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Family Day Celebrated at St. George Church
On October 20th, members of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church gathered together for a simple, yet remarkable family day. Although the weather did not cooperate, the cold, wet, and dreary day could not dampen the spirts of the gathered community.
Beginning with Great Vespers at 4pm, the faithful started the event in prayer before moving to the picnic pavilion. Food was in abundance as a roast pig was adorned with side dishes brought from the many families that attended. Children enjoyed tractor-driven hayrides as Chuck Tepsic joyful took them around the large property all afternoon. Luka Kraguljac, a self-taught and talented musician, played music throughout the evening. The people enjoyed kolo dancing, from the youngest to the oldest there present. Children enjoyed crafts with pumpkin painting supplied by Sally Hein.
The highlight of the cold evening was the entire group gathered around a roaring fire listening to the history of the Serbian people during World War I, before learning to sing “Tamo, Daleko”. Fr. Aleksa recounted the suffering and sacrifice of the Serbs as they bravely fought to maintain their freedom. Together, the community translated the song into English – and then learned, verse-by-verse, the beautiful hymn.
By the end of the event, the weather was not very inviting, however those who joined in the family celebration made everlasting memories.
Remembering Fr. Dragan Filipovich
On the 40th day following the repose of the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dragan Filipovich, his community of many years, St. George in North Canton, Ohio, remembered him prayerfully. Immediately following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, the congregation gathered around beautifully prepared koljivo and offered a pomen in song and prayer.
Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich recounted Fr. Dragan’s many contributions to the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church, particularly in his tremendous gift of education. Fr. Dragan was not only a gifted pastor and liturgical celebrant, but a teacher. Universally, the people of St. George remember learning about the richness of their Orthodox faith from him. Further, Fr. Dragan was a proponent for conducting services in the language of the people, and encouraged the community to use more english so that richness of the Liturgy could be understood.
Fr. Dragan, as the community remembered, also encouraged his people to a life of piety and union with Jesus Christ through more frequent reception of the sacrament of Holy Communion. Although this was somewhat of a controversial stance at the time, Fr. Dragan encouraged the faithful to prepare and partake much more than two to four times per year.
On a personal note, Fr. Aleksa shared personal stories of Fr. Dragan, stories that had an impact on his life and his ministry. One in particular spoke to Fr. Dragan’s directness and pastoral love. During his first year as a priest, Fr. Aleksa was assigned to read the prayer behind the ambo during Diocesan Day at Shadeland Camp. With knees shaking, he walked to the center of the church full of campers, faithful, and over forty ordained clergy. With powerful lungs he read the prayer, and then went back to his place feeling that he had finally ‘made it’ as a priest, and didn’t make a fool out of of himself. Many other clergy smiled, patted him on the back, or gave him a thumbs-up. After service, however, Fr. Dragan sought him out immediately, put his hands on his shoulders and said… “Fr. Aleksa… that was too fast. Slow down. They need to understand you.”
As Fr. Aleksa recounted, his puffed up feelings were brought down to earth – but thanks-be-God, Fr. Dragan had the courage to say what needed to be said – out of his pastoral love for the church, and for Fr. Aleksa. Those words, more than many others as a young priest, helped him grow in ministry. As Fr. Aleksa recalled, Fr. Dragan was never afraid to say hard truths – the things that needed to be said, even when people were not prepared to hear them. Since that day, Fr. Aleksa always thinks of Fr. Dragan when he reads that prayer.
The faithful, likewise, were encouraged to remember the positive ways that Fr. Dragan had impacted this community, and each of them personally. With hope in the resurrection of Christ, the community partook of the koljivo and shared a fellowship hour remembering their former priest and pastor.
May the memory of Fr. Dragan Filipovich, parish priest at North Canton for more than thirteen years, be eternal!
Talija Art Company performs in Massillon, Ohio
By God’s grace, St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in North Canton was once again able to host the Talija Art Company – this year in Massillon at the Lions Lincoln Theater. Over 200 people gathered in the premier, century-old grand American Theater to enjoy live Serbian dance, music, and culture. This year’s performance was themed around the 100-year anniversary of Serbian victory in World War I.
