On Saturday, July 12th, on the Feast of the Holy and Glorious and All-Praiseworthy Chiefs of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, the Church Community in Wodonga celebrated its Patronal Feast Day (Krsna Slava).
His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan of Australia and New Zealand presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Archimandrite Petar from the St. Sava Monastery in Elaine, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Momcilo Vuksa – parish priest of the church, and Protodeacons Miodrag Tomic and Petar Mrakic. Assisting in the Altar were readers and servers from Melbourne, with the prayerful presence of many faithful gathered at this holy temple, located on the border of Victoria and New South Wales – over 550 km from Sydney and 320 km from Melbourne. In addition to the local faithful from Wodonga, many had traveled from Melbourne (from the parishes in St. Albans and Rockbank), Canberra, and Sydney to attend this spiritual gathering and support this small community.
Following the prayer behind the Ambo, a threefold procession (litija) was held around the church, after which the Slava offerings were blessed. This year’s host was Mr. Lazar Stanar, president of the Church Board, along with his family. For the following year, the honour of hosting the Slava (kolacharstvo) was accepted by a young parishioner of the community, Mr. Milan Kovacevic.
After the dismissal of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Siluan addressed the gathered faithful with a festal homily. He congratulated them on their church’s feast day and spoke about the exalted ministry, sacrificial giving, and fervent love for the Lord shown by all the Holy Apostles, and especially by the foremost among them, Saints Peter and Paul. The Metropolitan also emphasised the great joy in Heaven – that the Lord Himself rejoices, as do our holy ancestors, first among them Saint Sava – when we gather in unity, love, and harmony as an Orthodox people under the light of Saint Sava.
Following the Divine Liturgy, all proceeded to the church hall for an agape meal, during which the children of the newly established folklore group of this Serbian Orthodox Church community in Wodonga performed to the great delight and joy of all present. Speeches followed: Prota Momcilo welcomed everyone with carefully chosen words, warmly greeting Vladyka Siluan and expressing gratitude for his blessing and visit. Metropolitan Siluan then addressed the congregation, congratulating them on the Slava Day and thanking Prota Momcilo, the members of the Church Board, all collaborators and benefactors for the outstanding results achieved in the comprehensive renovation of the church hall, the ongoing restoration of the church and its property, and efforts to reestablish the church school. The Metropolitan also expressed his heartfelt thanks to the ladies of the Kolo Srpskih Sestara (Circle of Serbian Sisters) for their love and continued contribution to the life of the parish.
The celebration and fellowship continued with traditional Serbian folk dancing (kolo) and song.
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