Holy Hierarchical Liturgy and Vidovdan Festivities in Ottawa

On Vidovdan (Saint Vitus Day), June 28, 2026, His Eminence Metropolitan of Canada Mitrofan presided over the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy in the Saint Archdeacon Stefan Church in Ottawa, with the concelebration of the local parish priest Fr. Aleksandar Gujanicic and the diocesan deacon Dn. Petar Marjanovic, and the prayerful presence of the Secretary of the Diocesan Administrative Board Sister Paraskeva, the Vice-President of the Diocesan Administrative Board Zeljko Colakovic, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Canada Stefan Tomasevic. During the Holy Liturgy, Metropolitan Mitrofan honoured Fr. Aleksandar with the rank of protopresbyter. At the end of the Holy Liturgy, a memorial service was served for all the soldiers who gave their lives in the defense of our homeland.

After the memorial service, Metropolitan Mitrofan consecrated the mosaic of Christ the Saviour, which was made and donated to the church by the Mitric and Kostic families. The mosaic was placed above the southern entrance door and is now the third mosaic to be placed on the exterior of the church. Metropolitan Mitrofan also consecrated the Krajina Tear memorial cross located in the church port. This monument, made of white marble, is a faithful replica of the monument by the sculptor and fresco painter from Prigrevica, the late Dimitrije "Mirko" Celic, which was erected in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Banstol on the Fruska Gora. A similar monument was also erected and consecrated in the port of the Windsor Gracanica Church in November 2023. This monument is not only a reminder of the largest persecution in Europe since World War II, when Serbs were expelled from their centuries-old homelands, but also a memorial to all Serbs exiled and expelled from Kosovo and on to this day.

After the Holy Liturgy, a festive Slava luncheon was held at the nearby Serbian Parish Hall, where the good news was announced that work on preparing the church walls for fresco painting had begun.

It was beautiful to see the church filled with devout believers, mostly from the Ottawa-Gatineau region, who prayed together to the Lord God, lit wax candles in honour of innocent Serbian victims, and attended the consecration of the mosaic and memorial cross.

We would like to thank Ms. Branka Jankovic for providing us with photos which can be viewed HERE.