As the show began, the theater darkened as a voice offered an introduction that set the tone for the emotional production:
“At the beginning of the 20th century, Serbia was a small country of about three million inhabitants. The Karadjordjevic dynasty ruled the country after the overthrow of dynasty Obrenovic. A large number of Serbs from still imprisoned parts of the Balkans were settling down in Serbia as a free kingdom, as well as the other Slavs from Austro-Hungary who recognized the freedom and prosperity in it. The idea of liberation and unification was present, making the relations between Austria and Serbia even worse. At the beginning of 1914, Serbs lived peacefully and enjoyed prosperity but Austria was seeking the cause for aggression.”
Heartfelt renditions of “Tamo Daleko”, “March on the River Drina”, and high-energy dances from all over the Balkans were offered throughout the remainder of the evening. Historical interludes, much like the one that opened the performance, were offered periodically as the audience was walked through the tragic, difficult, and heroic struggles of the Serbian people during that harrowing time.
During the performance, a number of Serbian refugees from the Second World War were moved to tears by the strong memories and spirit that the performance evoked in them.
Guests from all over northeast Ohio came to enjoy this production, as well as many people from the local community, including schools and colleges. The director of arts and culture for Stark County was also in attendance and was so moved by the performance that immediately following the performance she spoke with the host parish representative, Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich, and Talija Art Company, about doing a production on an even grander scale during their next tour.
Pilgrimage to the Holy and Historic Sites of Serbia
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Irinej, on Saturday, July 28th, twenty-three Orthodox pilgrims from St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in North Canton, Ohio embarked on a spiritual journey to the ancestral homeland of their Serbian Orthodox church.
Their journey began on Sunday morning where the pilgrims gathered with their guide, Jelena Miloradovic, in the crypt beneath the Temple of St. Sava on Vracar. This church beneath the temple was frescoed in glorious gold and bright colors, with the life of the chapel’s namesake – Tsar Lazar of Kosovo – depicted in iconographic form opposite the iconostasis. It was a beautiful service filled with a tapestry of faithful from young to old, including many young adults, joining together in thanksgiving.
Immediately following Divine Liturgy, the pilgrims journeyed through Belgrade enjoying the cosmopolitan sites, as well as the many beautiful churches. In particular, the pilgrims enjoyed the Saborna Crkva, Ruzica Church, and Chapel of Sveta Petka.
The following day the pilgrims journeyed to Zica Monastery, built by the decree of St. Stevan the First-Crowned and his brother, St. Sava the first-enthroned hierarch of the Serbian Church. The faithful lit candles and prayed in this 13th century architectural masterpiece, before continuing on to Studenica monastery where they stayed for the evening. As storms rolled through the hills that night, the faithful were lulled to sleep to the steady drumbeat of raindrops and the occasional crash of lightning.
In the morning, at 6:30am, the pilgrims arose for Divine Liturgy concelebrated by Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich. The group enjoyed the hospitality of the monastic community with coffee and conversation in the konak, where they met a couple from the Netherlands, Johan and Ankita, making their own pilgrimage to Studenica and Decani. The two had visited many years ago, hearing of the holiness of the Serbian monastic communities, and now make routine visits driving from their native land.
Later that day was one of the highlights of the trip as the pilgrims visited Djordjevi Stupovi. They climbed the hill leading to this beautiful monastery in time to join the Vespers service, celebrated by the Abbot, Fr. Gerasim. In a tremendous display of Christian hospitality, Fr. Gerasim invited all the faithful to enjoy refreshments and conversation. Fr. Gerasim immediately made friends with the youngest pilgrims, teaching the children, Ben Foltz and Lazar Pavichevich, to serve coffee and beverages to the group. He then brought the children instruments to play, and rejoiced as the third child on the trip, Sophia Pavichevich, sang the Resurrectional Troparion in tone one for everyone, and then danced a kolo with her brother, Lazar, at Fr. Gerasim’s request. It was, for the trip’s young people, a highlight of their journey.
