“Remembrance is an act of love… ” (Alexander Schmemann)
These words of Fr. Alexander are probably best fitting to summarize this years’ Vidovdan celebration at the Saint Sava Parish of Los Angeles, CA. God remembers us, and His remembrance, His love is the foundation of the world and our existence. In like manner, our prayerful commemoration and remembrance of the Holy Prince Lazar along with all the martyrs from Kosovo and new martyrs of all Serbian lands serves as the Life-giving spring, an inspiration and encouragement to us, their descendants, to emulate them, thus emulating The Proto-Martyr Christ.
The Liturgical Synaxis was presided by our father and Bishop of the Western American Diocese, His Grace Maxim, with the concelebration of Protopresbyter Predrag Bojovic and Deacon Vladan Radovanovic. They were assisted by 9 altar boys and reader Jovan Miskovic with an active participation of the Parish’s choir and approximately 130 souls.
His Grace our Bishop Maxim delivered two inspiring and uplifting sermons. One following the Gospel reading for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost about two demoniacs from Gadara/Gergesa, in which he elucidated the symbolism and connection of their enslavement to sin with their habitation of choice (graves). Namely, sin is death and the only way to properly understand the consequences of sinning is to look at it from an ontological perspective, not only an ethical one because sin severs the communion with the One, Who is the Source of Life. His Grace’s second sermon was at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, after the memorial service for all our forefathers and foremothers, who laid down their lives in defence of the Holy Cross and golden freedom.
Following the spiritual banquet, that is the Divine Eucharist, as an icon of the Kingdom and a foretaste of the “things to come”, a delicious festal lunch, prepared by our hard working KS Sisters, was served for everyone in attendance.
After expressing gratitude to Bishop Maxim for leading us in our joint movement toward The Kingdom, as well as to all the participants, Fr. Predrag Bojovic briefly elaborated on the meaning of this feast and the reasons to celebrate it, in spite of the erroneous and modern position of some who think that there is no reason to celebrate and solemnly commemorate Vidovdan. At everyone’s joy and pleasure, a wonderful recital and program was performed by the Sunday School children of this Parish and the St. Sava Choir. It was their humble offering to Holy Prince Lazar and all Serbian martyrs, from their talents and time, and a token of appreciation for their sacrificial love that changed the course of our national history and once for all directed us toward the Heavenly Kingdom!
