On All Saints’ Sunday, when the Holy Church celebrates the innumerable multitude of God-pleasers who testified to their faithfulness to Christ through their lives, the Diocesan Day of the Canadian Diocese was solemnly celebrated at the spiritual center of our local Church in Canada, the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord in Milton.
The celebration began in the early morning hours with the service of Matins, officiated by Protosyncellus Sava Medaković in the prayerful presence of His Eminence Archbishop of Toronto and Metropolitan of Canada Dr. Mitrofan.
This was followed by the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Mitrofan, concelebrated by His Grace Bishop Athenagoras (Salmas) of Patara, auxiliary bishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada, Mitred Protopresbyter Thomas Bekurishvili of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Milojko Dimitrić, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dr. Goran Gojković, Eastern Canadian Dean, Protopresbyter Vladimir Vranić, as well as Deacons Petar Marjanović and Miroslav Radošević.
The beauty of the service was especially enriched by the inspired and prayerful singing of the Diocesan Choir “Kir Stefan the Serb” from Toronto, under the direction of Mrs. Jasmina Vučurović, while the hymns and troparia were harmoniously chanted by Priest Milorad Delić and Priest Duško Marković. A multitude of faithful filled the holy church, which proved too small to accommodate all those who gathered to participate prayerfully in the Holy Liturgy and jointly celebrate All Saints at the Monastery in Milton.
In his sermon at the conclusion of the Holy Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Mitrofan shared special spiritual joy with the gathered faithful by speaking about the blessing bestowed upon the Canadian Diocese through the brotherly love of His Eminence Metropolitan Vasilije of Srem. On that occasion, a particle of the holy relics of Saint Hieromartyr Barnabas, Bishop of Hvosno, confessor and martyr of Christ, whose suffering became an unquenchable testimony of faithfulness to the Gospel, was brought to Canada. Receiving this holy gift as a pledge of spiritual unity and love among the dioceses of our Holy Church, the faithful people of Canada gained yet another heavenly intercessor before the Throne of God, whose prayers will strengthen generations of Orthodox Serbs in this blessed land.
This year’s godparents of the Diocesan Day were Drago and Zora Tubonjić, who with love, faith and devotion to their Holy Church carried the honor of godparenthood for this great diocesan gathering. The joy of the gathering was further enhanced by the fact that Branislav and Suzana Kovačević volunteered to serve as next year’s godparents, gratefully and joyfully accepting the blessing to continue this beautiful tradition of service and love toward their Church.
Following the Holy Liturgy, a fellowship meal was organized for all attendees, after which an appropriate cultural and artistic program took place. The folklore program was prepared by the folklore group “Svetosavlje” from London, Ontario. Participating in the program were the folklore groups “Svetosavlje” from London, “Stevan Sinđelić” from Kitchener, “Gavrilo Princip” from Waterloo, “Saint Sava Oplenac” from Mississauga and the “Serbian Folk Dance Academy” from Toronto. The program was successfully hosted by Mrs. Dragana Orelj, president of the “Svetosavlje” folklore group from London, while the musical portion of the program was organized by Mr. Srđan Minić, also from London.
The God-preserved Canadian Diocese expresses special and profound gratitude to all those who, through their effort, love and selfless service, contributed to this year’s Diocesan Day being celebrated in the spirit of ecclesiastical beauty, brotherly harmony and genuine Christian joy.
Special recognition belongs to Sister Paraskeva (Lepović), secretary of the Diocesan Administrative Board, Deacon Petar Marjanović, secretary of the Diocesan Office, and Mrs. Daliborka Pjevac, president of the Federation Circle of Serbian Sisters, who during the many days preceding this great gathering carried a significant part of the preparations and organizational work with exceptional diligence, dedication, responsibility and tireless commitment. Their selfless effort, sacrifice and love for the Holy Church were invaluable support in preparing this magnificent gathering, which unfolded with dignity, solemnity, beauty and in the spirit of true Orthodox hospitality.
At the same time, gratitude belongs to the honorable clergy and monastics of the Canadian Diocese, members of the Diocesan Administrative Board, the Federation Circle of Serbian Sisters, numerous volunteers, benefactors, donors and all faithful members of our church-school congregations who in any way contributed to the organization and success of this gathering. Every invested moment, every effort and every sacrifice became part of the joy of this day and represents a living testimony of active love for the Church of Christ and devotion to the legacy of Saint Sava.
