On the Sunday after the Holy Nativity – the Feast of the Holy Ancestors of the Lord, January 12, 2024, His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan served Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at Saint Sava church in Flemington – Sydney with the concelebration of Protopresbyters Milorad Lončar, from Melbourne, Goran Ćećez, the diocesan secretary, the parish priest, Father Sasha Čolić, and Deacon Miladin Tripić.
The festive mood was further enhanced by the angelic singing of the Saint Sava Choir, led by Mr Stefan Cvjetković. The Metropolitan administered Holy Communion to a large number of faithful and delivered an inspiring sermon on the meaning and significance of the incarnation of Christ.
The Metropolitan paid special attention to providing an authentic interpretation of the Gospel account of the flight and temporary residence of the God-Child in Egypt. He pointed out the false and misleading interpretations of Gospel events presented by some in the Western world, where the supernatural Divine Providence is often undermined, and the relationship between the Most Holy Theotokos and the righteous Elder Joseph, her betrothed and protector, is reduced to the level of Hollywood clichés about a young family. The Metropolitan reminded the faithful of the Gospel truth about the conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by the Holy Spirit, who as the Ever-Virgin lived under the protection of her elderly relative Joseph, an eighty-year-old widower. However, there are those who seek to impose themselves as the measure of values, truth, and the very meaning of life. Insatiable and arrogant, they tirelessly work to eradicate the human need for a connection with the Creator, for His presence in our souls and lives as the One who is above all creation and, with His Divine power and holiness, in unconditional love for humanity seeks to bring us to the incorruptible truth and His loving embrace. It is alarming that lately, so-called Orthodox icons of the Nativity of Christ have appeared, in which, among other things, the righteous Joseph is depicted as a handsome young man, a detail that is entirely historically and logically foreign and contrary to Sacred Tradition. In this regard, it is valuable to nurture canonical iconography based on the Gospel and Sacred Tradition of the Orthodox Church, as seen here in the Flemington church.
After the Liturgy, the faithful were strengthened with earthly goods prepared with love and care by the Mothers of Jugović Circle. On this occasion, a collection plate was organised for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, which will be delivered to those most in need. The gathered faithful spent time after the Liturgy in conversation with their Bishop and clergy, which continued into the late afternoon hours.
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