Liturgical Joy in Windsor's Gracanica
Article by presbyter Milorad Delic
On Sunday August 24, the Dormition of the Mother of God Church in Windsor was filled with light and joy, as the faithful gathered around their spiritual centre to celebrate the Slava of the church. Just as the apostles once gathered around the Most Holy Theotokos at the hour of Her Dormition, so too, our faithful people, celebrating the holiday, gathered in the church dedicated to this holy event around their Hierarch – His Eminence Archbishop of Toronto and Metropolitan of Canada Mitrofan, who presided over the Eucharistic assembly.
The Metropolitan was concelebrated by: cross-bearing protopresbyter Miroljub Todorovic, protopresbyter Jovan Marjanac, presbyters Marko Dimic, Brian Payne and Milorad Delic, as well as deacon Petar Marjanovic.
Every intercession and every prayer poured out like a fragrant censer from the lips of the choir and the people who responded in unison, bearing witness to those words that in the Liturgy stand at the very heart of our confession: "Let us love one another, that we may confess with one accord..."
The church was filled with pious people and young children, and there was especially great joy that many, led by the youngest, approached the Holy Chalice. The Metropolitan himself emphasized that moment in his address as the deepest source of joy – that the church was full and that the vast majority of people, especially children, received the Body and Blood of Christ. Indeed, this is where true glory and the greatest victory are reflected – when the people of God live from the Eucharist and find their identity in it.
After the Liturgy, the Slava gifts were blessed, and then, as a sign of joy, a three-time procession around the church was performed. At the end of the Eucharistic assembly, Protopresbyter Jovan Marjanac addressed those present with a fitting sermon on the Gospel reading.
On behalf of the entire community and on his own behalf, Presbyter Milorad Delic thanked the Metropolitan, his brother priests and the gathered people for enhancing the celebration. For "how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity."
At the Agape feast in the Serbian Centre, around His Eminence the Archbishop of Toronto and Metropolitan of Canada Mitrofan, everyone gathered – not only parishioners, but also priests from other Orthodox jurisdictions in Windsor, which once again showed that in Christ we are all one:
- Cross-bearing Protopresbyter Miroljub Todorovic, temporary administrator of the parish at the Saint Dimitrije Church in Windsor (SOC),
- Protopresbyter Jovan Marjanac, Secretary of the Metropolis of Canada and Parish Priest at Holy Trinity Church in Kitchener (SOC),
- Presbyter Marko Dimic, parish priest at the Saint Petka Church in Lakeshore (SOC),
- Protosyngel Corneliu Adrasco, Saint George Church, Romanian Orthodox Church,
- Protopresbyter Nicolae Codrea, Holy Spirit Church, Romanian Orthodox Church,
- Presbyter Emil Atanasov, Saint Nicholas Church, Macedonian Orthodox Church,
- Presbyter Seraphim Torres, Saint Ignatius Church, Antiochian Orthodox Church,
- Presbyter Dusko Markovic, parish priest at the Saint Sava Church in London (SOC),
- Presbyter John Ayoub, Saint John the Theologian Church (OCA),
- Presbyter Brian Payne, parish administrator at the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul Church in Sudbury (SOC),
- Presbyter Milorad Delic, parish priest of Gracanica Church in Windsor (SOC),
- Deacon Petar Marjanovic, Secretary of the Metropolitanate of Canada (SOC),
- Deacon Srdjan Miskovic, Saint John the Theologian Church (OCA).
The godparents were Sid and Anne Dubé, who lovingly accepted the honour and obligation of hosting the festive gathering.
The President of the Church Board, Mr. Goran Todorovic, led the luncheon program, where projects and plans for the future of our community were presented.
As a testament to the fact that Gracanica is not just a temple made of stone, but a living organism, every year diplomas are awarded to students who graduate from our church school, as well as scholarships to future students who meet the stipulated criteria. This year, the scholarship was awarded to Mila Jelic, as an incentive to remain connected to her Church and people in her education.
His Eminence also presented gramata certificates to the following deserving members of our community as a sign of gratitude for their long-term work and love for the church: Gruja "Lala" Stevanov, Anne Dubé, Petar Cuk, Dara Gidak, Andjelka Lamarre and Nada Tremblay.
The entire celebration was a truly iconic reflection of the Church – a community in which all are one in Christ, in which love becomes the measure of every feat, and in which the Holy Chalice remains the source and summit of life.
