On Sunday, October 20th, 2024, faithful of the St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Phoenix, Arizona cheerfully celebrated 50th Anniversary from the Consecration of their Church. Honored guests were His Eminence Grigorije Metropolitan of Germany and His Grace Maxim Bishop of Western America.
In 1947 a small group of Serbian families gathered to celebrate their first Christmas together in Phoenix, Arizona. They formed a club initially called “Serb Life of Phoenix.” The primary purpose of the club was to organize and build a Serbian Orthodox Church in their newly adapted city. Obstacles were great, temptations that came along even bigger, but the small number of members were not frightened by them. Nothing could stop these early Phoenix Serbs as they continually zealously pushed forward with the noble idea of having their own Church. Over the years the parish was registered, land purchased, the first permanent priest Fr Sava Vujkov came to serve, the Social Hall was built and finally 50 years ago on April 28, 1974 our beautiful St Sava Church was consecrated by His Grace Gregory Bishop of Western America.
This past Sunday, jubilee festivities started with the welcoming of the Hierarchs at the gate of the parish property by clergy and faithful, with the adorable Gudovic sisters Anastasia (4 years old) and Adriana (6 years old) presenting them with beautiful flowers.
His Eminence Metropolitan Grigorie officiated Holy Hierarchical Liturgy with His grace Bishop Maxim as concelebrant along with the following clergy: protojerej-stavrofor Janko Trbovic, protojerej Stanislav Duric, jerej Milan Unkovic, host priest protojerej-stavrofor Dragomir Tuba, deacon Krsto Avdalovic, and deacon Lazar Supic with St Sava’s ‘Stevan Hristic’ Choir singing responses.
Everyone present was even further delighted when right before Holy
Liturgy began Mr. Paul Brandon Jones was tonsured to the rank of sub-deacon and Mr. Michael Spreng was tonsured to the rank of reader. Both are from our newly formed mission at Chino Valley, Arizona, who led by their strong faith, expressed a deep desire to serve as clergy in the Orthodox Church.
In his Gospel message His Eminence Grigorie, commenting on this Sunday story about the woman from Canaan, stressed two important ingredients, God’s mercy and the Canaanite woman’s great faith – the need for the miracle of the healing of her daughter.
After Divine Liturgy festivities continued with the gala Anniversary Banquet in the parish social hall. Master of ceremony, Mr. George Radakovich, and one of the speakers, Mr. Nick Vudrag, the son of the late Sam Vudrag who was chairman of the Church building committee, reflected upon the hardship and perseverance of those involved in the building of the Church. Mr. Dmiter Dragovic, St Sava Executive Board president thanked all those who helped with organizing the Anniversary event especially thanking Mrs. Dragica Lipovich who served as event chair.
Elaborating on the jubilee’s slogan “Commemorating the past, Celebrating the present, Planning for the future,” Fr. Dragomir expressed that the best way to honor those who have sacrificed and given so much to the St Sava parish is to continue in growth and building, and used this moment to announce the next stage in growth which is remodeling the Social Hall and asked all parishioners to support this effort with their generous donations.
To the delight of all in the fully packed Social Hall His Eminence Grigorie once again addressed all with a wonderful, uplifting and heart-warming speech of being joyful and rejoicing in faith. Definitely something needed to be heard by all living in today’s complicated world. Our Gavrilo Princip folkore groups beautifully performed on stage with their beautiful dances, costumes and joyful faces!
At the end, all parishioners had a chance to come forward and personally greet and receive a blessing from our Hierarchs and have His Eminence Grigorie sign for them his newly published book “Stranger in the Forest,” currently the best selling book in Serbia.
