The community of Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Christian Church in Butte, Montana was honored to receive His Grace, Bishop Maxim for Holy Trinity’s Slava Feast Day (Pentecost) during the weekend of June 11 and 12.  His Grace attended Great Vespers with the parishioners of Butte, which was followed by a wonderful dinner and fellowship with His Grace at the famous Lydia’s Supper Club.

The Feast of Pentecost commenced on Sunday morning with the arrival of His Grace at the parish, greeted by the children bearing flowers and the rest of the members of the Holy Trinity community. His Grace blessed newly made vestments for Holy Trinity, and then was vested for the Hierarchical Liturgy to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. After the Hierarchical vesting, His Grace tonsured Matthew Roberts a Subdeacon, and then proceeded to serve the Divine Liturgy with parish priest Fr. Russell Radoichich and Deacon Ananias. After the reading of the Gospel, His Grace, Bishop Maxim spoke to the people about the profound significance of the Feast and meaning of Pentecost, that by the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Most High brought the divided nations and confused tongues into unity, and His Grace emphasized how this provides hope for us Christians in such a fractured and divided world. All the faithful were inspired by His Grace’s homily, and this Gospel message culminated in the faithful partaking in the mystical unity of the Immaculate Body and Precious Blood of the Eucharist.

After the celebration of the Liturgy, the entire community had the joy of experiencing the Kneeling Vespers led by His Grace, Bishop Maxim. After the services, all the faithful joined His Grace in a joyous meal in the hall that was accompanied with Festal fellowship. It was an honor to have Kum Mladan Babich, a pillar of Holy Trinity in Butte, join the festal meal with His Grace. Harry Grim, a parishioner at Holy Trinity, did an archery demonstration for His Grace in the Church hall with five arrows in the bullseye. Parishioners were also blessed by His Grace to start a new construction project.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church was grateful to have the precious gift of their Hierarch visiting their parish for their Feast Day of Pentecost. It is fittingly that in the fisherman’s state, the faithful of Montana were blessed to celebrate Pentecost with His Grace and recite the words of the Kontakion together: “Blessed are You O Christ Our God; You have revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit through them You drew the world into Your net O Lover of Man, Glory to You!” Holy Trinity Orthodox Church looks forward to His Grace, Bishop Maxim’s next visit and asks for His Grace’s prayers and blessings for the grace of the Holy Spirit to descend upon this humble community.