GREENSBORO PARISH CELEBRATES
BURNING OF MORTGAGE
Greensboro, NC – For some of us the day began very early, for some it was “a little” later, while for others the previous hours of the busy night turned into the next morning. There was so much to do, to organize, build and decorate.
We had waited for months to welcome our Bishop Mitrophan in our midst and it was during his timely visit on Sunday, September 25, 2005, that we finally were given the perfect opportunity to receive him into our home, to show him all that we have done, as our Kolo Slava celebrated their Slava of the Nativity of the Mother of God and the entire parish rejoiced as we were to, symbolically, “burn the mortgage” on our church property.
Since the end of May of this year, after only 6 years, our church/house and every blade of grass and corner of earth on that property is finally, truly ours. Having paid off every last cent owed to the previous owners we now breathe with relief as we walk on our very own land. On that day of celebration, which we held outside, it was our joy to see our many guests enjoy themselves, to see the children freely run and play in the open field without the fear of passing cars.
His Grace Bishop Mitrophan was brought by car on that day and all of us were moved to see our bishop, who got out of the car at the beginning of the driveway, humbly walk the way to where the gathered parishioners were awaiting his arrival. The first welcoming words that he heard were from our littlest members, our children, who anxiously greeted him. The bishop affectionately returned the kind words of the little children, was greeted by the clergy and it was already time for the service to begin.
The Divine Liturgy that morning was, for all of us, most moving. Assisting His Grace were Protojerej-Stavrofor Milan Stojanovic, Protojerej Milan Krstic, our parish priest Fr. Dragan Zaric and Deacon Dragoslav Kosic. A tent protected the altar and a podium, specially constructed for this event by our own skillful hands, raised it. Inside the altar an elegant chair, which I personally brought from the home of my recently deceased brother, served His Grace which left me with the feeling that that very act had, in some way, brought my dear brother closer to the Lord.
Being accustomed to Fr. Dragan serving the entire liturgy for us, we now watched the altar swarm with priests, with the bishop at the head. Our children’s choir sang the responses during the first part of the liturgy, directed by our favorite Russian, Nicholas. Even though we would like to have said that “thousands attended the liturgy” we are still happy to say that some 200 were in attendance, mostly our own parishioners but also some guests.
The crowning moment of each liturgy is the Holy Sacrament of Communion and this crown shined all the more in the eyes and smiles of our little children who patiently awaited to partake of the Holy Mysteries. With hands crossed across their chest they waited their turn. The adults watched them as they, with “atypical Serbian” discipline and without running in front of one another, slowly approached the holy Chalice. We truly had something to see and learn from out littlest ones. His Grace, then, together with the priests and deacon, blessed the Slava bread. It was beautiful to watch as the bishop gave each child a chance to kiss the cake.
A brief meeting of the board members was held after the liturgy with the bishop, as parishioners busied themselves converting the area that had once served as a church to better accommodate the program, luncheon, music and dancing which was to follow. The children put on a moving performance, singing the beautiful song by St. Bishop Nikolai “Christ is Risen”.
Our bishop and many guests promised to soon visit us again. Our small parish gave everything from itself and for that reason received so much in return. We can hardly wait to be given the chance to once again prove ourselves as good Serbian hosts.
On that special day in our young parish history, we can truly say that we received nourishment for both soul and body.
Dusica Prelevic