Jubilee Celebration of the Western American Diocese: Freedom to Pursue the Faith

On August 30 through September 1, 2013, the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America will hold its annual Diocesan Days gathering. This year Diocesan Days will mark several momentous anniversaries: 50 years of the founding of the Diocese, 150 years of the birth of Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich, Holy Apostle to the Americas, and 1700 years of the Edict of Milan.

Events will include a Saturday morning symposium, which will focus on the freedom to pursue our faith since the time of Constantine 1700 years ago and how to better live a spiritual life. Symposium speakers will be Hieromonk Iakovos of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, the V. Rev. Dr. John Erickson of St. Vladimir Seminary, and Dr. James Skedros of Holy Cross Seminary. An open question and answer session will follow their presentations.

“We look forward to welcoming our Diocesan community and all interested persons to our celebration,” said Bishop Maxim. “This promises to be a time filled with fellowship and spiritual reflection. Diocesan Days event provides space for celebration, dialogue and reflection through common prayer and symposia, theological conversations, workshops, the American landscape exhibit, the wine and beer symposiums…”

“The programme is made up of a rich offering of events intended to maximize sharing among participants – to deepen their experience of faith and fellowship, to increase their knowledge of ecclesial truths and to provide space for entertainment.”

Other highlights of Diocesan Days will be an exhibition of recently completed American landscapes in an abstract Byzantine style by Fr. Stamatis Skliris as well as music, folk dance, and artisanal beer and wine tastings. Also, Dr. Michael Pravica, University of Nevada, Los Vegas, will give a special presentation on the work of Nikola Tesla, son of a Serbian Orthodox priest and scientist extraordinaire.
All events will take place on the grounds of St. Steven’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 1621 W. Garvey, Alhambra, CA 91803.

For more information please visit http://www.westsrbdio.org/en/events/diocesan-days

About the Western American Diocese

Founded in 1963, the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America serves 32 parishes and 5 monasteries and sketes in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Mexico. Since 2006 the Diocese has been shepherded by His Grace the Right Reverend Bishop Maxim.