St. Petka Church in San Marcos Observes Church Slava and 50th Parish Anniversary
On Sunday, October 29th, 2023 the clergy and faithful of the St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in San Marcos, California joyously welcomed their diocesan hierarch, His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western American who celebrated the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish Slava. In concelebration with His Grace were the parish priest V. Rev. Protopresbyter Stavrophor Milovan Katanic and Protodeacon David Williams.
In his homily during the liturgy His Grace spoke about the parable of the Sower and the seed and how the seed, which is the Word of God, is planted in the hearts of all men. What this parable beautifully illustrates is that not everyone reacts to the Word of God the same way. Moreover, no matter how powerful and meaningful the Word of God might be, there are always those in this world who simply refuse it. The bishop pointed out that one very important thing to remember from this morning’s gospel reading is that passing of time.
Namely, we are all called to give the Word of God time to bear fruit. This is very important for us to consider since, unlike nowadays, in the past people would participate in the miracle of life. They would plant seeds and wait for the passing of time for the seed to bear fruit. Indeed, in celebrating St. Petka we are invited to ponder on her life and how she
His Grace concluded with the words, Let this Divine Liturgy be yet another opportunity for us to patiently participate in it that it bear fruit at the very end which will be the seed, the Word of God, offered to us in the person of Christ in his holy Body and Blood.
SLAVA SERVICE
This year’s Slava celebration marked the 50th parish anniversary which was festively commemorated during the Slava banquet in the main hall following the Divine Liturgy. In his opening remarks parish priest, Fr. Milovan, reflected on some of the events that took place here fifty years ago. The then newly elected Action Committee, formed at the initial meeting on August 20, 1973 of the Serbs living in Northern San Diego County, met to consider the properties on the market. Just as they had voted on a piece of property, one of the committee members, Milan Andjelkovic, spoke up and offered a piece of property he owned which was at the better location: 1854 Palomar Drive
be dedicated to his Krsna Slava, St. Petka. Originally founded and established as a monastery in 1973, it would become a church-school congregation in 1986. Soon construction on the church began which was consecrated on St. Petka Day 1991.
SLAVA FESTIVITES