The following day, the pilgrimage continued into Kosovo and Metohija where the pilgrims experienced, for the first time, the reality of life for the Orthodox faithful of this holy land. After a long journey south, the pilgrims were able to offer their prayers at Decani monastery, as they weaved through a road fraught with stone-blockers, guards, and fences. With a new understanding of the plight of the faithful in Kosovo, they prayerfully entered the monastery and venerated the relics of St. Stevan of Decani.
As had become customary for the pilgrims, they were once again greeted with love and hospitality by the monastic community. While rain began to fall, the pilgrims gathered on the portico and delighted by refreshments, and conversation with members of the monastery. The children were encouraged to play and stretch their legs to the delight of everyone. The pilgrims finished their day by visiting the Patriarchate of Pec, lighting candles, and joining for an evening Vespers service.
In the evening, the pilgrims experienced the best of Serbian hospitality as they were greeted with bread and salt as they arrived at Hotel Konstantin, before enjoying a magnificent feast and a traditional folklore performance. The spirit of the people was strong and loving, even as they stand surrounded by hostility in their native land.
The following day, the pilgrims began with Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Holy Archangels where, once again, they were treated to hospitality and an unexpected meal. Together with the small group of Orthodox faithful that still exist in the area surrounding the city of Prizren, they prayed, conversed, and broke bread.
During the rest of the day, the pilgrims walked from church to church in Prizren. The faithful priests of those holy churches talked joyfully with the group, and shared the challenges of life in Prizren while they minister to a group of less than 35 Serbian people who have not been driven from their home.
The priests in Prizren were exemplary models of faith and service. Despite the many challenges of daily living in such a tense and hostile environment, they maintain good spirits, always trusting in God for all things. The faith of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija was truly inspirational! The pilgrims finished their time in Prizren with a visit to the Seminary where, currently, fifty-five students are learning to serve in Christ’s Holy Church.
That afternoon, the pilgrims went to the village of Velika Hoca where a feast was prepared at a local vineyard, “Vinica Petrovic”. Once again, the pilgrims were awe-struck at the beauty and depth of faith in this little Serbian village where the people stayed, despite the threat and oppression that surrounds them.
The last day in Kosovo and Metohija, the pilgrims went to Gracanica Monastery before visiting Gazemistan, the memorial at the field of the battle of Kosovo. It was at this place where the pilgrims heard Fr. Aleksa, and their guide Jelena, recount the tale of this battle and its significance in European history as well as the culture and spirituality of the Serbian people.
As the pilgrims departed for the north, it was an emotionally difficult time as they reflected on the beautiful faith of the people in Kosovo and Metohija, and the challenging circumstances in which they live. The people of this region will forever be in their prayers, and the parish has committed to return to the region once again to continue to support those Serbian faithful who remain in that holy land.
During the final days of the trip, the pilgrims visited many monasteries as they continued their trip back to Belgrade. At Ravanica Monastery, the trip’s youngest participant, Lazar Pavichevich, was able to venerate the holy relics of Tsar Lazar of Kosovo. In full prostration, he prayed for the Saint’s holy intercession not only for them, but for those faithful still in Kosovo and Metohija today.
A little later, while visiting Manasija Monastery, the pilgrims received word that the Lilian Tumbas, aunt of pilgrim Mark Tumbas, passed away back in the United States. In a sign of loving support for their fellow pilgrim, the group gathered for a small memorial prayer together.
On the final day, the faithful departed for Novi Sad, where the pilgrims visited the cathedral church before walking up the hill to the fortress at Petrovaradin. While overlooking the Danube, and the dazzling landscape, they enjoyed a lunch and a time of peaceful reflection. They were saddened as their journey was coming to end, but rejoiced at the spiritual growth they experienced throughout the Serbian lands.
That evening they broke bread at “Dva Jelena” on Skadarlija in Belgrade. The pilgrims feasted together as they listened to traditional songs played live at their table. It was a time of thanksgiving, as they expressed their love and gratitude for the so many amazing experiences over the previous ten days.
They were thankful that their Hierarch, His Grace Bishop Irinej, blessed their pilgrimage to take place; they were thankful to God for their safe journey; they were thankful for the hospitality of the Serbian people; they were thankful for the inspiring faith of the Serbian peoples in Kosovo and Metohija; and they were thankful for the hardships they endured on what was a true, spiritual journey through the Serbian lands.
