News and Events - June 2009
FINAL ADMINSTRATIVE UNITY OF THE
PARISHES AND CHURCH SCHOOL CONGREGATIONS IN VANCOUVER
PARISHES AND CHURCH SCHOOL CONGREGATIONS IN VANCOUVER
Burnaby, Canada - On Sunday, June 21, 2009 His Grace Bishop Georgije of Canada officiated at the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church in Burnaby, assisted by all the clergy of the Western Canadian Deanery. This was the first canonical visit of Bishop Georgije to a church of the former New Gracanica Diocese of America and Canada. The assignment of new Antimins, with Bishops Georgije's signature, in the overfilled church as well as partaking of the Holy Mystery of Communion brought to realization the will of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Hierarchical Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which made the decision at this year's assembly held in May (No. 49/147) that “all current parishes of the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica in Canada fall under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Bishop of Canada and the Diocese of Canada of the Serbian Orthodox Church.”
Excitement was seen on the faces of the faithful who came that day on this historical gathering, commemorating administrative unity and the final healing of the wounds of the Serbian schism. Some even had tears of joy.
A meal was prepared by the hard working Kolo Sestara following the Divine Liturgy during which Dr. Goran Popovic, vice president of the Canadian Diocesan Council, spoke of the significance of this event.
In the end, everyone was given a chance to take part in the promotion of a new book published by Istocnik, “Thoughts of the Venerable Justin of Celije”. The author, Dragan Lakicevic from Belgrade, gave an inspired talk about the new publication.
That evening, and by invitation of consul Predrag Vladikovic, the delegation of the Canadian Diocese, headed by Bishop Georgije, took part in a formal banquet prepared in honor of this historic event in the Consulate of the Republic of Serbia.
Fr. Milos Puric