NEWS AND EVENTS - Wednesday, August 3, 2016

MONASTERY SLAVA IN NEW MARCHA

Richfield, OH -The St. Archangel Gabriel Monastery, New Marcha, solemnly celebrated their Slava. SInce the actual Feast fell on a weeday, when most people are preoccupied with other duties which are not very easy to put off in this consumer society, the central celebraion of the Slava, with the blessings of His Grace Bishop Mitrophan, were held on the first Saturday after the feast.

This year's celebration of the monastery Patron Saint began on July 25 withe the festal Vigil served by V. Rev. Milan Medakovic, the spiritual father of New Marcha monastery. Prota Milan served liturgy on the feastday.

On Friday, July 29 His Grace Bishop Mitrophan attended the evening service, singing pleasantly the festal stikhera. After the dismissal of Vespers the Monastic Tonsure began. By the hand of Bishop Mitrophan V. Rev. Milan Medakovic was tonsured a rassaphore monk. Leading him in the monastic tonsure were Archimandrite Leontije Alavanja and Hieromonk Platon Jovic. During the tonsure Fr. Milan received the name of the first archbishop of Serbia, Sava. The bishop gave the hieromonk Sava to the spiritual care of Archimandrite Leontije Alavanja.

On Saturday, July 30 Bishop Mitrophan officiated at the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy with the concelebration of clery, clergy-monastics and deacons of the Eastern American Diocese and other dioceses of our Church. During the Liturgy Bishop Mitrophan ordained Deacon Vedran Grabic to the holy priesthood. Fr. Vedran will soon be appointed to one of the vacant parishes in the Diocese of Eastern America. The homily was delivered by Hieromonk Platon Jovic. Following the Liturgy the Ritual of the Slava Kolach was served. Dragan Cupkovic was kum of this year's Slava.

Through the work of the new Protosindjel Sava, Sister Anastasija and the pious people who regularly attend this monastery, a festal agape meal was prepared.