BISHOP MAXIM VISIT'S ANDERSON PARISH

St, Andrew Fool-for-Christ Church in Anderson, CA was visited by His Grace, April 13 and 14th.  We had a very nice Vespers service which was followed by a meeting in which many aspects of parish life were discussed.  I think the most important point that was raised by Bp Maxim was the need to accept people where they are in life, just as Christ did.  Expectations will be disappointed unless we learn to forbear one another and hold fast to the teachings of Christ and His Church.

The next morning we had a Hierarchal Liturgy which was served by His Grace, Hieromonk Damascene from St Herman's Monastery, Fr Dn Philip Mayer and four acolytes. 

The service was attended by nuns from St Xenia Skete in Wildwood and four other monks from St Herman's Monastery.  His Grace stayed for our trapeza meal and again shared his extensive knowledge of the Holy Fathers.  He also presented to our church a print of an icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator painted by his iconography teacher.  We are very grateful for the thoughtful gift and have a wonderful place to hang it.

His Grace left in the early afternoon but not until after many extended goodbyes.

HOME

On Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013 the His Grace, Bishop Maxim and the Clergy of the Western American Diocese gathered at the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in San Diego, California for the Annual Lenten Clergy Retreat.

 

HOME

Sunday of Orthodoxy in San Francisco

Saturday, March 23rd, 2013, San Francisco, California—For the sixth consecutive year, the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the West Coast gathered to celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy. This year the Hierarchs and faithful celebrated the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vesper services at the Los Altos at the Church of the Redeemer. 

On the first Sunday in Lent, we commemorate the decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 A.D. upholding the use of holy icons in Orthodox worship. We also commemorate today the unity of Orthodox belief and the oneness of our Faith throughout our various jurisdictions, nations and languages and across the continents and the centuries.

HOME

Bishop Maxim Visits Colorado
and Celebrates the Feast of St. Maximus with the Parishioners
of St. John the Baptist Mission Parish 

Sunday, February 3, 2013 Lakewood, CO—As the sun was settling over the snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains, local priests and a small crowd of faithful Christians awaited the arrival of His Grace Bishop Maxim at Denver International Airport for his pastoral visit to the church community in Lakewood, Colorado. With His Grace also arrived two esteemed guests, V. Rev. Predrag Puzovic, Ph.D, Dean of the University of Belgrade Theological Faculty, and Prof. Bogdan Lubarda. After the sincere welcome and a few minutes spent at the airport, the group headed for dinner and then to a hotel. On the following day, Sunday, Feb. 3, the feast day of St. Maxim the Confessor, Bishop Maxim’s name day, His Grace presided over hierarchical Divine Liturgy. The church was filled with parishioners, numbering 96 adults and 24 children. Many of them received the most precious Body and Blood of Our Savor Jesus Christ. Serving with His Grace were V. Rev. Predrag Puzovic and Fr. Radovan Petrovic, while the entire church was singing responses. Bishop Maxim delivered a sermon inspired by the Gospel reading, and at the end of the Divine Liturgy His Grace introduced the two guests visiting with Him and invited Fr. Predrag Puzovic to speak on the significance and role of St. Sava (Rastko) Nemanjic, the first Archbishop of Serbia. The church hall was small as people gathered around their spiritual father and hierarch Bishop Maxim; the tables had to be set outside as well. Thanks to God the weather was mild for that time of year at the foot of the Rockies. Before Bishop Maxim and His guests left, they took a number of pictures with the people; also Fr. Predrag and Prof. Bogdan were given a tour of the church and were told the history of the church. On their way to the airport the esteemed guests visited for the first time downtown Denver and the State Capitol building. Bishop Maxim and his two guests continued their journey visiting the church communities of the Western American Diocese, with a trip to Arizona’s holy sites.