Стаза Православља the Path of Orthodoxy the Official Publication of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America
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Стаза Православља THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA VOLUME 49 JUNE 2014 NO. 01 C OMMUN I QUE OF THE HOLY ASSEMBLY OF BISHOPS OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH HELD IN MONASTERY STUDENICA, RAS AND BELGRADE, MAY 14-24, 2014 Under the presidency of His Holiness Serbian Nikolaj of Dabro Bosna. Also, Bishop Milutin of Valjevo special account number be established for assistance. The Patriarch Irinej the regular meeting of the Assembly and Bishop Chrysostom of Zvornik-Tuzla and other Assembly also directed an appeal to the clergy and laity of of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church began this bishops were temporarily absent as they visited those areas our Church, as well as heads of local Churches worldwide, year on May 14 at Monastery Studenica where in the most threatened by the floods. that they help the victims of the flood. The Assembly Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos the Before the Sabor began prayers were offered for offered its warm gratitude to all those who participated Divine Liturgy was served on the occasion of the 900th the newly reposed Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb and in saving people and properties from the flood, those anniversary of the birth of St. Simeon the Myrrh-flowing Ljubljana of blessed repose. That same afternoon a from our country as well as rescuers from our brotherly (Stefan Nemanja), and it continued in Ras (Novi Pazar) Moleban was offered, served at times of heavy rainfall and Russia and those from neighboring countries and the where, in the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, the Invocation the dangers which result from them. world who offered their help to the victims. The Assembly of the Holy Spirit was served on the same day in order for At the beginning of the first day Serbian Patriarch brotherhood invoked God’s blessing on all of them. the sessions of the Sabor to proceed at the Patriarchate in Irinej, in his introductory remarks, pointed out to the Once again this year the Assembly dedicated due Belgrade. gathered hierarchs the responsibility the Church has in attention to crucial issues of the Church – participation Participating in the Sabor were the majority of the witnessing the Gospel and love of God today. of our Church in the preparation of the Great and Holy diocesan bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Absent At the very beginning it was decided by the Assembly Council of the Orthodox Church; the difficult state of were only His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid and that, as aid to the victims of the catastrophic flood, a sum the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija; the Metropolitan of Skoplje and His Eminence Metropolitan of ten million dinars be allocated and that a fund with a continued on p. 4 APPEAL OF THE HOLY ASSEMBLY OF BISHOPS The appeal of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church to all the priesthood, monks and faithful people, as well as to all the people of good will. Deeply concerned and grief-stricken, but also filled with unshakable faith in love and grace of God, we address all priesthood, monks and faithful people of our Holy Church, as well as all the people of good will, on the occasion of the disastrous floods and terrible suffering of numerous families in Serbia, Republic of Srpska and the whole region. And we call upon everyone, and above all upon our clergy, to show both Christian and human solidarity with all the victims and the affected, to actively and committedly participate in the defense of settlements and vitally important objects from the destructive element, and to provide shelter, aid in food, clothing and medicines, finances and any other support for their neighbors. In particular, we urge priests and monks to multiply their prayers, to perform daily prayers of supplication during the forthcoming days of heavy rains and to be front row with those who testify Christ’s love by helping the rescue of the suffering brothers and sisters. As a good example we would like to point out relentless rescue of the people performed by the state leadership and civil services (army, police, gendarmerie and others), as well as by all our citizens who participate voluntarily in this God-pleasing and noble action, often exposing their lives to danger. IN THIS ISSUE: • Bp. MaxiM in Mexico, p. 3 • Fr. Todorovic anniversary, p. 3 • our view, pp. 6-7 • serBian secTion, pp. 8-12 • page Two THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY June 2014 THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH St. Mark’s Monastery IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA Celebrates Slava EDITORIAL STAFF On Saturday, May 10, 2014 the St. English Section Editors