May the Lord, through the prayers of All Saints, reward all those who labored for this gathering with His abundant heavenly gifts, strengthen them in every good work, and grant them health, peace, salvation and blessings from above.
The faithful arrived from various parts of Canada, especially from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, many of whom came by organized bus transportation in order to be present on this day at the spiritual seat of the Canadian Diocese. Once again this year it was confirmed that Diocesan Day is growing into an ever larger and more significant gathering of the Serbian Orthodox people in Canada. God’s blessing was also manifested through the wonderful weather, which allowed the joy of the gathering to be complete.
During the ceremonial program, those present were first addressed by the host of the gathering, His Eminence Metropolitan of Canada Dr. Mitrofan, who warmly welcomed the distinguished and dear guests and the numerous faithful who gathered out of love for their Mother Church. On that occasion, His Eminence also shared his spiritual impressions from a recent visit to Belgrade, where he had the blessing to concelebrate with His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije before the holy Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos. He particularly emphasized that the blessing of the Most Holy Theotokos, which through the efforts of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije and the abbot of the sacred Athonite Monastery of Vatopedi, Archimandrite Ephraim, came among the Serbian people, was also brought among the faithful in Canada as a sign of heavenly protection and comfort to all who approach the One, Holy and Catholic Church with faith.
As a sign of gratitude for his visit and brotherly love, Metropolitan Mitrofan presented Bishop Athenagoras with a bishop’s panagia as a prayerful remembrance of this magnificent day and spiritual gathering.
Thanking him for the hospitality shown, Bishop Athenagoras emphasized the importance of brotherly cooperation and unity among Orthodox Christians in Canada. He recalled the shared history of suffering of the Serbian and Greek peoples, especially during Ottoman rule, stressing that the Orthodox Church throughout the centuries has been a place of gathering, spiritual strength and preservation of the faith. He particularly noted that the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Milton was the first place he visited upon arriving in Canada and that this holy monastery holds a special place in his heart.
Those present were then addressed by Mitred Protopresbyter Thomas Bekurishvili, who conveyed greetings and gratitude on behalf of Bishop Sava of the Georgian Orthodox Diocese in North America to the host, His Eminence Metropolitan Mitrofan. He particularly emphasized the significance of Metropolitan Mitrofan’s efforts in preserving pan-Orthodox unity in Canada and witnessing the Orthodox faith and unity in Christ within contemporary society.
Greetings were also offered by the Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Toronto, Mr. Dejan Eraković, who recalled the historical role of the Serbian Orthodox Church as the guardian of the national identity, spirituality and culture of the Serbian people during times when no state institutions existed to fulfill that role. He emphasized that even today the Canadian Diocese represents a spiritual beacon and gathering place for our people in Canada, preserving their identity, faith and spiritual heritage.
Those present were then addressed by Mr. Ned (Nenad) Kuruc, Member of Parliament of Canada and the first MP of Serbian origin elected to the federal Parliament of Canada. Speaking as a member of the Serbian community in Canada and a proven friend of the Canadian Diocese, he greeted the assembled people and pointed out the immeasurable significance that the Canadian Diocese, led by Metropolitan Mitrofan, and the Serbian Orthodox Church have in preserving the faith, identity, culture and unity of the Serbian people in Canada. He especially emphasized that the Church remains the spiritual pillar of our people and a place where generations of Serbs who build their lives in Canada gather while remaining faithful to their spiritual and national heritage.
On behalf of the Diocesan Administrative Board, Mr. Goran Todorović, a member of the Board, also addressed those present, emphasizing the importance of the Canadian Diocese for the entire Serbian community in Canada. He announced important projects and plans that will contribute in both the near and distant future to the further development of the Diocese and the strengthening of the Serbian community, so that the Canadian Diocese may be a true reflection of the soul of the Serbian people, always to the glory of God and for the joy and benefit of the Church of Christ.
This year’s Diocesan Day once again testified to the strength of the living faith of the Serbian Orthodox people in Canada. Gathered around their spiritual center, the faithful carried spiritual joy and blessing back to their homes, strengthened by the faith that the Church of Christ is the everlasting home of all those who seek and find salvation within it.
May the Lord, through the prayers of All Saints, bless the Canadian Diocese, its honorable clergy, monastics and faithful people, granting them spiritual growth, peace and every true good for many blessed years.
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Source: Protojerej Vladimir Vranić za Istočnik; Foto: Istočnik