Youngwood, PA - On 7 December 2014 His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan celebrated the Holy Liturgy at Holy Ascension Serbian Orthodox Youngwood, PA for the slava celebration of the Kolo of Serbian Sisters.  The sister’s slava is the feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple – Vavedenje.

In addition to Bishop Mitrophan and the parish priest Rev. Fr. Milan Medakovic the V. Rev. Stavrofor Lt. Col. Adam Yontic UAFR (Ret.) was present for the liturgy.  During the liturgy Bishop Mitrophan elevated Fr. Milan to the rank of Protopresbyter.

After the blessing of the kolivo and slavski kolach at the end of the Liturgy Mary (Yackovich) Nagoda was awarded an Episcopal Gramata for significant years of leadership and service to the Kolo and the parish. Mary has been the president of the Kolo for more than 20 years.

The Kolo provided a very tasty meal after the liturgy. The V. Rev. Stavrofor Dr. Rodney Torbic of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels PA attended the meal following the liturgy.  There is a very close relationship between these two parishes.  St. George was started as a mission of Holy Ascension in the 1950’s.

During Bishop Mitrophan’s remarks at the meal he noted how special the feast of Vavedenje was for him.  It was on the feast of Vavedenje that His grace was tonsured as a monk during the vigil and ordained a Deacon at the liturgy the next morning.