Slava of the Circle of Serbian Sisters in Richmond Hill

Article by: Fr. Milos Puric

Translation by: Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada

Prayerful gathering and joy of the parish community on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love

On Sunday, October 4, 2026, on the feast of the Holy Apostle Quadratus and the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love, the feast of the Circle of Serbian Sisters was solemnly celebrated at the Holy Archangel Gabriel Church in Richmond Hill. Since the feast fell on a weekday this year, the members of the Circle, in agreement with their parish priest and the Board of Directors of the Church and School Congregation, decided to postpone the celebration of the feast to the first following Sunday, so that as many parishioners as possible could participate in the prayerful meeting and share the joy of the feast together.

The celebration began with the Holy Liturgy, which was attended by a large number of faithful. Our chapel was filled to capacity on this occasion, and a special joy was the presence of a large number of children, who participated in the Holy Liturgy with their mothers and grandmothers and partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Thus, from the very beginning, the celebration of the Circle of Serbian Sisters was not only a holiday of one association, but also a true gathering of the entire parish community.

After the Holy Liturgy, the act of consecration of the Slava gifts was performed in the church hall. This year's godmother of the Slava was Mrs. Natasha Ostapchuk with her family. The members of the Circle and the parish community thanked her for the love, effort and sacrifice that she and her family made in honor of the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love.

The joy of the celebration was further enhanced by the news that the godmother of the celebration for next year will be Presbytera Natasa Puric who, with love and gratitude, accepted the honour and responsibility to continue this beautiful tradition.

After the act of consecration of the Slava gifts, a festive Slava luncheon was organized, which, according to the already established tradition, was prepared by male members and parishioners, led by the president of the Church and School Congregation, Mr. Miroslav Ubovic. A large number of parishioners and guests gathered at the Slava table, and the time passed in brotherly and sisterly unity, conversation and joy. The presence of guests included members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters from Niagara who enhanced the celebration with their arrival and witnessed the beauty of sisterly unity and mutual love.

What gave this Slava day a special warmth was the meeting of the youngest with the older generations. At the end of the celebration, the children and the servants (readers) of our parish presented each of the sisters present with a rose, delighting their mothers, grandmothers and all members of the parish community. This simple but touching gesture was a beautiful picture of the life of a church community in which love is not limited to words, but is learned and shown in deeds. This is precisely the deeper meaning of such gatherings. The Circle of Serbian Sisters, with their efforts and service, from the very beginning of our community, has been contributing to the life of the parish for many years, preserving not only beautiful customs and traditions, but above all the spirit of Christian love, sacrifice and service to others. Their work is part of the broader work of the entire church community in which each generation receives what its predecessors have left it and, with gratitude, improves what has been entrusted to it, and having improved it, passes on that heritage to those who come after it.

The Slava of the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love reminds us in particular that Christian life is not possible without faith, which is manifested through hope and love. Their example remains a living call to all of us to persevere in faith in our families and parish communities, to be a support for one another and to bear witness to Christ with our lives.

With gratitude to the Lord for this blessed day, we send a prayer to the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love to represent with their prayers all the members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters, their families, the clergy and all the faithful people of this parish, that the Lord may grant them strength, health and love for every good deed and may bless their further service to the Church and their neighbors.

May this holiday be a joy and strengthening to all who participated in it, and may the example of the Holy Martyrs continue to strengthen us in faith, hope, and love.

To health and salvation and many more years!