Completion of church in Potomac

On Saturday and Sunday, November 1-2, 2014, in the capital of the United States, the Serbian community and all Orthodox Christians had cause for great celebration. Fifty-three years after the founding of the Serbian Orthodox parish of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke in Washington DC, the Serbian community witnessed the completion of the construction of their new church in Potomac, Maryland, an exclusive suburb of Washington DC. After organization of the spiritual life of the flock in rented spaces and borrowed churches, and after many years of outgrowing a small chapel on 16th Street, NW, in Washington, the completion of the new church was accomplished after much anticipation as a center for our Orthodox Christian people who live in the mid-Atlantic region, especially Washington, DC and Baltimore.

The festivities were held in conjunction with the feast of St. Luke, the patron saint of the parish. This event was blessed by the presence of the Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Eastern America, His Grace Dr. Mitrophan, Protopresbyter Djokan Majstorovic, Dean of St. Sava Cathedral in New York City, and Protopresbyter Timothy Perry of St. Mark Orthodox Church of Bethesda, MD.

On Saturday, November 1, before a full church, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan blessed the cross which was subsequently affixed to the top of the bell tower. Father Djokan then served vespers after which the rite of the blessing of the Slavski Kolach was administered by His Grace Bishop Mitrophan. A festal dinner was served for over three hundred faithful in the church fellowship facilities, in concert with music from all Serbian regions and dancing. The master of ceremonies for the evening was the Honorable Branko Terzic, distinguished long-time parishioner and member of the Privy Council of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aleksandar of Serbia. After dinner prepared by the parish Circle of Serbian Sisters Mala Gospojina and served by the children of the St. Luke Sunday School, His Grace presented certificates of recognition to the president of the church-school congregation, Mr. Mark Rasevic, for his exceptional contribution and devotion to the building of the church, as well as to Mr. Milan Visnick for his many years of devoted service to the Serbian Orthodox Church, who together with his wife Joyce were the honored Kumovi for the weekend’s festivities. Recognition was also bestowed upon the faithful of the Orthodox Church of St. Mark of Bethesda, MD for their generosity through the years of selflessly offering their church and facilities to the St. Luke parish whenever needed. Finally, His Grace recognized the great labors of parish priest Fr. Aleksa Micich. In their addresses to the gathered, Bishop Mitrophan and Fr. Aleksa recognized the work of their respective predecessors, bishops and priests, as well as the founders and parishioners who selflessly engaged themselves in this endeavor and in the spiritual life and advancement of the Serbs in America. Also present were members of the diplomatic corps of the embassies of the Republics of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Sunday, November 2, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan, together with Fathers Majstorovic, Perry, and Micich served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the new church with responses sung by the St. Luke Choir. Prior to the liturgy, Reader Miodrag Lazarevich was elevated to the rank of Subdeacon and Dejan Bujak was tonsured as Reader. During the Little Entrance, Father Aleksa Micich was elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter. Many of the faithful partook of the Holy Eucharist. After the Liturgy, a festal banquet of fine Serbian cuisine prepared by parishioners Zarko and Milka Zukic was served in the parish fellowship hall. Adding to the festivities was the visit of the spectacular Belgrade dance group “Talija” who greatly impressed those gathered with their fine repertoire of dances and acrobatics from various Slavic traditions. Most impressed were the children who at the end of the performance were invited to join them on the dance floor.

The newly constructed On Saturday and Sunday, November 1-2, 2014, in the capital of the United States, the Serbian community and all Orthodox Christians had cause for great celebration. Fifty-three years after the founding of the Serbian Orthodox parish of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke in Washington DC, the Serbian community witnessed the completion of the construction of their new church in Potomac, Maryland, an exclusive suburb of Washington DC. After organization of the spiritual life of the flock in rented spaces and borrowed churches, and after many years of outgrowing a small chapel on 16th Street, NW, in Washington, the completion of the new church was accomplished after much anticipation as a center for our Orthodox Christian people who live in the mid-Atlantic region, especially Washington, DC and Baltimore. The festivities were held in conjunction with the feast of St. Luke, the patron saint of the parish. This event was blessed by the presence of the Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Eastern America, His Grace Dr. Mitrophan, Protopresbyter Djokan Majstorovic, Dean of St. Sava Cathedral in New York City, and Protopresbyter Timothy Perry of St. Mark Orthodox Church of Bethesda, MD.

Source: Eastern American Diocese