Over the weekend of Holy Pentecost, the faithful of Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Butte, Montana, were blessed by the archpastoral visit of His Grace Bishop Maxim, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America.
On Sunday, June 8, 2025, His Grace celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, during which the community joyfully commemorated three sacred events: the Feast of Pentecost, the Parish Slava of Holy Trinity, and the tonsuring of three faithful men, Bartholomew (Nathaniel) Keys, Autsin Lazarus Fredrickson, and Thomas John Rader, to the order of Reader—a calling of dedicated service in the life of the Church.
The following day, His Grace traveled to Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Church in Clancy, Montana, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the local faithful, continuing the joy of Pentecost on Holy Spirit Monday.
Later in the week, Bishop Maksim will serve as the keynote speaker at the MontaNIKA Pan-Orthodox Conference, held June 12–15, offering spiritual insight and encouragement under this year’s theme of “Therapeia” (Healing).
His Grace’s visit has been a profound blessing, strengthening the faithful in Montana through worship, fellowship, and pastoral care.
Looking ahead, Holy Trinity is also preparing for another special event: Camp Montana, a weeklong Orthodox youth camp taking place July 13–19, 2025. This camp offers children ages 6–17 a unique opportunity to grow in faith, build friendships, and enjoy the beauty of Montana’s outdoors. It promises to be a memorable week of prayer, fun, and fellowship for our young people.
by Fionn Zarubica
Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church
Butte, Montana https://holytrinitybutte.org
On Holy Spirit Monday, the satellite mission of Holy Ascension in Clancy, Montana, was honored to receive His Grace Bishop Maxim, for his first archpastoral visit to the mission. Clancy, Montana is about 15 miles south of Montana’s capital city of Helena, and is home to about 2,000 people. The satellite mission was started in 2022 by a very small group of Orthodox Christians in the Helena area, from various backgrounds, and has regular parishioners from communities from as far away as 50 miles. Holy Ascension currently rents a vacant Catholic Church building, as we work to build our finances to have a building of our own. His Grace blessed our community with the name Holy Ascension in 2023, which has enabled us to increase our presence by participating in the annual Clancy Days festival, as well as the annual Lewis and Clark County Fair in Helena. In 2024, His Grace blessed us to receive Fr. Paul Germain from St. George Orthodox Church in San Diego, on a regular monthly schedule.
His Grace was in the area to celebrate the patronal slava of our parent parish, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Butte, Montana, the day before, as well as being a featured speaker at the annual 
MontaNIKA conference, later in the week. Having nothing else planned, His Grace decided to bless us with our first hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Holy Spirit Monday. His Grace arrived with the parish council president of Holy Trinity, Gary Otteson, and was greeted by the Holy Ascension community and guests with a bouquet of spring flowers. His Grace led the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was concelebrated with Protopresbyter Stavrophor Russell Radoicich, Deacon Ananias, Subdeacon Matthew, and Readers Bartholomew (Nathaniel) Keys, Autsin Lazarus Fredrickson, and Thomas John Rader, newly tonsured at Holy Trinity on Pentecost, the day before.
After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace enjoyed a meal of barbeque chicken with the parishioners and guests. The faithful had an opportunity to ask His Grace for ideas on growing the parish, and how to best reach out to non-Orthodox and non-Christians to show the love of Christ. His Grace’s insights and feedback were both edifying and challenging, and the presence of the Holy Spirit during this visit was evident to those present. Our satellite mission is grateful for His Grace’s blessings, faithful prayers, and support. We are encouraged by His Grace’s time with us, excited about the future of our little parish, and we look forward to His Grace’s next visit.
Clancy, Montana – Holy Spirit Monday
