Bishop Maxim attends the Centennial Commemoration of the Flying of the Serbian Flag at the White House
During the week of July 25 – 29, 2018, His Grace Bishop Maxim participated in the centennial commemoration events of the historic flying of the Serbian flag at the White House and President Woodrow Wilson’s Proclamation of a Day of Prayer for Serbia (July 28, 1918-2018) held in Washington, DC.
The commemorative events were held with the blessings of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America and under the Episcopal Patronage of His GraceBishop Irinej of Eastern America.
Our Centennial Commemoration finds its beginning on August 29, 1915. Archimandrite Nicholai Velimirovich, together with Professor Mihailo Idvorsky Pupin, co-chaired a meeting at the Amsterdam Opera House in New York City to evoke sympathy for the Serbian nation and its plight during the Great War. From there, a resolution was forwarded to President Woodrow Wilson confirming their support for the Allies.
“Responding in kind on July 28, 1918, the President noted, ‘the principles for which Serbia has so nobly fought and suffered are those for which the United States is fighting. . .’ Raising the Serbian Flag at the White House, President Wilson appealed to the people of the United States of all faiths and creeds, to assemble in their places of worship and prayerfully pay tribute. Consequently, this Centennial Year also embraces the breaking through of the Salonika Front and, with it, the liberation of Serbia and the conclusion of World War I,” said His Grace Bishop Irinej, diocesan host hierarch and episcopal patron.
“These events commemorate the sacrifice of the Serbian Americans in the World War I. Many communities sent volunteers initially to join the Serbian army and later to join the US army in this Great War. Join us in Washington for this important commemoration as we remember their sacrifice,” said the Honorable Branko Terzic, chairman of the WWI Centennial Commission of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America.
Source: https://serbianchurch.org/wwi/
