The Voice of St. George SOC, Fall 2017
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The Voice † of St. George Fall 2017 St. George Serbian Orthodox Church Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North & South America Table of Contents: 3. Father Bratso’s Greeting Letter 4. The Pan Orthodox Glorification of St. Mardarije of Libertyville & All-America 7. “The First Serbian Bishop of America and Canada” by Bishop Sava 8. The Beginning of the Church Year 10. September 10, 2017 - First Day of Sunday School 11. Sunday School Registration Form for 2017/2018 12. Morava News by Dobrila Undheim 13. St. George Calendar of Events 2017 14. “We Are Not Alone” by Deacon Paul 15. The Optina Elders and Their Sayings 23. 2017 Saint George Graduates 24. Letter from Kate Thickstun, Presi- dent of the Parish Council Above: Saint Mardarije of Libertyville and Saint Sava Front page: Icon of Dormition of the Theotokos 25. Diocesan Days 2017 Diocesan Bishop: The Right Rev. Bishop 26. Letter to Spiritual Children in Afflic- Dr. Maxim (Vasiljevic) tion by Abbot Nicon (Vorobyov) Diocesan website http://westsrbdio.org ___________________________________________________________ 29. Upcoming Pilgrimages of St. George Photography: Fr. Bratso, Dobrila Undheim Parish Editors: Father Bratso, Ana Sedy, N. Valenti 30. Prayers Mail your materials to Natalia Valenti at [email protected] August 11, 2017 LETTER to the Parish by Father Bratso a saint of our time! Our Church faith- clude this pastoral letter by encourag- ful and, indeed, all of America has ing you all to join actively in the cele- been blessed with a great saint and bration of the Divine Liturgy each his relics. Let us ask for his interces- Sunday and Feast Day and all other sion before the Lord: “O Holy Hier- parish activities and ministries. arch Mardarije, pray to God for us so With all my love in Christ our Lord, that we here in the St. George commu- Father Bratso Krsic nity may imitate your good works and service to the Lord, and that He may Dear Parishioners, Friends, and Sup- have mercy upon us all and save our Troparion of Sts. Mardarije and porters, souls!” Sebastian, Tone 8: I pray that this issue of our It is of no less importance to O God of our Fathers, quarterly parish bulletin finds you all mention the previous glorification of Always act with kindness towards us; in a good spiritual and physical state. St. Sebastian (Dabovich, 1863-1940) Take not Your mercy from us, The summer is passing by and our on Labor Day weekend in 2015. Both But through the prayers of Saints children will soon go back to school St. Mardarije and St. Sebastian are Mardarije and Sebastian th Guide our lives in peace. (Aug. 28 for the San Diego Unified great saints of our time. School District). I learned that this Kontakion to St. Mardarije of Liber- Here, in our parish, we are year, more than in previous years, a tyville, Tone 8: gearing up for another blessed year of great number of our parish families Tireless preacher of Christ the Lord, chose to vacation in Serbia. This in- Sunday school instruction (we are Leader on the path of St. Sava for your deed is great news! I look forward to looking for teachers and volunteers), people in diaspora, hearing back from them about their the Diocesan Days celebration on La- Labor-loving practitioner and teacher of visits to their families, churches, mon- bor Day weekend at St. Steven’s Ca- repentance, asteries, and other historical sites. thedral in Alhambra, the San Diego Holy Mardarije of Libertyville and Here, in our country, we also Serbian Festival on October 14, and America, many other events and projects. Together with all the Enlighteners of the had one of the most important cele- American lands, brations in the life of our Holy Please, keep in mind that our Entreat the only Lover of Mankind, Church, the Canonization and Glorifi- church is established for the worship To grant all Orthodox Christians peace and cation of St. Mardarije of Libertyville of the Lord, for the preaching of the unity! (1889-1935), who was the first bish- Gospel, for the sacred administration op of the Serbian Orthodox Church in of the holy mysteries (sacraments), Кондак Св. Мардарију the USA (see below his troparion and and for the cultivation of the Christian Либертивилском kontakion). This celebration took life of our posterity and us. Our parish (Глас 8) place at St. Sava Monastery in Liber- founders have offered the sacrifice Неуморни проповедниче Христа tyville, and the New Gracanica Monas- needed to accomplish this task, and Господа,Светосавски человођо народа свога у расејању, трудољубиви tery in Third Lake, Illinois, on July 14- we today are given the opportunity to 16, 2017. His Holiness our Patriarch зиждитељу и учитељу покајања, за continue this holy task, with our chil- кога сејати хришћанску љубав, ширити Irinej, with the concelebration of the dren and grandchildren in mind, and мир, стишавати страсти, local