The Feast of the Entry of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into Jerusalem – Palm Sunday – was solemnly celebrated at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Brunswick, Melbourne.
The parishioners who gather at their church had the special honour and blessing this Sunday of partaking in the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist, united around their hierarch, Metropolitan Siluan. In his sermon following the reading of the Gospel, the Metropolitan addressed the faithful, highlighting the importance of today’s feast in the divine plan of salvation.
Explaining the word “Hosanna” – meaning “Lord, save us!” – with which the children greeted the Lord, the Metropolitan emphasised that we too, like those children of old, are called to invite the Lord to enter the gates of our hearts as Saviour and Redeemer, as the One who raises the dead, to liberate, transform, enlighten, and sanctify the depths of our inner being.
Speaking about the hymnography of the feast, the Metropolitan pointed out that the donkey on which the Lord entered Jerusalem – which was tamed and reined in by the Lord – is a symbol both of our sins and passions, which can only be overcome in the Lord, and also a symbol of the Gentiles, whom the Lord also came to save and make part of His Holy Church, to bring them into the indestructible City… In this grace-filled mission, today’s clergy participate as Christ’s apostles – preaching in order to transform and warm the hearts of non-believers so that they too may become part of God’s Church.
During the continuation of the Divine Liturgy, and later at the agape meal, Metropolitan Siluan also spoke about the priestly journey of Protopresbyter-stavrofor Petar Damjanović, whom we officially bid farewell into retirement today. Speaking of Fr. Petar’s service and life, the gathered faithful could see that Fr. Petar was a tireless labourer in the Lord’s vineyard, having devoted his entire self to the Church and fulfilling his pastoral service among his people both in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Serbia – in the churches of St. Demetrius and St. Mark in Belgrade.
As a gift from His Eminence, Metropolitan Siluan, Fr. Petar received a filigree pectoral cross and a fountain pen. He also received a fountain pen from the clergy of the Melbourne Deanery, a bottle of collector’s wine from the Circle of Serbian Sisters (KSS), and a congratulatory card with a certificate of appreciation from the Pensioners’ Club.
Fr. Petar was bid farewell with carefully chosen words by the Cathedral’s new priest and rector, Fr. Bogdan Milić, who thanked him for his love, advice, and guidance – something greatly needed by every new priest in the diaspora.
Fr. Petar expressed his gratitude to all, saying that he would always be there for his Church, his hierarch, his people, and his fellow clergy.
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