They all raised their glasses together, in the midst of the lively restaurant, and offered further thanksgiving as they toasted those who had journeyed with them from Dobrocinstvo – Vladan Seferovic, who worked tirelessly on behalf of the group; Jelena Miloradovic, whose knowledge of Serbian art, history, and architecture were unparalleled, and who radiated her true Orthodox faith every day; and their driver, Dejan Miletic, who, in faith and good spirit, took the pilgrims safely throughout the land.
Glory to God for all things!
Teens, Screens, and Faith
“What’s the downside to having a smartphone? There is none,” says the 13-year-old girl in “Screenagers,” a documentary recently shown at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron.
Dr. Georgette Constantinou, a pediatric psychologist with Akron Children’s Hospital, sees the situation differently: “We have to teach [children] the down side and how to use digital devices responsibly.”
Rev. Aleksa Pavichevich, priest of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in North Canton, and an IT specialist, agrees: “We have to talk about it as a family, including the kids. We have to equip our children to make good decisions when they’re not at home, when they’re at school or with their friends.”
Along with Father Aleksa and Dr. Constantinou, Rev. Father Jerry Hall, parish priest at Annunciation, and Rev. Father Andrew Lentz, assistant priest, led a discussion for the parents and young people who attended the showing of the documentary.
The movie by physician and filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston immediately puts out the numbers: The average teen spends 6 1/2 hours a day looking at digital devices, not including time spent doing school work or homework.
Dr. Ruston, a pediatrician, includes scenes of those “negotiations” with her daughter, Tessa, who begs for a smartphone to replace her broken flip phone.
Asked why she needs the device so desperately, Tessa replies: “I would be cool. I’d be able to look busy in awkward situations.”
Those are significant words, says clinical psychologist Laura Kastner. She increasingly sees teens who use their phones to avoid contact with others.
Like other girls, Tessa would use her phone mostly for social media, while Dr. Ruston’s 14-year-old son, Chase, uses his mostly for games. Teenage boys spend more than 11 hours a week playing games.
Not surprisingly, a discussion follows about whether video games desensitize players to violence. The answer might be found in history: The first games that involved shooting were made by the military to desensitize soldiers.
With their overwhelming use of social media, girls face other problems. Peggy Orenstein, author of “Cinderella Killed My Daughter,” says teenage girls are “bombarded with images of appearance” and believe pictures of themselves must be heavily photoshopped to be acceptable.
“Their conversations are all looks-based,” Orenstein says.“They’re trying to find the perfect balance between cute and hot.”
Again, not surprisingly, there follows the story of a girl named Hannah who was pressured by a boy to send a photo of herself in a bra. When she did, he asked: “Why did you send that?” and promptly shared it.
The bullying that followed produced depression and dark thoughts. When she shared that she felt like killing herself, a so-called friend replied: “You should.” Fortunately, Hannah told her mother and received counseling.
Many schools are giving their students laptops or tablets to help with homework and classroom assignments. But this is not a good thing, says Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy at the University of Washington.
“What we found is that when a computer arrives in a kid’s home, their test scores in reading and math actually decrease,” he said “And what we think is going on is that the computer at home is actually taking time away from homework, taking time away from learning, particularly in families where there wasn’t a parent around to monitor what the child was doing.”
One young teen in the film admits that while he uses a school-issued computer to do homework, he usually has three other devices operating at the same time: One for music, one for a movie, one for a game.
While lauded in our society as a habit of smart, productive people, multitasking is actually impossible for our brains. It also deludes us, according to Dr. Sherry Turkle, who directs the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self.
“What’s extraordinary about the studies on multitasking is that even though you’re doing worse and worse on everything, you feel as though you’re doing better and better,” she said.
From an evolutionary perspective, early humans had to know everything going on their environment, said scientist Nicholas Carr, author of “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains.” To “screen out” the environment by looking at a device “goes against our fundamental nature,” he said.
Another problem is that our brains are wired for seeking behavior. When they “find” something, dopamine – a neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s reward and pleasure centers – is released. People with smartphones are constantly checking them because they want that release of the pleasure-producing chemical, Carr said.
