Church Slava in Burnaby Celebrated with Holy Hierarchical Liturgy
written by: Fr. Sinisa Milutinovic
The celebration of the parish feast day – the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven – began in the Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Burnaby with Great Vespers on Tuesday, November 20. The festal observances continued the following day, on the very feast itself. The Divine Liturgy was served, followed by a procession (litija) around the church. The prayerful celebration concluded with the elevation and blessing of the festal gifts prepared in honour of the Holy Archangel Michael by this year’s godparents (kumovi), the Plavsic family.
The formal Slava banquet and cultural program were held on Saturday, November 22. The evening began with Vespers, at which His Eminence Metropolitan Mitrofan offered his prayerful presence. Vespers was served by Protopresbyter Marko Radmanovic, parish priest of the Saint Sava Church in Vancouver. At the kliros sang Protopresbyter Vuk Milisic, rector of the Saint Sava Church, as well as diocesan deacon Petar Marjanovic, who accompanied the Metropolitan on his visit. Liturgical responses were offered by the church choir Obilic.
Following Vespers, the festal gifts were blessed in the hall, and the kum for the coming year was chosen – Mr. Goran Bucan. A Slava dinner and program followed. The evening opened with the singing of the national anthem Boze pravde, after which the parish priest, Protopresbyter Sinisa Milutinovic, offered words of greeting and congratulated the parish on two significant jubilees: the 20th anniversary of the consecration of the church and the 50th anniversary of the White Eagles soccer club. On that occasion, Fr. Sinisa presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Njegos Forcan, assistant coach of the White Eagles.
The cultural program continued with performances by the Obilic choir, the members of the amateur theatre group Agape, and the first ensemble of the folklore group Mlada Srbadija. After the program, Jelena and Dragan Petrovic provided music and entertainment for the gathered faithful and guests.
The celebration continued on Sunday, November 23, with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy served by His Eminence Metropolitan Mitrofan, together with Archimandrite Petar of the Russian Church, Protopresbyter Marko Radmanovic, Protopresbyter Sinisa Milutinovic, and Deacon Petar Marjanovic. In his archpastoral homily, the Metropolitan reminded the faithful of the call to live the Christian life in love for God and for one another.
Following the Liturgy, a festal luncheon was prepared by the dedicated sisters of the Kosovka Devojka Circle of Serbian Sisters. Students of the Saint Basil of Ostrog Serbian School and the youngest members of the folklore group Mlada Srbadija offered a short program for a hall filled with parishioners and guests.
Other photos from the Slava celebration can be viewed: HERE.
