Bishop Maxim visited Portland, Oregon

The past weekend of 13th and 14th January 2018 at the St. Stephens Archdeacon and Protomartyr Serbian Orthodox Church in Portland, Oregon was very blessed.

 Our Diocesan Bishop His Grace Bishop Maxim visited our Portland parish to join and conduct the celebration of our Parish Slava, which began with a delicious lunch at the house of this year Slava sponsor Momcilo and Ruzica Djurdjevic who hosted our beloved Bishop Maxim. At the evening Fr. Vidoslav the host priest and Episcopal Dean of the Butte Deanery served the Vesper joined by His Grace Bp. Maxim and a lot of parishioners.

At the beautiful decorated Church hall Bp. Maxim had a dinner with the parishioners and guests celebrating the New Years eve on the old calender with live music from Chicago.

On Sunday His Grace Bishop Maxim served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy together with the concelebrants, Fr. Zoran Aleksic, from the St. Sava parish in Seattle,  Fr. Rev. Vidoslav Vujasin, Portland, and Protodeacon Rev. Stephen Dyer, Eugene and many parishioners and guests. 

The sermon was given by His Grace Bishop Maxim who explained that Nativity and Theophany actually has to be seen as one feast of Incarnation and Epiphany where God is revealing Himself to unite all of us in one body in the Holy Liturgy. After the service we had а Litia followed by the Slava bread cutting ceremony with the sponsors Momcilo and Ruzica Djurdjevic with their daughter Aleksandra. Our parishioners Cedomir and Violeta Jesic took this honor for the next year. 

Before the lunch there was a short performance with the lovely children from the Portland parish who danced folklor and sang  together for the Bishop and all guests. As a "special blessing" Bishop Maxim let fall His famous candy rain over the children who had much fun getting some of this sweet rain.

A delicious luncheon followed, which was prepared by the Kums and the Circle of Serbian sisters. After services held in their parishes Fr. Rev. Matthew Tate, Rector of the OCA Annunciation parish in Milwaukie, OR and Fr. Rev. John Mancantelli, OR arrived and joined us for the festive meal.

During the lunch we listened to the talented Tamburica Duett from Seattle Milan Stankovic and Dejan Subotic and mother and daughter from Eugene Michaela and Joanna Jaquette performing songs for the audience. 

One of our great benefactors Mrs. Draga Bastrica was surprised with a flower bouquet celebrating her birthday on that day.   

We are grateful for these many blessings and looking forward to the next visit of His Grace Bishop Maxim, who is always very welcome in our Portland parish.

Fr. Rev. Vidoslav Vujasin