The Saint Petka Serbian Orthodox Church, nestled in the northern San Diego suburb of San Marcos, California, celebrated their altar feast on Sunday, October 25, 2020. His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America arrived in the early hours for the Matins which was promptly followed by the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with the bishop were V. Rev. Protopresbyter Milovan Katanic, the host priest and Rev. Jovan Katanic.

In a most touching homily, His Grace noted how the morning’s gospel presents to us the death and funeral of a young man, with his weeping mother who herself was a widow, as a fact of life. And in the midst of this sadness and tragedy, we notice the calmness of our Lord who not only tells her to weep not but commands the young man to rise. In this way He demonstrates that He came to this world not only to give commandments but to participate in the human struggle. The bishop stressed a very key moment in this gospel story was when the Lord, right after raising the young man from the dead, gives him to his mother. Our bodies and our lives are not our own possession, we always belong to someone and in this case, the young man belongs to the care of his mother. There is no one who is isolated and our existence depends on the prayers and participation of the church and whenever we come to church we learn in the community of the Lord how we are saved.

The Litiya followed immediately after the liturgy at which time the Slava Kolach, together with this year’s kumovi Branko, Kremena, and Adrijana Radjenovic, was offered in honor of Saint Petka and the wheat blessed in memory of those who fell asleep in the faith, leaving us these beautiful customs to observe.

A festive Slava banquet followed during which time Fr. Milovanthanked everyone who helped in organizing this year’s Slavacelebration, everyone who attended and added to the spiritual joy of this day. Also attending the Slava banquet were V. Rev. Protopresbyter Bratso Krsic from the neighboring St. George Church in San Diego and dean of the Los Angeles Deanery together with his Protinica and Deacon Paul Germain.