Church Slava in Whitby Celebrated with Holy Hierarchical Liturgy

The Saint Arsenije Sremac Church in Whitby, east of the city of Toronto, very solemnly and piously celebrated its Slava celebration on Sunday, the 22nd after Pentecost, November 9, 2025. The Holy Hierarchical Liturgy was served by His Eminence Metropolitan of Canada Dr. Mitrofan, with the concelebration of the retired Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Prvoslav Puric, parish priest Protopresbyter Milos Puric, and the young deacon Petar Marjanovic from Burlington.

This year, the celebration was further enhanced by the singing at the Liturgy by the Kir Stefan the Serb choir from the fraternal Church of Saint Sava in Toronto, led by conductor Jasmina Vucurovic. With their solemn singing, they delighted both the Angels in Heaven and the faithful present inside the church. After the service, they commented that they had never been to a more beautiful Liturgy.

The Blažena and the troparia of the feast were sung by Aleksandar Markovic and Jovan Papic, who, along with his wife Lidija, was also the godfather of this year's Slava. They also read the epistles of the Apostle Paul in the Sunday Apostol, in Serbian and English. Radoslav Tofilovski accepted the godfathership for next year, and on that occasion this year's godfather Jovan handed him a piece of the Slava kolach.

After administering communion to a large number of children and faithful, Metropolitan Mitrofan first blessed the Slava kolach and wheat with the godparents, and then delivered a God-inspired homily about the rich man and Lazarus. You can read the homily in full HERE.

At the end of the holy service, Father Milos thanked everyone who came and invited them to a festive Slava luncheon prepared by the hardworking members of the Mala Gospojina Circle of Serbian Sisters led by Aleksandra Popovic. The church hall was filled to capacity despite the ongoing snowstorm.

In his welcoming speech during the Slava luncheon, Metropolitan Mitrofan touched on numerous topics, such as the importance of the spiritual over the transient and material. On this occasion, Metropolitan Mitrofan also recalled the time he spent at the Krka Monastery and reminded all those present of the extraordinary spiritual treasure that our people possess in Dalmatia.

To our God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be glory and praise unto the ages of ages. Amen.