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Стаза Православља THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA VOLUME 44 FEBURARY - MARCH 2009 NO. 2-3 Western American Diocese Annual Assembly in San Marcos, CA His Grace Bishop Maxim convened the diocesan an- Following lunch, the Clergy and Delegates returned to St. nual assembly at St. Petka in San Marcos on Thursday, Petka for several more hours of Assembly work. Upon February 12, with the clergy seminar and meeting. The completion of the last meeting, everyone departed to keynote speaker at the clergy meeting was Fr. Paul Tarazi, their homes and parishes. Th.D. He spoke on the topic of “The Priest as Pastor.” Fr. This year’s three day Assembly of lectures, meet- Paul’s presentation was rooted in the Scriptures. Based on ings, and fellowship hosted by the parishioners of St. the Biblical pastoral approach to the ministry there is only Petka Church was a very successful and productive event one fl ock whose shepherd is to submit himself to One True enjoyed by all who attended. Through the work of this Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Assembly we once again realized how such gatherings The following day, the invocation of the Holy Spirit was of our faithful and clergy are especially important, and served and Fr. Paul gave his keynote address on the topic, how the ecclesiastical bodies known as “parishes” and “The Church Community in the New Testament.” With his “communities” cannot be autonomous or exist isolated presentation, Fr. Paul, raised awareness about the Church from one another. We therefore must continue to study community in the New Testament. The foremost functions continued on p. 4 of each community are to be one around the Lord; to build up the Body of Christ with great responsibility on the local community level. This responsibility of each community member rests in the Biblical words, “Be Ye Holy as I Am Holy” – said the Lord. Following the lecture, Fr. Paul an- swered questions from the audience. The remaining part of the Assembly addressed various ministries of the Diocesan departments. St. Nicholai of Zicha Oratorical Festival was held following the Vespers service. The three young and enthusiastic students delivered their orations: Alexander Berger, who took fi rst place, Elizabetha Kasic took second, and Jelena Tasic, third place. Alexander Berger will go on to the National Sabor scheduled for August Above: At the entrance of St. Petka in Canton, Ohio. There he will compete against other fi rst Church in San Marcos where the an- place winners from the other three dioceses of the Serbian nual assembly took place, the clergy Orthodox Church in North and South America. welcome His Grace Bishop Maxim. On the fi nal day of the Assembly, Saturday, February Left: Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of 14th at St. Petka, all the Clergy and faithful joined His Grace Old Testament at St Vladimir’s Semi- Bishop Maxim in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at nary, gave a keynote address on the which time Hierodeacon Hilarion from the St. Herman of topic,” The Church Community in Alaska Monastery was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. Fol- the New Testament”. lowing the Divine Liturgy everyone traveled to the Meeting of our Lord Monastery Grounds where lunch was served. Shadeland Nativity Youth Retreat The Third Annual Nativity Fast Retreat was held at St. challenged as teams on their knowledge of the Bible. They Sava Camp-Shadeland December 28-30, 2008. Participants were asked to work together in identifying Bible verses. His began arriving late Sunday afternoon. Vespers were served Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan, a Bible professor and scholar, followed by a welcoming dinner. joyfully encouraged the children and youth to identify the The Sunday eve- Bible verses in the team ning program began exercises. with Protopresbyter Time for basketball, Stavrophor Rade Mer- a hike around the beauti- ick conducting a “get ful grounds, table games to know each other” and craft activities were session. interspersed during the F o l l o w i n g t h e talks on Monday. introductory session, Morning prayers, Zelkja Vignjevich gave Vespers and evening a presentation on camps prayers were part of the for the needy in Serbia, schedule on Monday for and the activities of the all attending. Confes- Vlade Divac foundation sions were heard prior The newly enthroned Patriarch of Moscow in helping Serbian chil- to Vespers. For the very and All Russia Kirill became the 16th Patriarch dren in these difficult early adult risers, ser- of the Russian Orthodox Church. situations. A video on vices were available at Story on page 4. the Nativity of our Lord 5:30 AM. Savior Jesus Christ from Following the eve- the Gospel of St. Luke ning meal, His Grace was shown to conclude Participants at the Third Shadeland Nativity Retreat