On Sunday, July 6, His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan of Australia and New Zealand served Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at St. John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Church in Dapto. Concelebrating with the Metropolitan were the local parish priest, Fr. Nikola Kovacevic, and Protodeacon Petar Mrakic, with the assistance of subdeacons and readers from Wollongong and Sydney.
After the blessing and cutting of the festal bread (slavski kolač), Metropolitan Siluan, in his sermon, particularly reflected on the person of St. John the Forerunner and his message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He also emphasised the significance of understanding that the Church is a path and beacon of light for the Serbian people in the diaspora.
This year’s Slavari or feast day hosts, Mladen and Zeljka Vico, handed over part of the slava bread to Cedomir Bozic, thus passing on the honour and responsibility of hosting next year’s celebration.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a luncheon was served, during which Fr. Nikola Kovacevic addressed the faithful, thanking His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan for his words of support, the Parish Council, the Circle of Serbian Sisters, the hosts for preparing the lunch, the folklore group, and all parishioners who came in great numbers to partake in the joy of the parish feast. The Vice President of the Parish Council, Rade Djukic, also expressed gratitude to everyone who helped with the organisation and preparation, as well as to the parishioners from the sister church of St. John the Baptist in Wollongong for attending.
Metropolitan Siluan addressed those present by interpreting the verse from the Gospel of Matthew: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them,” emphasising that the Church of Christ is the ark of salvation and that only the Orthodox Church has Christ Himself as its head, where no storm can harm or endanger the person who trusts in the Lord.
In the church hall, two groups from the folklore ensemble performed. Žarko and Ana Babić sang traditional songs, and Mr. Nikola Laketa, a retired history professor, spoke to the audience on the occasion of the jubilee—150 years since the Nevesinje Uprising. He reminded everyone of the events leading up to the great Serbian rebellion in Herzegovina, the organization and leadership of the uprising against the Ottoman Sultanate, in which many priests and monks also participated, and the eventual liberation and unification of the Serbian people.
All these performances were a source of pride for all those present, who gather around their Church in the diaspora and do not forget their faith, culture, and glorious ancestors.
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