NEWS AND EVENTS - Tuesday, June 12, 2018

CHURCH SLAVA IN YOUNGSTOWN

The feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles - the birthday of the Church of Christ, was solemnly celebrated at the Youngstown parish whose historical church, dedicated to this feastday, was consecrated by Saint Mardarije - enlightener of the Serbs in America.

Just as Christ gathered His Apostles on that day and sent them the Comforter - the Holy Spirit, in that same way the people and clergy of both parishes in Youngstown, gathered around their Hierarch - His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, that in the Divine Liturgy they experience the foretaste of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Bishop Irinej was welcomed at the entrance of the church by the children who, like the children of Jerusalem had once before Jesus, they cast flowers at the entrance of the bishop. Concelebrating with the bishop at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy were Protosindjel Sava (Medakovic), Protonamesnik Bosko Stojanovic and Protodeacon Milos Zdralic. The church choir sang the responses.

Following the Prayer before the Ambon the bishop and clergy led the faithful in procession thrice around the church during which Bishop Irinej offered prayers for His Holiness the Patriarch, for the church and city in which the parishioners dwell, as well as those who through their efforts in this parish have inscribed their names in the Dyptich of the eternally living in the Kingdom of God. 

Following the procession, the Slava kolach was cut inside the church, prepared by this year's kumovi - Miodrag Andjelkovic with his family. Niki Martin received a fourth of the Kolach as kuma for the following year.

The Slava lunch was made complete by the children's folklore performance by the newly renewed group Avala.

Following the lunch, church boards from both church-school congregations in Youngstown held a meeting, presided by their bishop, at which time they laid the foundation of once again reuniting into one parish, with the hope that in the near future the great Name of the Trinity will be celebrated in the parish without divisions.