Carson City, NV – With the grace of God, on Sunday, September 4, 2022, our Bishop Maxim joined us for the Divine Liturgy, followed by the blessing and cutting of the Kolach (festal bread), wine, and Zhito (boiled wheat). A delicious and plentiful luncheon banquet combined with Christian fellowship in the presence of our spiritual shepherd made for a joyous afternoon!
The Slava observance is a custom unique to the Serbian people: while many Christians as individuals recognize a patron saint, members of the same Serbian family or community commemorate a shared saint or feast day that has been passed down the family line for generations. Every part of the service reminds us of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, and it was developed by Saint Sava in the 13th century to help teach the Serbian people and firmly establish the bloodless sacrifice of the Church.
Our celebration included Very Reverend Blasko Paraklis from Irvine, CA, and Deacon Dragan Stojanovich and wife Vicky from Jackson, CA, as well as faithful from throughout the Western Diocese and guests of several of our parishioners, and we were honored with their presence! A brief program included Nina Adams, Zoe Yates, and Reader Patrick Wilkes singing traditional spirituals, as well as Popadija Nina Barfield reading an excerpt on the life of Saint Sebastian written by +Fr. Seraphim Rose.
She then shared with everyone a journal belonging to +Fr. James that contained only one entry: his thoughts on July 10, 2019, days after the Mission secured “a semi-permanent place to call our home” (the current location). Popadija Nina presented the journal to Fr. Norman in order to continue the hand-written record of the first Serbian Orthodox Church parish community in America named after Saint Sebastian.
Thanks go out to all those who offered their time, talents, and treasures to make this such a memorable day!