receive the Bishop Dr. Mitrophan N THIS ISSUE the Sunday evening pro- Holy Eucharist at the Tuesday Divine Liturgy. spoke with the children I gramming. and youth about the On Monday Prota Rade Merick. Prota Djokan Majs- meaning of the Feast of the Nativity. Swimming through Lent, p. 3 torovic and Protonamesnik Zivojin Jakovljevic gave talks The participants also could ask His Grace questions. Successful Stewardship, p. 5 throughout the day on the retreat theme “Born to Serve.” His Many of the questions refl ected deep thoughts on the part Smart Parenting , p. 6 Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan also participated in the lively of the young questioners. Our View, pps. 8-9 discussions that were part of the presentations, both from Protopresbyter Stavrophor Rastko Trbuhovich held an Serbian Section, pps. 11-16 the younger and the older young people. instructional session on church music on Monday evening On Monday afternoon the retreat participants were continued on p. 7 PAGE TWO THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY FEBRUARY-MARCH 2009 THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY The Official Publication of the Serbian Orthodox Church IOCC Responds to Australian in the United States of America and Canada EDITORIAL STAFF Wildfires English Section Editors Serbian Editor Baltimore, MD, Feb. 13 — The worst hour winds and temperatures peaking at V. Rev. Rade Merick, Senior Editor V. Rev. Nedeljko Lunich wildfires in Australia’s history have caused 117°F in the southeast state of Victoria 530 North Fourth Street 300 Stryker Ave 181 confirmed deaths and left hundreds of where most of the damage occurred. Large Steubenville, OH 43952 Joliet, IL 60437 people homeless. More than 900 houses were parts of Queensland are also suffering from Fax: 740-282-0313 Fax: 815-741-1883 destroyed and some 7,000 people have re- floods caused by tropical downpours. Many email:[email protected] email: [email protected] quested assistance from humanitarian agen- survivors are claiming that there was no time Rev. Milovan Katanic Technical Editor cies. International Orthodox Christian Chari- for an orderly evacuation and that people 65 South Keel Ridge Road Vesna R. Meinert ties (IOCC) is issuing an emergency appeal died taking refuge in homes that collapsed Hermitage, PA 16148 Phone: 304-842-2927 and has released initial funds to assess the in minutes. As officials call for an inquiry to Phone:724-342-1198 Fax: 304-842-9302 situation and assist the Orthodox churches review the response, firefighters continue to email: [email protected] email: [email protected] in Australia to mobilize a response. battle more than two dozen wildfires. “We turn to you in this most difficult Help IOCC speed relief to communities V. Rev. Bratislav Krsic Business and Circulation Address hour for all peoples of Australia, a time devastated by the worst fires in Australia’s 3025 Denver St The Path of Orthodoxy when every soul mourns and suffers due to history. Visit www.iocc.org, call IOCC toll San Diego, CA 92117 P. O. Box 883 the great and horrific tragedies which have free at 1-877-803-4622, or mail a check or Bridgeport, WV 26330 Phone: 619-276-5827 befallen our Continent,” said His Grace Irinej money order payable to “IOCC” and write email: [email protected] (Dobrijevic) Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox “Australia Relief” in the memo line to: Church in Australia and New Zealand, a IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. The Path of Orthodoxy is a monthly publication with a double issue printed for the long time co-worker of IOCC and former 21263-0225. months of July and August. Subscriptions are $12.50 per year for U.S. residents and Board Member before his elevation to the IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official $15.00 per year (U.S. funds only) for Canadian subsribers. episcopacy. humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Letters to the editor are welcomed and encouraged. All letters and manuscripts “We appeal to every person of good will Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops submitted for publication must be signed and contain the author's name and address. to respond to the best of your ability to this in the Americas (SCOBA), has implemented Please send materials through email or MS Word format. tragedy and manifest your charity and love,” over $300 million in relief and development His Grace continued. programs in more than 33 countries around The fires were driven by 62 mile per the world. EDITORIAL OUR HOPE IN THE MIDST OF Orthodox Christian Prison ECONOMIC CRISIS Ministry Announces New Director Feb. 10—Orthodox Christian Prison 2) the expansion of OCPM’s correspondence In the midst of the economic crisis that our country and world face, Ministry (OCPM), the official prison ministry ministry, and 3) a convocation for Orthodox we find a message of comfort and hope.