The Church and School Congregation of the Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist Church in Paterson, not far from New Jersey, marked 50 years since its founding.
At the celebration, the host, Father Đokan Majstorović, welcomed his guests and dignitaries, including the SPC bishops, Irinej of Eastern America and Maksim of Western America, and the Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York, Dr. Vladimir Božović.
Following the solemn Hierarchical Liturgy, the program continued in the church itself and the hall for refreshments, and everything was followed by a folk celebration and a rich table of love at the Serbian Estate near the church, where a rich cultural and artistic program was performed, including the performance of the cultural groups KUD “Opančići” and KUD “Drina”.
In addition to Bishops Maksim and Irinej, the solemn speech was delivered by the Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York, Dr. Vladimir Božović, who on that occasion pointed out that this is a great jubilee for our Church, that the Serbian St. John the Forerunner and Baptist is, in fact, our Holy Father Sava, the forerunner of the founding of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its autocephalous activity, and the Baptist because he baptized Serbs and Serbia, as a Christian and blessed land.
-He sacrificed himself just as St. John the Baptist did, reconciling feuding brothers and building himself into the foundations of our faith, just as St. John built himself in for the sake of truth, justice, and love. That is why, emphasized Consul General Božović, the Lord God glorified him in that he, like St. John, sacrificed himself for the Serbian people and Serbia, Božović stated.
The Consul General also pointed out that it is a great blessing for the Serbian people that the hand of St. John the Baptist is in the possession of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, and the Cetinje Monastery, and he invited all people, when they have the opportunity, to visit the Cetinje Monastery, Montenegro, Serbia, and Republika Srpska, because we are in indestructible unity.
He added that this shows the magnitude of the blessing that the Serbian people have, that such a great holy relic, by the will and blessing of God, is in the hands of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church. This, he emphasized, testifies that we are God’s chosen people and that in these difficult and challenging times, we should persevere, remain Serbs, teach our children the Serbian language, faith, and customs, and that the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in New York will always and in every way, as before, provide support in this.
Afterward, a large number of attendees — more than 350 guests — at the ceremonial banquet enjoyed Serbian traditional dishes, food, drinks, Serbian wines, as well as the rich cultural and artistic program.
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Source: Serbian Times Photo: Privatna arhiva