fathers, and and fathers, holy 170 of stantinople, preserving the virginity of Her who who Her of virginity the preserving who are in the tombs will arise and and arise will tombs the in are who

holy fathers; the sixth, again in Con- in again sixth, the fathers; holy carnate and inexpressibly born and and born inexpressibly and carnate The dead dead The “ said: He for deeds, their

fifth, again in Constantinople, of 164 164 of Constantinople, in again fifth, ae eoe Gd eae a, in- man, became God before. have give unto everyone according to to according everyone unto give

Chalcedon, of 630 holy fathers; the the fathers; holy 630 of Chalcedon, himself the flesh which he did not not did he which flesh the himself same way will He return again and and again return He will way same

sus, of 200 holy fathers; the fourth in in fourth the fathers; holy 200 of sus, tered the Virgin’s womb taking upon upon taking womb Virgin’s the tered as He ascended with His body, in the the in body, His with ascended He as

150 holy fathers; the third, in Ephe- in third, the fathers; holy 150 He did not separate Himself, and en- and Himself, separate not did He to judge the living and the dead. Just Just dead. the and living the judge to

second, in Constantinople, that of of that Constantinople, in second, from the Father’s bosom from which which from bosom Father’s the from of the Father, and He will come again again come will He and Father, the of

Nicea, that of 318 holy fathers; the the fathers; holy 318 of that Nicea, Spirit to save his creation, descended descended creation, his save to Spirit it to Heaven, He sat at the right hand hand right the at sat He Heaven, to it

councils; the first which was in in was which first the councils; by the Will of the Father and the the and Father the of Will the by harmable humanity. Ascending with with Ascending humanity. harmable

We accept all seven Ecumenical Ecumenical seven all accept We out of his great love for mankind and and mankind for love great his of out e eurce Hs nyn ad un- and undying His resurrected he

demn all heretics and their heresies. their and heretics all demn

the Father, God the Logos, desiring desiring Logos, the God Father, the dead and as His body did not decay, decay, not did body His as and dead

ae anr ad e ieie con- likewise we and manner, same He who is Consubstantial with God God with Consubstantial is who He rose in the flesh. He rose from the the from rose He flesh. the in rose

we also believe and confess in the the in confess and believe also we

tasted death, and on the third day he he day third the on and death, tasted

dition. Following the Holy Fathers, Fathers, Holy the Following dition. Theotokos and Ever and Theotokos He, the Sinless One, was crucified, crucified, was One, Sinless the He, Mary. Virgin -

dogma of the Orthodox Patristic Tra- Patristic Orthodox the of dogma himself to the flesh of the Most Pure Pure Most the of flesh the to himself pains of mankind. And And mankind. of pains comfortable

loving people, is the the is people, loving - God my This, Virgin’s womb, voluntarily uniting uniting voluntarily womb, Virgin’s y ufrd l te aua ad un- and natural the all suffered ly

heaven and made his dwelling in the the in dwelling his made and heaven truth, and not illusion. He voluntari- He illusion. not and truth,

cal innovations cal

and according to His will He died, in in died, He will His to according and from down came being, into ence

tion and we condemn all hereti- all condemn we and tion to His will He was became afraid, afraid, became was He will His to nonexist- from everything brought

e cet h Otoo Tradi- Orthodox the accept We His will He became tired, according according tired, became He will His goodness his of out who Father,

to according and thirsty, and hungry, the with eternally and substantial

incomprehensible. is which became He that will His to according con- uncreated, Him, from begotten

and lifting up our minds on that that on minds our up lifting and was It will. His to according born indivisibly and timeless is who os,

of our souls to the original image image original the to souls our of was and needs, natural to subject Log- the God Father, the of begotten

of God’s holy ones, raising the eyes eyes the raising ones, holy God’s of not was He For man. as action and Son, the but Spirit, Holy the or ther

Theotokos as well as the icons of all all of icons the as well as Theotokos desire by and will same one and God, Fa- the not Trinity, the of one tion,

ate the holy icon of the Most Holy Holy Most the of icon holy the ate as action and desire by will same salva- our for days, latter these In

and churches and places. We vener- We places. and churches and one Him, confess We unchanged. sis,

of the Holy Cross and all holy things things holy all and Cross Holy the of Hyposta- by united both action, and providence. His to according

likewise bow down before the wood wood the before down bow likewise will of natures two in properties, and is everything and things, all upholds

the flesh and dwelt among men. We We men. among dwelt and flesh the natures perfect two in same the and and things all creates who he is It

to see God Himself who appeared in in appeared who Himself God see to One is He Hypostasis; unique one incorruptible. and indestructible tal,

