Episcopal Visit to Tucson & Bisbee, Arizona
His Grace Bishop Maxim always expressed His pastoral care for Tucson Serbian faithful and wished to come and visit them. This was finally realized last weekend when His Grace visited southern Arizona. Saturday, December 14, 2024, His Grace Bishop visited Tucson and the following day, Sunday, December 15, St Stephen Nemanja Serbian Orthodox Church in Bisbee.
The Hierarchical Liturgy officiated by His Grace in Tucson was served at the Holy Resurrection Antiochian Orthodox Church with the assistance of Protopresbyter Stavrophor Dragomir Tuba, and Protopresbyter Gabriel Bullock, Holy Resurrection Parish Priest. In attendance were also Protopresbyter Stavrophor John Erickson, 
former Professor and Dean Emeritus St Vladimir’s Seminary, who is currently helping in our St Stephen Nemanja Serbian Orthodox Church in Bisbee, and many Serbian Orthodox faithful from Tucson and the surrounding area.
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Tucson is a vibrant growth minded Orthodox community that is home to parishioners from many Orthodox backgrounds – Syrian, Lebanese, Greek, Romanian, Ukrainian, Jordanian and Serbian as well as many who converted to Orthodoxy. For the last several years Fr Gabriel and his parish lovingly opened the door of their Church to the Serbian faithful. With the permission and blessing of His Grace Bishop Maxim and Antiochian Metropolitan Saba, Fr Dragomir once a month serves Divine Liturgy for Tucson Serbs and helps them with their other spiritual needs.
After Divine Liturgy the festive fellowship continued in the parish hall where a delicious luncheon was served. To the delight of the present faithful His Grace eloquently answered a few questions from the parishioners additionally including Professor Fr John Ericson in the conversation. Fr Dragomir thanking His Grace on his visit also thanked Fr. Gabriel and the Holy Resurrection Antiochian Orthodox Church for their enormous love in allowing the Serbian Community to use their Church and facilities.