But it was the story of the mice that stuck with many of the parents in the Assumption Church audience. Nino Ramirez, director of the Center for Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, said mice exposed to bright, fast-moving images on screens took three times longer to make it through a maze than their non-exposed counterparts.
More importantly, tests showed the mice exposed to screens had fewer brain cells in the areas governing learning and memory. Even when they were no longer exposed to screens, the mice did not improve.
“The effects on the brain were permanent,” Dr. Constantinou emphasized during the discussion after the documentary. At Akron Children’s, she saw increasing problems with sleep deprivation and obesity in children because of too much time spent with digital devices.
“A generation of kids – and adults – are exhausted because they’re not sleeping,” she said. “At least one hour before bed, there should be no screens of any kind.”
Screens are also contributing to obesity in children because they are sedentary while looking at devices, she said.
So what are parents to do?
“As parents, we must provide opportunities to do something as a family,” said Father Jerry. “Do something physical, go somewhere, play a game, go outside. We’re too dependent on technology as a way to entertain ourselves.”
Father Andrew said there is a movement based on the second chapter of Genesis that says on the seventh day, God rested. That movement encourages fasting from technology on the Sabbath, he said.
Father Aleksa said he and his family have a version of Tech Talk Tuesdays, as suggested in the film, when they discuss how to use new technology responsibly. They also have Friday game nights – to which the kids can invite friends – and a rule that there will be no cell phones during family trips and activities.
Dr. Constantinou said years ago, she and her husband made a rule that no one could do anything apart from the family after Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Instead, they would hike in the local Metroparks.
“To this day, we hike as a family,” she said.
Dr. Constantinou said that on October 1, the American Academy of Pediatrics will release a Family Media Use Plan that will make recommendations and provide tools for screen-free zones, time spent on devices, recommended breaks, device curfews, etc. It also warns of the dangers of technology and tells parents how to monitor children’s devices.
Father Aleksa described the dangers as “fighting a hydra. You cut off one head and three more pop up.” He recommends CommonSenseMedia.org as “a very thorough site for parents and educators. It tells you about movies coming out, school curricula, tips to spot danger, etc.”
The first step, he said, is to know the password to every device in your house.
“If the kid changes it, that device goes away,” he said.
Rev. Father Jerry Hall believes showing the documentary at his church was beneficial.
“I think that the film offered a brief look at the many different facets of how our children are impacted by screens and technology, from the physiological to the psychological and the social,” he said.“The film offered a good starting point for parents to begin an important and informed discussion with their children regarding technology and screen time.”
Article by Barbara Mudrak, a retired teacher and journalist. She is a member of Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Canton.
Workshop, Concert, and Lenten Vespers
The faithful Orthodox of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in North Canton, Ohio enjoyed a spiritually uplifting weekend surrounding the 5th Sunday of Great Lent.
Beginning on Saturday, March 24th, the St. George parish hosted its 3rd annual Lenten workshop entitled, “Soul Mending – The Mystery of Holy Repentance”. Orthodox Christians from various jurisdictions, as well as Protestants and Roman Catholics from the surrounding community, attended this open event meant to deepen the community’s understanding of sin and reconciliation according to the teachings of the Holy Church. Host-priest, Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich, not only offered information to those present, but had them do group work exploring the nature of sin, death, and repentance.
Together, the workshop participants reflected on the difficulty with recognizing and acknowledging “sin” in this modern era, while learning how to prepare for confessing their sins in the context of the Holy Church. After the morning workshop, participants enjoyed a light, lenten meal, and fellowship. As in previous years, this event was offered as free gift to everyone in the Stark County community.
The following morning, the faithful of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church showed up in great numbers to celebrate Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt. The church community was vibrant in anticipation for the busy day ahead, which would conclude almost twelve-hours after Proskomedia began in the morning.
Following Divine Liturgy, Orthodox Christians from throughout the Cleveland, Akron, and Canton region gathered at St. George for a spiritually uplifting concert offered by seminarians from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. In the church, filled to capacity, the twelve choir members filled the magnificent space with hymns from a variety of Orthodox musical traditions.
