His Eminence Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand Siluan, arrived on Friday October 4 to South Australia for his archpastoral visit to the Serbian Orthodox faithful of Adelaide. On this occasion His Eminence visited the Monastery of the Nativity of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary in Inglewood, and both St Sava Church communities in Woodville Park and Hindmarsh.
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, Metropolitan Siluan served Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at the Monastery of The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Inglewood with the concelebration of the local clergy and the prayerful presence of faithful. On this Saturday, All-Souls Day, prayers are offered for those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. In his sermon Metropolitan Siluan spoke about the importance of prayer for the departed, and also about the fact that as Christians we should be aware that life was given to us on earth to attain eternal and imperishable life, and to work, according to the words of Christ, whilst it is yet day, because the night is coming (when we will fall asleep) when we will no longer be able to work. On the same day, in the evening hours, His Eminence visited Saint Sava’s Serbian Orthodox Church in Woodville Park
where vespers was served. The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Rade Stefanovic was also present, along with the gathered faithful. Metropolitan Siluan greeted the clergy and His Excellency, as well as all the faithful, expressing his joy for the opportunity to visit his spiritual children in South Australia.
On Sunday, October 6, His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan served Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at Saint Sava’s Serbian Orthodox Church in Hindmarsh with the concelebration of Archimandrite Petar Radulovic, Protopresbyter-stavrophor Milorad Jovcic, Parish Priest Fr Jovan Jovcic and Protodeacon Petar Mrakic. His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Rade Stefanovic was also prayerfully present at the Liturgy along with numerous faithful.
Before the start of the Divine Hierarchal Liturgy, Metropolitan Siluan, at the recommendation of Fr Jovan Jovcic, tonsured Mr. Bogdan Bogdanovic a Reader of St Sava’s church in Hindmarsh. After the Gospel reading, His Eminence spoke about the two greatest commandments upon which all the law and the prophets rest, namely love for God and love for our neighbours, which can only be deeply experienced and realised by the grace of the Holy Spirit, in the grace-filled Sacramental and Holy Virtuous life of the Church. After the Liturgy, a small memorial service was held for the long-time parish priest of this church, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Slavko Kasikovic of blessed memory. Metropolitan Siluan delivered an inspired archpastoral sermon at the end of the Liturgy, talking about the importance of unity and conciliarity in the wake of many temptations and challenges, especially for our youth.
As Orthodox Christians, we should keep a watchful eye on the Lord Christ and His Holy Gospel. Saint Sava is the example and paradigm given to the Serbian people of how we should live. We need to set an example for younger generations, to introduce them to the beauty of Holy Orthodoxy, to the greatest hope and source of support and inspiration, substance and meaning in life, which is the Lord Christ Himself. Following Liturgy a luncheon was served at the parish hall prepared by the hardworking sisters of the Circle of Serbian Sisters.
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