The faithful parishioners of Saint Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in San Marcos, California, just north of San Diego, joyously celebrated their altar feast, the Venerable Mother Paraskeva – St. Petka, on Sunday, October 24, 2022.
His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western Diocese arrived late Saturday afternoon and was warmly greeted by the parish priest, V. Rev. Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Milovan Katanic, retired priest V. Rev. Stavrophor Milan Vukovic and the faithful. Following Vespers a dinner was prepared for His Grace by members of the church board. During dinner the bishop was given an update on the current roof project on the church as well as plans for frescoe work, tentatively to begin early next year in anticipation of next year’s 50th parish anniversary.
Following Matins the next day, the holy hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served by His Grace Bishop Maxim with the concelebration of Protopresbyters Milovan Katanic and Milan Vukovic and Protodeacon Paul Germain. His Grace offered beautiful words on the gospel reading in which, among other things, he said 
that when we come to church we seek something that goes beyond our ordinary life. In short, we seek our salvation. “Salvation“, he noted, “implies a different way of life. And this way of life is offered to us by Christ Himself. In today’s gospel Jesus says that if we love those who love us what reward do we have because even sinners do this. And so then the Lord brings the logic of the future age to our thinking and invites us to love even our enemies. To love your enemies is a gift from above. It’s the logic of the future age where there will be no more enemies and no reason for us to hate anyone. The Lord offers us the logic of the future age and invites us to do that in this life!“
The Slava Litija followed the Prayer before the Ambon as the Cross-bearers, banner-banners, the clergy, Slava kumovi and faithful processed in prayerful jubilation around the church. The litija concluded at the entrance of the church where the bishop blessed the Slava kolach and wheat offered by this year’s kumovi Stevo, Maja and Simona Jovanic.
Following church services the day’s celebration continued in the main church hall where the Avala Folklore Ensemble and children from the Church School program performed during the program. Also during the program parishioners Vasilija Seka Hrnjak and Milan Tankosic were awared the Episcopal Gramata by Bishop Maxim upon the recommendation of the parish priest for their many years of dedicated service to their St. Petka parish.
In keeping with tradition handed down to us, this year’s kum Stevo Jovanic presented a third of the Slava Kolach to Mihajlo Lukic who together with his family accepted the role of Slava kumovi for next year.Music, dancing and fellowship continued throughout the day.