Throughout the performance, the seminarians offered captivating explanations of the meaning behind the music, almost all of which was taken from music sung at the Feast of the Annunciation that was celebrated in many other Orthodox jurisdictions on that very day. One choir member in-particular offered his personal growth in understanding the veneration of the Most Holy Mother-of-God, having come from an evangelical protestant background where such veneration was not permitted. The collection taken during the event directly benefited the scholarships of the choir members who, God-willing, will be future servants in the Holy Orthodox Church.
Immediately following the choir performance, all attendees gathered in the St. George Event Center for refreshments, and an opportunity to meet the seminarians and purchase items from the St. Tikhon’s bookstore.
Just a short time later, St. George hosted their second event of the day, Lenten Vespers with clergy from throughout the Cleveland Deanery including Fr. Sava (Medakovich), attached to New Marcha Monastery; Fr. Milan Pajic, parish priest of St. Archangel Michael in Akron; Fr. Bosko Stojanovic, parish priest of Holy Trinity in Youngstown; Fr. Vedran Grabic, parish priest of St. George in Hermitage, PA; and host-priest Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich. In a near-capacity church, faithful Orthodox christians fervently offered their solemn prayers, together with the clergy, as the Kosovo Men’s Choir magnificently sang the responses.
Upon the conclusion of the service, all in attendance gathered in the St. George Event Center for a Lenten meal that included homemade soup, pogaca, falafel, fruit salad, and more. The many people in attendance enjoyed recounting the weekend’s marvelous and spiritually uplifting events as they dined together. Near the end of the meal, Fr. Sava (Medakovich) offered a lecture on the theme, “How do we come to know God?”.
As the workers of the St. George Serbian Orthodox church community began cleaning up from the various events they hosted during this busy weekend, their faces and spirits were not worn-down from all their labor. In fact, quite the opposite – they rejoiced that God had blessed them to be able to host such wonderful events!
3rd Annual Lenten Retreat in NYC
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Irinej, on Thursday, March 1st, parishioners from St. George church in North Canton departed for their 3rd annual Lenten Retreat to New York City. As in years prior, the group stayed in White Plains, north of the city, in close proximity to their retreat location at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Tuckahoe, New York.
Different from years past, the retreat began with a visit to the new Diocesan Residence in NewRochelle. Located just north of the Bronx, and within ten minutes of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, this residence is in a prime location for visitors and guests to enjoy the hospitality of the Eastern-American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The group was blessed with an official tour of the residence by their hierarch, His Grace Bishop Irinej. Every room was filled with items of great spiritual and historical value for all those in the Diocese, as well as Orthodox Christians everywhere. His Grace was a wonderful host, offering His time to the group and speaking with great knowledge about each item on display, providing the fascinating history behind the many icons, vestments, paintings, relics, fixtures, and furniture found in each room.
The retreat group was amazed that in such a short time, in the midst of the active work of the Diocese and the busy schedule of their Diocesan Bishop, the organizing the new Residence, including the unloading and sorting of the voluminous library and diocesan records, was well underway.
Highlights of the morning tour included Zora Pavichevich, age six, playing the piano for His Grace Bishop Irinej and the retreat group, as well as the group’s delightful conversation with His Grace in the conference room at the conclusion of their visit.
The Diocesan Residence will be a true center for the faithful of the Eastern Diocese – a place for visitation and pilgrimage – and a wonderful representation of the Serbian Church to visitors that pass through New York City from all over the world.
Following the tour of the Residence, the faithful travelled to nearby St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary to join the community for Presanctified Liturgy. Both the male and the mixed choirs sang magnificently, lifting the spirits of all those offering their solemn prayers during the service. Immediately after, the retreat group was invited to join the seminarians for a late-lunch in the refectory, which provided a wonderful opportunity for the parishioners of St. George to get to know the students they regularly pray for, and the community they joyfully support.
The group then enjoyed a tour of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, led by Deacon Larry Soper, a seminarian from the Eastern-American Diocese and former deacon at the parish of St. George in North Canton. The group embraced their former deacon with love and affection, and listened intently as he took them through the various campus buildings offering bits of history and information. The day concluded with a retreat group meal wherein Deacon Larry was happy to answer questions about life as a student and seminarian.
