On Sunday, March 23rd, 2025, the clergy and faithful of St. Archangel Michael Parish in Saratoga, CA, joyously welcomed their diocesan hierarch, His Grace Bishop Maxim, who celebrated the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the third Sunday of Great Lent and feast day of the Veneration of the Cross.

In concelebration with His Grace were the parish priest V. Rev. Protopresbyter Vidoslav Vujasin, Protodeacon Dragan Stojanovich from Jackson, CA, and Deacon Lazar Supic from Saratoga, CA. Many faithful attended the liturgy in honor of the Holy Cross.

In his homily, during the Liturgy, His Grace spoke about the meaning of the Holy Cross, which is a sign of defeat but, at the same time, a powerful sign of victory. His Grace emphasized that the Cross is also a burden if we take it upon ourselves and a sacrifice for each other in the same way the Lord did it for us, but the heavy Cross becomes a light yoke through Jesus Christ. His Grace concluded that the Holy Cross is not merely a historical event but has become of eternal significance through Christ.

The fellowship continued in the church hall with a lenten lunch sponsored graciously by Dejan, Dragana, and Vasilije Rajkovic. It was a blessed day, and we thank His Grace Bishop Maxim for honoring our parish with his visit during Great Lent.