On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2020, His Grace Bishop Irinej celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Cathedral in Parma, Ohio.

Concelebrating with our bishop were Protopresbyter Dragoslav Kosic, Cathedral Dean, and Deacons Theodore Sokolovic and Milan Damljanovic. Responses were rendered by talented members of the Njegos Serbian Singing Society.
In his homily, the Bishop spoke of the dual nature of today’s combined sacred feast of St. John Chrysostom, author of the Liturgy that we are celebrating, and the secular feast of Thanksgiving. Both are embraced in the celebration of the Liturgy. With the Eucharist at it’s heart, the Divine Liturgy is the very essence of Thanksgiving, through which we enter into communion with the Lord and each other.

As St. Paul teaches us, we must therefore “rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thess. 5:16-18). By this all will know that we are true Christians.

As such, when Christian families gather together and pray before a common meal, then, according to St. Basil the Great, Christ, the Giver of all good, is seated at the head of our table.

A blessed Thanksgiving to all!