Those whom these holy fathers re- Pray to God, keeping all of His His heavenly fold. Reaching that nounced, we likewise renounce; and commandments sheepfold with the eyes of our soul those whom they condemned, we And so, we who are Christians have and mind, we ever pray to Him, sub- likewise condemn. promised to pray to our God, always mitting to Him at every hour, and keeping His Commandments and confessing Him, as He Himself gives For at various times and years, the always accomplishing His Will. For us utterance and thought. If we devil has devised many heresies and according to the Apostle James, faithfully keep His commandments planted many weeds of false belief “faith without works is dead” (James and accomplish His will, that which throughout the universe through his 2:20-26). So, brethren and my be- the Lord Himself commanded us to servants, the chief-heretics, for the loved spiritual children, as I said be- keep, promising us a heavenly re- spoilage and destruction of the true fore, let us with fear and trembling ward, saying: “Truly I tell you: Who- faith. We condemn those who in- hold steadfast to both faith and ever keeps My word will never see vent such evil and dishonorable dog- works. Keep the word of God and death,” we will receive salvation ma, and detest every such heresy. Holy Faith in Him, and with pure from Him in this age and the age to hearts call upon His Thrice Holy come We therefore strive all the more to- Name, being not slothful in prayer, wards every piety, taught to us by confessing your sins and shedding The Gift of Christ is – that we the divinely wise servants of God – tears of repentance before Him, un- never die the Prophets, Apostles and Saints, as ceasingly singing in chorus within Yes, my beloved children, what is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God your hearts, day and night without more unfailing and righteous than Himself, said when from the Father feebleness. For when we confess these words to which Christ Himself he descended into the world and be- and pray to Him, God Himself as- testifies and confirms? What is bet- came incarnate, born a second time sures us, for He spiritually enters ter than this: “to never taste of of the All Pure Ever Virgin, beautiful- into the hearts of those who careful- death?” For, it only this not tasting ly fulfilling His and the Father’s dis- ly heed His teachings. of death which is already far from pensation by truly and inexpressibly sin; for through the tasting of sin the enduring crucifixion and rising on For spiritual learning is not a game, taste of death entered mankind, un- the third day, and after the resurrec- nor foolish human thought, but ra- til Christ. For that reason did He tion, remained for forty days on ther, the preaching of the Holy Faith taste of death, He who is sinless and earth. For when he desired to ascend of God on which are founded all the immortal according to His first birth to heaven, to the Father, he com- Holy Orders in Christ our Lord, by the Father, but He tasted of it for manded his disciples and apostles whom the Prophets by the Holy us, and He suffered, so that through saying, “Go and teach all the ends of Spirit prophesied, and all the saints faith in Him we taste of immortality, the earth, baptizing them in the name preserved, and the venerable fathers as the Prophet said: “Taste and see of the Father and of the Son and of impeccably kept, as the undivided that the Lord is good“. Therefore, He , the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep cornerstone of the Church, Christ, the Lord, is very good and righteous all the commandments I have given who is the Wisdom and Power of the and faithful to all of His words, and you“. And again: “Preach the Gospel Father, and Who assures many to all of His deeds are in faith. For this to every creature. Whoever believes this day and establishes and pre- reason, my beloved children, we and is baptized, will be saved, and serves all in Divine faith. He, the All- who love Him should do deeds of who does not believe, will be judged.“ Gracious Lover of mankind, reaches faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord, re- This is, therefore the True Faith: to even to us with His rich mercy, cor- ceiving from Him Immortal Faith, be baptized in the Name of the Fa- recting that which is lacking in us, such a gift that we never die! ther and of the Son and of the Holy wanting as the True Shepherd to Spirit. gather us, His prodigal sheep, into (CONTINUED ON PAGE 30)

THE THE VOICE VOICE OF OF ST. ST. GEORGE GEORGE † †Spring Winter 2021 28

29

5827 - 276 - 619

LJubinka Plavsic, Vesna and Toma Jovanovic,

inform our church office office church our inform

Slavica Jovanovic, Marija and Djordje Petrovic,

spelled anyone’s name, please, please, name, anyone’s spelled Jovanovic, Slavko and Tanja and Slavko Jovanovic, Aci and Shari Alex, Petric,

If we have overlooked and mis- and overlooked have we If Ljubinka Koka and Ratko Jovanovic,

Petakovich, Proto Velimir and Protinica Protinica and Velimir Proto Petakovich, Marsha and Misha Jovanovic, ______

