St Sava celebration - January 2023
The weekend celebrations started with a vespers service immediately followed by a folklore performance. His Grace Dositej welcomed a packed hall of guests for St Sava’s Evening. The parish’s ensemble Rastko welcomed special guests Gračanica, Serbian folk dance ensemble who had especially flown over from Boston, USA. Both dazzled the audience.
On Sunday, the parish came together in huge numbers to celebrate our national saint in a festive spirit despite the troubled times we presently live in.
Divine Bishop’s Liturgy was served by Dositej, Bishop of Britain and Scandinavia in concelebration with clergy from London and the rest of Great Britain. Parishioners, children and parents were joined by Her Excellency Ms. Aleksandra Joksimović, Serbia’s Ambassador and her partner, HRH Princess Katarina Karađorđević da Silva, Miss Marijana Ognjanović, Consul of the Republic of Serbia, the military attaché Mr. Dragan Dabović and his wife.
Luka Milivojević, captain of Crystal Palace FC, was also present along with his family, who often attend St Sava’s.
The host of this year’s St Sava’s celebration was Mr. Predrag Pisić, who presented all the students of the Church Sunday School with gifts.
During Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Bishop Dositej ordained Reverend Bojan Radičević, parish priest from Halifax, to the rank of archpriest in recognition of his dedicated service at Halifax parish. With the Bishop’s blessing, Father Bojan proclaimed the significance of St Sava’s character for our Church and his inspirational legacy for all the Orthodox faithful.
Bishop Dositej also announced a change in position. After many years in the post, Protopresbyter Stavrophor Goran Spaić had asked to be relieved of his role as the elder of St Sava’s Church and also as the eparchial emissary of the Bishop. The Bishop had therefore decided to appoint Protopresbyter Stavrophor Dragan Lazić in his stead and wished him every success. At the same time he thanked Protopresbyter Stavrophor Goran Spaić for his diligent previous service. Father Goran remains the Bishop’s official deputy.
After Divine Liturgy, the children of the Church Sunday School gave a festive academy together with the Rastko and Gračanica folklore ensembles. The St Sava sermon was delivered by subdeacon Siniša Macakanja, a graduate of theological studies from London.
A festive lunch was prepared by the parish’s industrious Kolo Srpskih Sestara “Kosovka devojka”.
