On the feast day of the Presentation – Vavedenje, His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan served Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at the Skete of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos in Tallong. Protopresbyter-stavrofor Ilija Dragosavljevic and Protopresbytor Goran Cecez, with Proto-Deacon Petar Mrakic concelebrated with His Eminence, whilst Proto-Deacon Života Petrović was prayerfully present. Subdeacons and Readers from Sydney, Canberra, and Wollongong assisted on the day. The choir was led by the Presbytera Smilja Dragosavljević.
On this day, the missionary parish in Young, NSW, celebrated its patronal feast or Slava day. Numerous faithful from several different church communities from Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle where prayerfully gathered at the Liturgy, with many of them confessing and receiving Holy communion.
In his sermon, Metropolitan Siluan pointed to today’s universal miracle of the Lord: the fervent prayer, hope, faith and righteous life of the elderly parents, Joachim and Anna, were rewarded with a daughter who would bear within her the One who is broader and more greater than the heavens. As a three-year-old girl, she was brought by the high priest Zechariah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, into the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem Temple. In this way, her endless fulfillment with the grace of the Holy Spirit began, preparing her to become the Mother of the Lord Himself.
In the sermon that followed the blessing of the Slava bread, Metropolitan Siluan reflected on the true meaning of what a monastery is and should be, the necessity of monastics for the spiritual life of the Church, their prayer for all of us, and the hopes and guidelines for the future, with God’s help, for this small holy Skete in Tallong. Today’s hosts, Čedo and Ljiljana Simović from Arilje, according to the blessed custom, handed over a part of the Slava bread to the next hosts, Alexander and Anka Jelinek from Young.
During the agape meal after the Liturgy, Fr Ilija, who, by the blessing of Metropolitan Siluan, cares for this Holy Place, gave a heartfelt address, thanking the Hierarch for his prayers, solicitude, and liturgical visit, as well as all those who visit and support this Theotokian skete in Tallong.
A special addition to today’s post-liturgical gathering was the initiative of the youth from Canberra and Young, who led the Metropolitan and clergy to a natural scenic lookout, namely a canyon located on the property. The entire forest path leading to this spot, overlooking the nearby vast and beautiful natural canyon, including the current access road to the skete, was recently renovated and improved by our tireless youth through dedicated efforts and organised actions, with the help of professional machinery.
It was truly a blessed day for all. Glory be to God!
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