The Dormition of the Theotokos in Windsor - Slava of Windsor's Gracanica

His Grace Kyr Mitrofan Bishop of Canada visited the city of Windsor on the occasion of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos – Slava of the glorious Gracanica of Windsor. On that occasion, His Grace served the Hierarchical Liturgy, with the concelebrating clergy Very Rev.  Jovica Cetkovic, parish priest at the St. Dimitrije in Windsor, and Rev. Vladimir Vranic.

The honorable people of Windsor welcomed their Hierarch with great joy and took part in the prayerful gathering, all to the glory of the Most Holy Theotokos, the heavenly intercessor of our celebrating church. Following the Liturgy, a traditional festal procession was done around the church, after which His Grace blessed the Slava cake and kolyvo, in the presence of this year’s Slava godfather Mr. Jovan Urukalo and godmother Mrs. Janja (Jean) Urukalo, whom we congratulate and express our gratitude to them. After the Liturgy His Grace addressed the faithful people in church about the significance of the Feast, but also about the example of diversity of service to God, found in the gospel account on Mary and Martha. A warm welcome on behalf of the entire community, and a gratitude for His Grace’s presence at Slava in Windsor, was expressed in the church by Fr. Vladimir Vranic.

The festal celebration of Slava was continued with a traditional banquet at the Serbian Center organized by the Church Board of Windsor’s Gracanica, with a program that was masterfully MC’ed by the first vice-president of the Board, Mr. Peter Dobrich.  Appropriate addresses were delivered by Mr. Vladimir Pribojan, the President of the Church Board; godfather of this year's Slava Mr. Jovan Urukalo and godmother of this year’s Slava Mrs. Janja Urukalo, as well as Fr. Vladimir Vranic. In closing, His Grace addressed the festal gathering and the entire community of Windsor, reminding us among other things, that our church bears the name of the glorious and ancient Gračanica from the suffering Kosovo and Metohija, which we must never forget.

May the blessing of God, by the prayerful intercession of the Theotokos, always be on our honorable community in Windsor and our entire people, and may we always continue our gatherings together in joy and harmony for many years!