and visiting bishops, clergy, and with a deep concern for the salvation проповедати добро и братимити људе faithful served Hierarchical services of our neighbors in and around our беше закон живота, Свети Мардарије and oversaw the celebration. St. parish in San Diego County. Либертивилски и свеамерички, са Mardarije lived a holy life of unselfish свима Просветитељима американске service to God and entrusted people With a heart full of gratitude земље, моли јединога Човекољупца да to Him for spiritual care, guidance, to our gracious Lord and to all sup- подари мир и слогу роду and salvation in our loving Lord. He is porters and laborers in God’s vine- Православноме! yard here at St. George parish, I con- 3 The Pan Orthodox Glorification of St. Mardarije of Libertyville & All-America On Sunday, July 3/16, 2017, western America and asked for his Divine Liturgy at New Gracanica exactly 100 years since Hieromonk fatherly blessing. His Holi- Monastery in Third Lake, Illinois, Mardarije (Uskokovic) was sent to ness then participated in a Press concelebrating with is Grace Bish- the United States in order to assist Conference for news agencies re- op Longin of New Gracanica and with the Serbian Orthodox Mission garding the Glorification of the Midwestern America (the host- of the Russian Orthodox Church in newly-revealed Saint. A documen- Bishop), His Grace Bishop Anthony North America, His Holiness Serbi- tary film, sponsored by Ostrog of Toledo and the Midwest an Patriarch Irinej led the Glorifica- Monastery in Montenegro called (Antiochian Orthodox Church), His tion and Translation of the Relics “The Quiet Corner of Christ,” was Eminence Arhcbishop Nikodim of of St. Mardarije of Libertyville and presented. This inspirational Northern Donetsk and Starobeljski All-America. (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Mos- With the blessing cow Patriarchate), of His Grace His Eminence Metro- Bishop Longin of politan Amfilohije of New Gracanica Montenegro and the and Midwestern Coastlands, His Emi- America, the fes- nence Archbishop tivities began on Peter of Chicago and Friday, July 14, Mid-America with a Symposi- (Russian Orthodox um dedicated to Church Outside of the Life and Russia - Moscow Pa- Times of St. triarchate), His Mardarije at Ho- Grace Bishop Theo- ly Resurrection dosy (Russian Or- Serbian Ortho- thodox Church Out- dox Cathedral, side of Russia - Mos- with lectures delivered by Dr. Srdja film focused on the life and strug- cow Patriarchate), His Grace Bish- Trifkovic, Dr. Nicholas Groves, and gles of St. Mardarije. The hall was op Mitrofan of Canada, His Grace Dr. Nicholas Ganson. Before the filled to capacity and everyone was Bishop Maxim of Western America, beginning of Vespers, His Holiness most eager to witness the film's and His Grace Bishop Irinej of East- Patriarch Irinej arrived at the Ca- premiere. Hereupon, His Eminence ern America. The Episcopal Choir thedral and was greeted with a Metropolitan Amfilohije of Monte- of the Diocese of New Gracanica Doxology Service in order to give negro and the Coastlands gave a and Midwestern America respond- thanks to God for the safe arrival to beautiful talk on the life of St. ed at the Divine Liturgy, under the Chicagoland of the Spiritual Leader Mardarije and what he meant to guidance of Marya Milicich. The of the Serbian Orthodox People. the world during his lifetime and church was overflowing with faith- Following the Doxology Service, his prophetic witness for us today ful who had come from all parts of Vespers was served, after which and the future. North America in order to venerate His Grace Bishop Lon- the relics of St. Mardarije. At the gin welcomed His Holiness to the On Saturday, July 15, His Holiness end of the Liturgy, Bishop Longin Diocese of New Gracanica and Mid- Patriarch Irinej served Patriarchal welcomed Patriarch Irinej to New THE VOICE OF ST. GEORGE † SpringFall 2017 4 Gracanica Monastery, a place he America and Canada (Orthodox His Grace Bishop Maxim of West- has visited many times, especially Church in America), His Grace ern America, His Grace Bishop Ir- during the lifetime of Patriarch Bishop Dimitrios of Mokissos inej of Eastern America, His Grace Pavle of Blessed Memory, and of- (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Bishop Kirilo of Diokleia and His fered a festive meal in the Monas- America), His Grace Bishop Antho- Grace Bishop Sava. Among the tery Hall. ny of Toledo and the Midwest clergy, which comprised all those (Antiochian Orthodox Church), who serve in the Diocese of New That evening, nearly a thousand His Eminence Archbishop Nikodim Gracanica and Midwestern Ameri- faithful awaited the arrival His Ho- of Northern Donetsk and Starobel- ca as well as many guests from the liness to the All-Night Vigil at St. jski (Ukrainian Orthodox Church other Dioceses in North America, Sava Monastery, where the incor- of the Moscow Patriarchate), His were honored guest clergy: V.