Patronal Celebration of Saint Sava in Los Angeles

The Feast of Saint Sava celebrated in San Gabriel

Saint Sava of Serbia and all Orthodoxy, as the true “Homo Universalis” (Universal Man), or we can rightfully use the term “The All-Man” (St. Justin of Celije used this term when speaking of Dostojevski), has once again manifested his universality and all-inclusiveness, gathering together in the temple dedicated to him in San Gabriel near Los Angeles, in love, beauty and majesty (Ps. 132:1) brothers and sisters of various nationalities (in addition to the Serbs and Americans there were Russians, Byelorussians, Ukrainians, Greeks, and even one Orthodox man from China).

This all-inclusiveness and universality of his, comes as a result of his lifelong efforts to emulate The God-Man Christ, opening himself for the Holy Spirit, joyfully submitting himself the His Holy Will, as well as from his humble and sacrificial service to the Church of God.

The Liturgical Synaxis was presided by our dear guest Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Lazar Vasiljevic, with the concelebration of the Presbyter Jovan Katanic and the local priest Fr. Predrag Bojovic.

Following the Holy Eucharist as an Icon of the Kingdom of the “Things to Come”, but also, it’s foretaste and realization “here and now”, in which an unusually great number of children and adults partook, a procession around the church led by children and a festal banquet, for approximately 300 attendees, took place. At the beginning of the banquet Fr. Lazar, Fr. Jovan, and Fr. Predrag blessed the Slava Bread and Wheat, breaking it, in accordance with the “slava” tradition, with this year’s slava hosts Mrs. Darka Raicevic and her daughter Jovana, encircled by the joyful youth of this Parish. Jovic Family was found worthy to be bestowed upon this great honor for next year and they accepted a piece of the “Slava Bread” from this year’s hosts, with everyone’s approval and applause.

At everyone’s joy and pleasure a wonderful recital and program was performed by the Sunday School children of this Parish and members of the Parish Folklore Group “Kalemegdan”. It was their humble offering to Saint Sava, from their talents and time, and a token of appreciation for all the blessings he bestowed upon us. Immediately following the program, a festal banquet, prepared by the local KS Sisters, was served and enjoyed by everyone. During the banquet the President of the Executive Board of this blessed Parish, Mr. Simeun Radojevic greeted and welcomed everyone, expressing special gratitude to everyone who’ve assisted our Parish in the past year, in great undertakings and many projects recently finished in this Parish (iconography, installation of the granite parapets throughout the church, landscaping etc.).

“Let us praise him, o Serbs, let us sing his hymn trice”, are the lyrics that were entirely fulfilled this year during the Patronal Celebration in Los Angeles. After singing in one voice and one heart the Saint Sava Hymn, the festivities, motivated by the prayerful and grateful remembrance of Saint Sava, were continued into the late afternoon.

Source: Western American Diocese