St. Petersburg Deanery Clergy Confession and Christian Education Meeting

His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN scheduled the Fifth St. Petersburg Deanery Meeting on Christian Education to be held at St. King Milutin Serbian Orthodox Church of Jacksonville, Florida. The meeting was held on Saturday, March 17, 2012 in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Deanery Clergy Confession.

The St. Petersburg Deanery previously was a part of the Washington Deanery and has shown much growth in recent years. In addition to significant activity in the individual parishes, the Deanery has held youth camps that are very well attended.

The St. Petersburg Deanery consists of parishes located in Atlanta, Georgia; Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina; and Florida parishes in Clearwater, Jacksonville, North Miami, North Port, Orlando and St. Petersburg. Reverend Father Stanislav Kravljaca is the parish priest of St. King Milutin Serbian Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Father Stephen Zaremba is the Dean of the St. Petersburg Deanery.

Clergy confession was held early on Saturday morning prior to the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Father Rodney Torbic served as the priest confessor. His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN officiated at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Clergy serving with His Grace included Very Reverend Stavrofor Jovan Todorovich, Very Reverend Stavrofor Dr. Rodney Torbic, Very Reverend Stephen Zaremba, Very Reverend Svetozar Veselinovich, Very Reverend Dragan Zaric and and Very Reverend Dr. Ioann Voloshchuic. Father Kravljaca warmly welcomed the attendees to the parish.

Father Zaremba emphasized the need for our youths to believe in Christ and to attend the Divine services of the Church. He said education classes are not to be held during the time when Divine services are held. Father Dragan Zaric of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, North Port, Florida gave a well-developed presentation on Christian Education that included referencing the Bible, Holy Apostle Paul, St. Gregory the Theologian and Sts. Cyril and Methodius. Father Zaric focused on the importance of love as essential in Christian education.

Reports were given of Christian education efforts in the various parishes of the Deanery. The Winter Camp for the Deanery was discussed. His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN spoke of the willingness of the Diocese to be of help and of the value of cooperation within the Deanery.

Additional clergy also participating in the meeting included Reverend Father Ljubisa Brnjos, Reverend Father Miladin Blagojevic and Reverend Father Dragoslav Kosic. Protinica Mirjana Todorovich also was present for the meeting. His Grace Bishop Dr.MITROPHAN travels many miles and invests significant time and effort to strengthening Christian Education and camp programs in the Diocese. This was the third in a current series of Deanery meetings on Christian Education being held recently.

Father Rodney Torbic