Jovan and Tina Zivkovic, Natasa and Deyan Petakovich, Nina and Joe Jorling,

Sarah and Miodrag Zivkovic, Milan Perisic, Nada and Vojin Joksimovic,

Dusan Vuksanovic, Sandie and Wayne Papac, Dobrinka Jojic,

Family and Rhonda Dennis, Jaich, Jean and John Vukotich, Dole and Snezana Pantovic,

Marcia and Thomas Janich, Stefan and May Vukotich, Helen and Tom Pantich,

Vucelic, Inge Vucelic, Petar Orlich, Sylvia and Mirko Ivanovic,

Diana and Rusell Vuich Spomenka and Sava Nedic, Rosa and Petar Ilic,

Boris Ilic, Family and Branko Vasich, Naden Nedel,

Vasiliu, Laurentiu and Daniela and Laurentiu Vasiliu, Pamela Naughton, David Hyduke,

Valliu, Becky Valliu, Millie Mrja, Ivan Hunter

Elaine and Branislav Urosevic, Linda and Risto Mitrovich, Joanna and Horia Groza,

Dobrila and Robert Undheim, Jelena Mitrovich, Vera Giles,

Germain, Protodeacon Paul & Family & Paul Protodeacon Germain, Family and Jovana Misa, Tvrdisic, Family and Miroslav Milovancev,

Fulton, Jeff and Radmila Radmila and Jeff Fulton, George Tully, Diane and Milan Miljkovic,

Elez, Sladjana and Family and Sladjana Elez, Trifunovic, Vladan and Milica & Family & Milica and Vladan Trifunovic, Nada and Nikola Milicevic,

Dukovich Cristina & Ninkovic Sava Ninkovic & Cristina Dukovich Trifunovic, Dr. Robert, Simona & Family & Simona Robert, Dr. Trifunovic, Melanie and James Milicevic,

Dukovich, Mitch and Marie Marie and Mitch Dukovich, Family and Maja Vojkan, Topalovic, M. Mallory Miller,

Ducich, Nick and Tia and Nick Ducich, Kathryn Thickstun, Marija and Zeljko Milasinovich,

Bozana Julijana and Djordje Stojadinovic, Jennifer Milanovich,

Draskovic, Proto Bozidar and Protinica Protinica and Bozidar Proto Draskovic, Tatyana Starr, Miroslav Miladinovic,

Drakulich, Persida Drakulich, Family and Zorana Justin, Smith, Radmila Miladinovic,

Dizick, Cris & Irina & Cris Dizick, Bernadette and George Skaljac, Gordon Mihailovic,

Dimich, Marlene Dimich, Jelena and Nemanja Selezan, Elizabeta and Aleksandar Memca,

De La Cruz, Hugo and Jadranka and Hugo Cruz, La De Dusan Selezan, Samuel Medigovich,

Dadic Dimitrije and Adara and Dimitrije Dadic Valenti Natalia and Jeff Schrandt Svetlana McCarthy,

Cronemeyer, Jamie and Zorica and Jamie Cronemeyer, Family and Nikolaj Savchuk, Family and Tina Mike, Marin,

Copic, Miro and Family and Miro Copic, Marian and Scot Sargeant Andrew Marin,

Connor, Evelyn Connor, Stephanie Saathoff, Maja and Predrag Markovic,

Colovic, Slobodan Colovic, Marija and Stevan Ruzic, Nada and Scott Markley,

Caric, Brigitte and Family and Brigitte Caric, Kathleen Rutherford, Milenko Masic,

Caldes, James and Ljiljana and James Caldes, Lydia and Howard Rhoads, Katarina & Kenneth Mansir,

Brucker, Mitch and Lidija and Mitch Brucker, Family and Vladimir Raicevic, Milos Lukic,

Vladimir Radomirovic, Petka and Ljuban - James Lukic, Jelena and Aleksandar Bradic,

Vesna Dr. and Slobodan Radojevic, Milanka Lehman Family and Radovan Borovic,

Family and Vera Marko, Rakic, Carole and Alexander Lazovic, Family Bilibin

Mika Radosavljevic, Ann and Robert Kurkjian, Lepa and Milos Belcevich,

Family and Vladimir Radomirovic, Dusan and Maria Kunac, Samantha and Michael Begovich,

John Purlia, Lisa Protinica & Bratso Proto Krsic, Stana and Stevo Basic,

Olga Purington, Biljana Kovacevic, Anna Barova,

Milica and Zachary Pugh, Tordis Kostic, Joanna Aud,

Family and Michael Potkonjak, Alex Kinach, Family and Laurie Matthew, Aud,

Nada and Vojkan Popovich, Ivana and Vladimir Kezic, Kira Anthofer,

Family and Darko Popovic, Radmila and Rade Kasic, Denis Andolsek

Cornelia Popa, Peter Kalfas, Diana Amanovic,

Seja - Mara Plavsic, Verica Jovanovic, Markay and Mike Allen,

Ljubica and Milan Plavsic, Mira and Velimir Jovanovic, Family and Linda Alemany,

2021 — LIST STEWARSHIP GEORGE ST.

