ST SAVA CELEBRATION IN NEW YORK PARISH
New York, NY – St. Sava, the patron saint of Serbia, of children and schools, but also of the Serbian Cathedral in Manhattan was festively celebrated on Sunday, January 29, 2006. The festivities began with the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, officiated by His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan of Eastern America, assisted by the local clergy Protonamesnik Fr. Djokan Majstorovic and Deacon Stanislav Kravljaca from Portland, Maine.
Among the faithful attending the Divine Liturgy were also our diplomatic representatives, Vladimir Zutic from the Consul of Serbia-Montenegro, Ambassodar to Bosnia-Hercegovina (UN Mission) Dr. Milos Prica as well as our Greek and American friends. During the Divine Liturgy His Grace Bishop Mitrophan elevated Fr. Djokan to the rank of PROTOJEREJ.
His Grace spoke of Fr. Djokan, whom he has known for close to thirty years, and whose work in the church he carefully been watching not to mention the progress the New York parish has made over the years he has been a priest there. The bishop also mentioned that this award and elevation is not only to his credit but goes to the credit of his family and all the parishioners who meet prayerfully at the church and assist in the mission of the Church, especially its mission in New York.
Being surprised at the elevation Prota Djokan thanked the Bishop saying, “Your Grace I thank you for your support and the recognition of which I am not worthy; I thank my family and my greater, parish family with whom I share this joy and honor. With this recognition I receive a new responsibility and I pledge to, together with my flock, justify the credit and honor I’ve been given by my Church and Bishop.”
Following the Liturgy His Grace gave a moving homily after which he blessed the Slava Zito and cut the Slava Kolach which was prepared by the honored kumovi Vidoje Bozic and family. Milivoje Zivanovic accepted the kumstvo for the following year. The St. Sava recital and program followed in the church hall.
In light of the recent tragedy in Montenegro Prota Djokan reminded the faithful of the call from His Holiness Patriarch Pavle for a collection to assist the mourning families. That day over $3,000 was collected for the families of the train crash in Montenegro that claimed some 200 lives.
During the banquet His Grace called upon all Serbs of New York to congregate around their St. Sava church in New York for the “St. Sava orientation,” His Grace stated, “and the way of St. Sava is the only true path for Serbs.” As a wise archpastor who has been carefully watching the progress in the New York parish he knows of the need for another priest to assist Prota Djokan and for this reason, to everyone’s delight, he announced that as of March 1, 2006 a second priest will be appointed to the parish.
Church School teacher and Professor Ljiljana Knezevic, in her welcome address during the program, spoke of St. Sava as the best Serbian child that a Serbian mother had. “St. Sava was never an old man. He is an ever-young child, energetic and cloudless sight, youthful innocence and a child-life faith…”
Music and dancing followed to the late hours of the night. With the blessings of the spirit of St. Sava this national and spiritual feast day celebration brought a large number of Serbs of New York to their St. Sava Church and all was holy and honorable and acceptable to the gracious God.
Zorka Milich, Ph. D