Feast day of Saint Sava celebrated throughout Australia and New Zealand

31/1/13 – Serbian Orthodox Church

Melbourn (Elaine):  The central Saint Sava celebration in Australia and New Zealand was at the monastery of Saint Sava in Elaine, near Melbourn, where eight thousand believers gathered. His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The choir Kornelije Stankovic from the parish of Saint Archdeacon Stephen  from Keysborough sang responses.After the procession around the monastery church of Saint Sava, Bishop Irinej cut the slava cake.

During the slava celebration alongside Bishops, priesthood there were also many eminent guests among whom were Vlade and Ana Divac along with Anna Kochel from the Divac Humanitarian Organization, who were raising aid funds for refugees and displaced persons in Serbia; Her Excellency Mrs. Nada Maletic, Ambassador of Serbia to Australia; her predecessor Mr. Dragan Dragojlovic, former ambassador and Mr. Luke Donelan, member of Parliament of Victoria.
Following the monastery celebration, Bishop Irinej and Vlade Divac joined the Serbian fans at Melbourn’s “Rod Laver” Arena to cheer for Novak Djokovic.

Wellington: Because of the time difference, first Saint Sava’s Liturgy in the world this year was served again in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. Local parish priest, protopresbyter Ljuba Kudric celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the presence of the local Serbian community.

Sidney: Two churches in Sidney celebrated Saint Sava as their church slava. The oldest Serbian church in Australia, the church of Saint Sava is in Sidney’s suburb of Flemington and the oldest Church-school congregation in Mona Vale. Local priests celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral church of Saint Sava in Mona Vale. Despite the bad weather, the church was filled with the faithful and following the Liturgy there was a rich folklore programme.

Canberra: In Farrer, at the church of Saint Sava, priests from Canberra celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the concelebration of Reverend presbyter Seraphim Slade, a priest at the Aboriginal Orthodox mission of the Russian Orthodox Church. Following the Divine Liturgy there was a slava procession (litya) and the traditional rite of the cutting the slava cake.

Adelaide: Both Serbian Churches in Adelaide are dedicated to this first Serbian archbishop, Saint Sava. The church in Kilkenny on Saturday celebrated the Patron Saint-day of its school and on Sunday, on the feast day itself, the parish celebrated its slava. At the end of the service, children along with their teachers, parents and their priest sang the hymn to Saint Sava, their patron.

Perth: In the capital of Western Australia the church slava was celebrated by parishioners from Haygate gathered with clergy.

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