Thus, if you preserve this faith, you That it be good to you and your in whom you were baptized and will be blessed by God throughout children confess, having renounced your se- the ages and your hearts will be For God is One from the beginning cret shame, becoming communi- blessed, and your souls will be and in the endless ages. And this is cants of His Good Faith and co- blessed, and blessed will be all who the first commandment said to those participants of His Immortality. Be have received the Faith of God and that love Him: “love the Lord God with Him relentlessly for “before His preserved it in purity. Look upon the with your whole heart, your whole eyes is everything re- Immortal Gift of Christ, and always mind and your whole soul and all of vealed“ (Hebrews 4:13) as the Apos- do good deeds in Christ: keep a pure your strength.“ And may these tle says, “our God is a consuming faith and pray often, having love and words, which I command you today, fire,” (Hebrews 12:29) and he “visits hope in Him, and a clear conscious be written on your hearts and souls, the iniquity of the fathers upon the before God and man. Fast and keep that you fear the Lord God Almighty children unto the third and fourth vigil, honesty in all things, keeping a and Him alone serve with fear and generation, to those who do not love pure body and soul, and preserving trembling. Offer glory and honor to Him and keep His commandments.” the mind of Holy Baptism – the En- Him alone, and be faithful to Him For He is “God above all gods, and lightenment of God, by which we and do not swear by His Name, but Lord of lords; God who is great and renounced Satan and all his works. may your words be – as the Apostle mighty and awesome.” Yes, “keep His And always love repentance and says – “your yes be yes, and no be no.” commandments and carry out before confess your sins and weep over His sight all the words which he has them with humility and patience, Therefore, let no other god ever be spoken” that it be well for you and righteousness and learning, correct- mentioned among you, other than your children after you, that they live ing your lives. Hate sin, and be not He who created the heavens and the eternally, if you do good and that drunkards or fornicators, but, on the earth. Worship and serve none other which is well pleasing before your contrary, lead a pure life, pleasing in in the heavens above, or on earth, or Lord God” to Whom be glory and the sight of God. below the earth, than your Lord God without beginning to the ages with- out end. Amen! GOD BLESS OUR GRADUATES

Amilio Mateo Pantovic Graduated Mira Mesa High School June 9, 2020. He played Varsity Baseball all four years and Waterpolo his last two years. Amilio is current- ly training with plans on trying out for the Mesa College Baseball Team this fall. He has many passions and has not decided which one will become his dream opportunity. He is considering Fire Fighting, Web page, digi- tal/multimedia and information resources de- sign and transferring to SDSU in 2 years. Amilio is excited for his next chapter of his life. He thanks his parents and grandparents for their love, support and for always believing in him.

THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringWinter 2021 30

Church Office Staff & Volunteers ______PARISH PRIEST V. Rev. Protopresbyter Bratislav Krsic Email: [email protected] PARISH DEACON Protodeacon Paul Germain CHURCH BOARD PRESIDENT Kathryn Thickstun VICE-PRESIDENTS Kira Anthofer & Velimir Jovanovic TREASURER: Milos Belcevic SECRETARY: Reader Nicholas Schrandt MEMBERS-AT-LARGE St. George parish appreciates efforts by the originator of the project Maja Topalovic!!! Vojkan Popovic, Vladimir Kezic, Dorde Petrovic, Simona Trifunovic, Kira Anthofer, P. Lisa Krsic STEWARDSHIP CO-CHAIRMEN Maya Topaovic AUDITING BOARD Miro Copic,Vesna Jovanovic, Dusanka Klacar TUTORS/VESTRYMEN Milos Lukic, George Skaljac, Nebojsa Rajkovic, Miro Copic, Radovan Borovic S.S.S. St. GEORGE CHOIR Velimir Jovanovic, President Kathryn Thickstun, Director CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS Sladjana Mellos and Nada Milicevic MORAVA FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE Cristina “Duki” Dukovich FINANCIAL SECRETARY Maja Topalovic PARISH OFFICE SECRETARY Natalia Valenti

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"Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. Today is the be- ginning of our salvation, The revelation of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, The Lord is with You! "Troparion for the Feast Day. Troparion of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Tone Four) Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth. For by Your birth those who adored stars, were taught by a star, to worship You, the Sun of Justice and to know You, Orient from on High. O Lord, glory to You.