Celebration of Saint Angelina at monastery in Ohio

On the eighth Sunday after Pentecost, on July 30, 2017, His Grace Irinej, Bishop of the Eastern-American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, served the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy at St. Mark’s Monastery in Sheffield Village, Ohio. The service was not only in honor of the feast of St. Angelina, but also marked the end of the camping season.

The beautiful festive, summer day began with bells ringing to welcome His Grace Bishop Irinej.  Priests and faithful gathered at the entrance of the church to greet their bishop, singing the Hymn to the Mother of God with great joy and anticipation for the day’s events.

Joining His Grace Bishop Irinej were: Archimandrite Leontije, Abbot of St. Mark Monastery; V. Rev. Presbyter Dragan Goronjić, Dean of Cleveland and parish priest of Holy Trinity in Youngstown; Rev. Presbyter Siniša Hrvačević, parish priest of St. George in Lorain; and Rev. Protodeacon Ljubisa Mitrovic.

Following the reading of the Holy Gospel, Bishop Irinej offered an inspired homily to the gathered faithful, speaking of the role of liturgical communion and unity in the Orthodox Church. The Bishop noted, among other things, that the liturgy for every Orthodox Christian is the goal and the meaning of the earthly life - and that we do not need to be divided among us. His Grace further emphasized that the Liturgy is our personal encounter with the Triune-God and the community with Him. Bishop Irinej concluded by congratulating Archimandrite Leontije, and urged the assembled people to keep their sanctuary.

With great joy and love, many faithful people and children approached the Holy Chalice. The service concluded with the cutting of the Slavski Kolac, and a procession to the monument of General Draza Mihajlovic.  The gathered faithful joined His Grace Bishop Irinej in serving a memorial service for General Draza Mihailovic, and all people who perished in the Croatian military operation “Flash”, waged against the Serbian people in eastern Slavonia, and the Croatian military operation “Storm”, waged against the Serbian people in the Krajina of Dalmatia, Lika, Kordun, and Krbava. This year’s honored festive hosts were Miloš, Natasa, Slavko, Milan and Tatijana Marković.

As is a beautiful custom at the camp, the Circle of Serbian Sisters of Saint Sava Church in Broadview Heights offered a wonderful meal, a 'table of love', through their handwork and sacrifice. Near the end of the lunch, the folklore group “Morava”, based out of Cleveland, offered a wonderful performance to all those in attendance.  The faithful finished the day enjoying edifying words by His Grace Bishop Irinej, Archimandrite Leontije, and V. Rev. Dragan Goronjic.

Source: Eastern American Diocese