St. Nikodim Chapel Slava

The St. Nikodim Chapel holds a special place in the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The St. Nikodim Chapel is located in Mars, Pennsylvania in the Episcopal Headquarters of His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN, the Diocesan Bishop. The St. Nikodim Chapel provides a place for His Grace to pray and to serve throughout the year. The St. Nikodim Chapel is a holy site for prayers for all the clergy, monastics and faithful of the Diocese, living and departed. Visitors coming to the Diocesan Headquarters during the year find the St. Nikodim Chapel to be a source of inspiration and a glory to God in the Serbian Orthodox tradition.

The St. Nikodim Chapel Slava is celebrated each year early in September. The celebration for the Slava this year began with the Vigil on Friday September 3 and continued with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Saturday September 4, 2010.  Protonamesnik Zoran Radovick served at the Vigil with Father Vladislav Radujkovic assisting with the responses. His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN officiated at the Divine Liturgy on Saturday. Serving with His Grace were Proto Stavrofor Dragoljub Malich, Proto Stavrofor Stevan Stepanov, Proto Stavrofor Srboljub Jockovich, Protopresbyter Stevo Rocknage, Protopresbyter Dragomir Tuba, Protonamesnik Zoran Radovick and Protodeacon Milan Medakovich. Protopresbyter Rajko Kosic and Father Vladislav Radujkovic assisted with responses. The Youth Choir of St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church of Steelton/Oberlin, Pennsylvania under the direction of Nina Radanovic sang the responses.  Prayers were included during the Divine Liturgy for the living and departed of the Diocese including hierarchs, clergy, monastic and all the faithful.

Additional clergy in attendance included Protopresbyter Stavrofor Rade Merick, Protopresbyter Dr. Rodney Torbic, Protonamesnik Milovan Katanic, Father Milan Pajic and Father Miladin Blagojevic. During the Divine Liturgy, Deacon Milan Medakovich was elevated to the rank of Protodeacon by His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN.  George and Barbara Topich of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh were the honored Kumovi for the Slava. The St. Nikodim Chapel was filled with an overflow of faithful from throughout the Diocese including a very large number of children who partook of Holy Communion.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, following the Blessing of the Kolach and Koljivo, His Grace joyously greeted all in attendance and expressed His appreciation for all attending and particularly for the beautiful singing by the Youth Choir.  His Grace spoke of the importance of keeping our souls pure and clean using two stories about icons to illustrate the point.

At the dinner afterwards, Episcopal Deputy Proto Stavrofor Dragojub Malich and Diocesan Council Vice-President Rudley Mrvos spoke. Kum George Topich described the honor he felt for himself and wife Barbara and their strong interest in the Diocese. The KSS Federation Board was well represented including President Millie Radovick, Past President Olga Dimitrijevic and Vice-President DeeDee Baskot.

The St.Nikodim Chapel Slava is always a highlight of the year and serves to emphasize the importance of joy in Christ and spiritual unity in the Diocese.