His Eminence, Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand Siluan, on the feast day of the Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite, graciously visited South Australia and the city of Adelaide.
The clergy and faithful gathered to welcome him in front of the Church of St. Sava, the First Archbishop of Serbia, in Woodville Park. His Eminence, Metropolitan Siluan, with the concelebration of Archimandrite Petar, Father Aleksandar Savić, Father Bojan Vlajić, Father Strahinja Janjić, and Deacon Mišel Miočinović, served Divine Hierarchical Liturgy. Assisting were the subdeacons Lazar Bogosavljević and Slobodan Ikić, along with readers Radovan Milutinović and Bratislav Kuribak, while Marko Klisurić and Milan Mrkajić also provided assistance.
The beauty of the service was greatly enhanced by the choir of this church, and the chanting was particularly elevated as the chanting was led by seminarian Jovan Savić and his brother Nikola.
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, the Metropolitan addressed the gathered faithful, instructing them that we all must learn from the example of the Saints. Reminding them of the events in the life of the Holy Prophet Elijah, his unwavering faith, and the power of God that manifested through his faith, patience, and courage, he encouraged all those present. He reminded them that, with God’s help and unbreakable faith, we must walk with humility and bravely through life, in a world that, in all times, including the one we live in, is filled with trials and spiritual wolves.
He also touched on recent events in Paris, at the opening of the Olympic Games, where, aside from the vile mockery of Christian symbols, there was an entire series of rituals celebrating the adversary – the Antichrist. Therefore, he once again emphasized the need to remain steadfast in faith, following the example of the Holy Prophet Elijah and other God-pleasing Saints.
A large number of those present approached the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
At the conclusion of the service, His Eminence addressed all those present, offering prayers and greetings to many who, due to justified reasons, could not be there, but were certainly with us in spirit.
After the Holy Liturgy, led by the Metropolitan and the hosts, all those present moved to the parish hall, where the sisters of the Circle of Serbian Sisters, with the selfless help of the parishioners, prepared an agape meal.
Finally, the Metropolitan thanked the Lord and His servant, the Holy Prophet Elijah, for the blessed day and the gathering of the faithful. He expressed his gratitude to the hosts and all those who laboured, bidding farewell to everyone until the next meeting, before preparing for the long journey through the South Australian desert, where he will serve the next Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Coober Pedy.
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