Serbian Editor Mark Monastery in Sheffield Lake, Ohio V. Rev. Rade Merick, Senior Editor V. Rev. Nedeljko Lunich celebrated their Monastery Slava. His 530 North Fourth Street 300 Stryker Ave Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern Steubenville, OH 43952 Joliet, IL 60437 America and His Grace Bishop Sava email:[email protected] email: [email protected] retired bishop of Slavonia led the faithful V. Rev. Milovan Katanic Contributing Editor in prayer at the Holy Hierarchical Divine 65 South Keel Ridge Road V. Rev. Thomas Kazich Liturgy. Concelebrating clergy were V. Hermitage, PA 16148 P.O. Box 371, Rev. Stavrophor Vasilije Sokolovic, V. Rev. Phone:724-342-1198 Grayslake, IL 60030-0371 Archimandrite Leontije (Alavanja), V. Rev. email: [email protected] Phone: (847) 223-4300 Stavrophor Djordje Mileusnic, V. Rev. email: [email protected] Zivojin Jakovljevic, V. Rev. Mijoljub Matic, V. Rev. Dr. Bratislav Krsic Technical Editor V. Rev. Milovan Katanic, Hieromonk Fr. 3025 Denver Street Vesna R. Meinert Platon (Jovic) and Rev. Dragan Goronjic. San Diego, CA 92117 email: [email protected] Also serving was Protodeacon Ljubisa Phone: 619-276-5827 Letters to the editor are welcomed and encour- Mitrovic. In attendance was also V. Rev. email: [email protected] aged. All letters and manuscripts submitted for Stavrophor Djuro Majerle. Also, Sister publication must be signed and contain the author's Anastasija from New Marcha Monastery For address correction: name and address. Please send materials through attended. Business and Circulation Address email or MS Word format. At the Little Entrance His Grace The Path of Orthodoxy The Path of Orthodoxy is a monthly publication Bishop Mitrophan elevated Fr. Mioljub P. O. Box 883 with a double issue printed for the months of July Matic to Protojerej and Deacon Ljubisa and Angela Majerle. Following the liturgy Bridgeport, WV 26330 and August. Subscriptions are $12.50 per year for Mitrovic to Protodeacon. Kumovi for this the Sisters prepared a Slava banquet for all U.S. residents and $15.00 per year (U.S. funds only) email: [email protected] year’s celebration were Mr. and Mrs. Jovan guests. for Canadian subsribers. EDITORIAL San Diego Parish Celebrates Church Slava WE PRAY FOR CONSOLATION, STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDY The destructive floods in Serbia, Republika Srpska and other surrounding regions left us stunned: such a great natural force of enormous destructive magnitude. Images of people climbing to their roof tops waiting to be rescued or of those less fortune ones who were washed down by the powerful stream in the streets trying to catch something, anything, to avoid being pulled into this enormous lake of filthy water covering and breaking into streets, parks, homes, businesses, hospitals, churches and just about anything in its way. Rescue efforts are still on the way. The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church has issued an official statement calling our faithful to respond with humanitarian efforts and to route all donations to the Patriarch Pavle Fund for the purpose of assistance to those affected by the floods. Instruction details are published in this issue of The Path of Orthodoxy. The response is commendable of our parishes throughout North and South America. The expression of faith in action, solidarity, care and brotherly love are qualities to emulate and take to heart. These efforts will have to continue well into the summer and beyond as the rebuilding of devastated lives, homes and infrastructure will be an ongoing process for the next several years. A tragedy of this proportion brings to mind many questions. Why? Why Serbia and the Serbian regions? Haven’t we suffered enough already? Unfortunately, no easy answer can be given; no answer will satisfy our search for justice in this fallen world. I can say that this and similar tragic events in our modern technologically advanced age teach us that we are still finite and On Sunday, May 4th, 2014, with the Bratso Krsic, the parish priest, Deacon Paul inadequate human beings. Our dependency needs to rest on God as we journey Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the parish in Germain, parish deacon, in the presence in this life towards His Kingdom. We must admit though, as hard as it might be San Diego celebrated the Sunday of the of many parishioners and the faithful from at this time as we sort out our emotions mixed with anger, doubts, and questions, Myrrh-bearing Women and their Church other Orthodox parishes of the San Diego ultimately God is in charge of our life; not technology, nor sophisticated means Slava – Parish Patronal Feast Day of St. area. Protopresbyter-stavrophor Milan for predicting and preparing for the weather. The Almighty Creator of the George the Great Martyr. Though the Feast Vukovic, parish priest at the neighboring Universe, the Master of all creation is in charge. Day of St. George falls on Tuesday, May parish of St.