On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the Conception of St. John the Baptist parish and its church-school congregation hosted the evening celebration of the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts for the New Jersey parishes of the Boston Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America was the celebrant, joined in concelebration by Protopresbyters-Stavophores Zoran Radovic of Elizabeth and Djokan Majstorovic, host priest of Paterson, and Protopresbyter Aleksandar Micich of Elizabeth, together with Deacon Vladimir Srbljak of Paterson.

Srdjan Maksimovic, doctoral student at Fordham University, and Mihail Golic of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, rendered melodious and tranquil responses to the service, aptly reflecting, per Fr Alexander Schmemann, the “bright sadness” of Great Lent.


At the conclusion of the liturgical celebration, His Grace offered a reflection on one of the oldest known Christian hymns, “Phos Hilaron” (Φῶς Ἱλαρόν - late 3rd/early 4th centuries), revised by Patriarch Sophronios of Jerusalem (d. 638 AD), which was originally was sung at Vespers as a “lamp lighting” hymn. It was sung as pilgrims gathered in the evening at the Tomb of Christ and a light was brought forth from perpetual light at the Tomb to light the other evening lamps. 

The Bishop continued by noting that the interpretation of the hymn in the original Greek version, “Phos Hilaron” (Φῶς Ἱλαρόν), is “Gladsome Light”; while in the Slavic tradition,  “Svete Tihi” (Свете Тихи), connotations “Tranquil Light”. Both interpretations of this hymn are attributes of the presence of the Divine - joy and tranquility, which aptly describe the subdued weekday services of Great and Holy Lent. Through these same attributes, he noted, we will find God in our hearts, as a joyful and tranquil presence, like the flame of a candle.

Thereafter, the Paterson parish, known for its generous Abrahamic hospitality, proved this evening was no exception. Albeit it a true Lenten meal, it served to sate the body, following the offering of liturgical nourishment. For in Orthodoxy, we are to maintain careful balance between soul and body. This, especially on our Great Lenten journey to Pascha.