Joyous patronal feast at St. Stephens Archdeacon parish in Portland, OR

On Sunday January 12th the Portland parish celebrated their patron saint St. Stephen Archdeacon and Protomartyr. His Grace Bishop Maxim was welcomed by the clergy, parishioners and children with flowers at the Church doors. His Grace celebrated in concelebration with Protopresbyter Lazar Vasiljevic (His Graces Father), Priest John Suvak, Protodeacon Stephen Dyer both from St. Johns Eugene, Deacon Steven Bambakidis, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Portland and the host priest Father Vidoslav Vujasin, Episcopal Dean of the Butte Deanery.

A multitude of parishioners and children attended the Divine Liturgy and received the Holy Communion. His Grace Bishop Maxim gave the sermon in Serbian and English pointing out that the Newborn Christ himself was a refugee who had to flee in a foreign country. Having the image of Christ, we as Christians should always show a maximum of love and compassion towards refugees and those in need seeing in every single suffering human being the image of Christ and our neighbor.

During the Holy Liturgy Father Vidoslav was honored and elevated to the rank of the Protopresbyter for his almost 19 years of serving as a priest in Christ’s church. Bishop Maxim said that this new rank should be a motivation for Fr. Vidoslav´s further service recognizing his dedication and previous work for the good of the Church as priest and Dean. Father Vidoslav thanked His Grace for this honor.

Bishop Maxim blessed the Slava bread and wine and congratulated the parish for their patron saint feast day. The Kums (Slava hosts) this year were Strahinja and Dragana Zivovic with their daughter Anka who prepared with the help of KSS an outstanding luncheon for all guests honoring St. Stephen. Next year we will have the youngest Kum so far Luka Draskovic (2,5 years old) with his parents Vladimir and Sanja. During the lunch  Fr. Matthew Tate and Fr. John Mancantelli from the OCA  Annunciation Church also arrived. Parish children performed for the Bishop and guests. Tara Milivojevic played the violin, Maya Pavlovic sang and the Eugene Choir as well. We thank God for His blessings and we are looking forward to have our dear Bishop again in our midst. For many years!

Source: Western American Diocese