The following day, Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich offered a Lenten workshop entitled, “Forgiveness: A Miracle”, to clergy from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America. This workshop was unique in that the clergy were gathered at a retreat center in Pennsylvania, and Fr. Aleksa was with his St. George parish retreat group in New York. Harnessing the power and potential of social media, the distance between the two groups was bridged as the workshop was broadcast via Facebook Live. To the delight of both Fr. Aleksa and the group of Ukrainian priests, a number of participants from all over the world joined the live workshop and actively participated by asking and answering questions, joining in the discussion, and sharing their thoughts and feelings about “Forgiveness”.
On the final day of the Parish Lenten Retreat, the group of faithful from North Canton joined the St. Sava Pro-Cathedral community for Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Eleftherios Greek Orthodox Church in Manhattan. His Grace Bishop Irinej presided, joined by many Orthodox faithful filling every corner of their functional parish space, and concelebranting clergy including the Very Rev. Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dr. Zivojin Jakovljevic, Dean of the Pro-Cathedral; the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Aleksa Micic, currently attached to the St. Sava Pro-Cathedral; the Very Rev. Aleksa Pavichevich, parish priest at St. George in North Canton, Ohio; and Protodeacon Milos Zdralic, Diocesan Financial Secretary.
Following services, the Retreat participants departed for their home community of St. George in North Canton. The weekend, as in years past, offered the participants a chance to deepen their relationship with Christ, grow in their Orthodox faith, and make connections within their Diocese, and with community at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Glory be to God for all things!
Годишње духовне вежбе у Њујорку поводом Великог поста
По благослову Његовог Преосвештенства епископа Иринеја, у четвртак, 1. марта 2018. године, парохијани из цркве Светог Ђорђа у Норт Кантону ишли су поводом својих годишњих великопосног духовних вежби у град Њујорк. Као и претходних година, група је одсела у Вајт Плеинс, северно од града, у близини локације њиховог окупљања у Православној академији Светог Владимира у Такахоу, у Њујорку.
Другачије него раније, духовне вежбе су почеле посетом новој епископској резиденцији у Њу Рошелу. Смештена северно од Бронкса, и само десет минута од Академије Светог Владимира, ова резиденција је право место да посетиоци и гости могу уживати у гостопримству Источноамеричке епархије Српске Православне Цркве.
Група је имала благослов што ју је за време обиласка резиденције предводио архијереј, Његово Преосвештенство Иринеј. Свака просторија је испуњена предметима велике духовне и историјске вредности за све епархиоте, као и за православне хришћане уопште.
Група је била импресионирана што је за тако кратко време, усред активног рада Епархије, и густог програма рада њиховог Епископа, организација нове резиденције, са уношењем и сортирањем огромне библиотеке и владикиних списа, добро урађена.
Врхунац јутарњег обиласка били су сусрет са Зором Павићевић, 6-годишњакињом, која је свирала клавир за Владику Иринеја и групу из Норт Кантона, као и дивни разговори ове групе са Његовим Преосвештенством у сали за конференције на крају њихове посете.
Епархијска резиденција биће прави центар за вернике Источноамеричке епархије – место посете и поклоништва – прелепо представљање Српске Цркве посетиоцима који пролазе кроз Њујорк Сити из целог света.
После обиласка резиденције, верници су обишли Православну Богословску академију Светог Владимира, где су се придружили верницима на Литургији пређеосвећених дарова. Одмах после тога, група је обедовала са студентима у трпезарији.
После ручка група је била у обиласку Академијее Светог Владимира, а предводио ју је ђакон Лари Сопер, богослов из Источноамеричке епархије и бивши ђакон у парохији Светог Ђорђа у Норт Кантону. Дан је окончан вечером коју је ова група имала с ђаконом Ларијем, са којем се разговарало о животу једног студента богослова.
Следећег дана отац Алекса Павићевић је предводио великопосну духовну радионицу, под називом „Опраштање: Чудо“, пред свештенством Украјинске Православне Цркве у Америци. Ова радионица је јединствена у томе што се свештенство окупило у центру за духовне вежбе у Пенсилванији, а отац Алекса са својом групом при парохији Светог Ђорђа у Њујорку.
