On Sunday, October 12, 2025, on the Feast Day of Saint Kyriakos the Hermit, His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan of Australia and New Zealand celebrated the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Dapto, marking the upcoming Patronal Feast of the Circle of Serbian Sisters – the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Concelebrating with the Metropolitan were the parish priest, Fr. Nikola Kovacevic, and Protodeacon Petar Mrakic, assisted by subdeacons and readers from Wollongong and Sydney. The parish had the honour of hosting a choir from Sydney, which beautified the Divine Liturgy with their singing.
After the Gospel reading from the Holy Apostle Luke, Metropolitan Siluan delivered a homily, reflecting on the Gospel message regarding the faith of Saint Petar and the storms of trials we must endure as Orthodox Christians. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Slava bread was blessed and cut. This year’s host of the KSS Slava was Mrs. Sanja Bozic, and next year’s host responsibilities were taken on by Dušanka Hrnjak.
Following the Liturgy, the celebration continued in the church hall where a festive lunch was served for the many guests. Joining the celebration were also Protopresbyter Branko Bosancic and Protopresbyter Ljupko Cubrilovic. A folklore group performed a welcoming set of traditional dances.
Parish priest Fr. Nikola Kovacevic was the first to address the gathered faithful, expressing his gratitude to all who came and supported the sisters who, through decades of dedicated work, bear witness to love and perseverance in service to the parish.
Metropolitan Siluan then gave his concluding Archpastoral address, thanking everyone present, greeting the Slava hosts, the members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters, the Church Board, and all attendees.
A particularly warm response came from the younger parishioners during the Metropolitan’s address in English, where he touched on the topic: Who is Christ?
Metropolitan Siluan spoke about the God-Man whom we Orthodox Christians worship — the God-Man revealed in Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition — emphasising that we keep to the true and authentic revelation of Christ, of Who He is. As Orthodox Christians we have never followed or proclaimed the false make-believe ‘Christs’ of this world, distorted and tailored to sinful desires of fallen humanity and the false teachers of this world. He also spoke about the importance of mission and evangelism, of preaching the Gospel to all nations.
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