Последњег дана великопосних духовних вежби, група верника из Норт Кантона придружила се заједници Светог Саве на Божанској Литургији у грчкој православној цркви Светог Елефтерија на Менхетну. Његово Преосвештенство Епископ Иринеј је началствовао Литургијом уз саслужење свештенства: протојереја-ставрофора др Живојина Јаковљевића, настојатеља прокатедралног; протојереја Алексе Мићића, тренутно придруженог прокатедралној цркви Св. Саве; о. Алексе Павићевића, парохијског свештеника цркве Светог Ђорђа из Норт Кантона, у Охају; и протођакона Милоша Ждралића, епархијског секретара, у присуству великог броја верника.
После службе, учесници духовних вежби вратили су се у своју парохију у Норт Кантону.
Извор: Источноамеричка епархија СПЦ (са енглеског Информативна служба СПЦ)
Namesday of His Grace Bishop Irinej
On Tuesday, September 5th, clergy and faithful from throughout the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Deaneries of the Eastern-American Diocese gathered around His Grace Bishop Irinej at New Marcha Monastery in joyful celebration of their Hierarch’s Names Day. Services began with fourteen clergy greeting His Grace outside of the small monastery church of St. Archangel Gabriel. The clergy entered in solemn procession as faithful sang gloriously in the nave. Blue vestments were worn by all concelebrating clergy in honor and celebration of the Apodosis of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.
During the Little Entrance, an additional and joyous moment was inserted into the Liturgy as His Grace elevated two of his diocesan clergy, Fr. Bosko Stojanovic, parish priest of Holy Trinity in Youngstown, and Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich, parish priest of St. George in North Canton, to the distinction of “Protonamesnik”. As he presented the two faithful servants to the congregation, His Grace offered his gratitude at the hard work and dedication of Fr. Aleksa not only in the life of his parish, but also in maintaining and improving the diocesan website. As he brought Fr. Bosko forward, His Grace not only thanked Fr. Bosko for piloting him from Ohio to North Carolina, but he also shared the challenging early days of Fr. Bosko’s ministry servicing the spiritual needs of the Serbian Diaspora in South America.
2017-2018 School Year of Christian Education begins!
The 2017-2018 Church School year officially began on Sunday, September 17th with the blessing of the children, teachers, and parents. Immediately following Divine Liturgy, the children gathered around Fr. Aleksa Pavichevich in the center of the church and offered prayerful thanksgiving to the Lord.
Fr. Aleksa reminded the community that the true work of Christian Education takes place as a family at Divine Liturgy, and as a family at their home-church. It is there where the children are nourished and fed. The classes offered by the parents and stewards of the St. George parents are a supplement, meant to offer children an opportunity to explore their faith in new ways. If they do not reinforce those lessons at home in prayer, repentance, and love, modeled and taught by their families, then the lessons offered at church will struggle to form deep roots within them.
The following Wednesday, Fr. Aleksa and a few children from St. George joined the children of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio to begin a new season of Folklore and Church School education. Fr. Aleksa and Fr. Milan Pajic offer lessons to the Folklore children between lessons.
On Saturday, the children of St. George began their Serbian Language lessons. Parents and community members expressed a sincere desire to learn Serbian so that they might better communicate with faithful from other communities, and to prepare for a future pilgrimage to the holy sites and locales in Serbia. Under the direction of Mira Lazic, the children began learning the Cyrillic alphabet, along with beginning conversation.
On the following day the students had their first lesson on “Charity”. This year the St. George students will complete an OCEC curriculum with interspersed lessons on “the virtues”. They will not only learn about their faith, but they will also learn about how to practically live out that faith in a positive way.
Their first activity was to create donation boxes that they will use to collect money throughout the year. After the St. Sava break, our students will submit that money to a charity or cause that is important to them – and their families.
Many thanks to our church school instructors and volunteers including: Kathy Tobias (Pre-K organizer), Svetlana McCully (Elementary), Rajko Radonjich (Middle), and Mark Resanovich (High School and St. Sebastian). God-willing, this will be a wonderful year of Christian Education for the St. George parish community!
