Our Church Slava, dedicated to St. Archangel Michael, was celebrated on Sunday, November 17, 2024, with the presence of parishioners and guests who gathered for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. The service was led by Metropolitan Longin, along with Fr. Aleksandar Savic, Fr. Kristijan Petrovich from St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Duluth, MN, and Protodeacon Milovan Gogic. Our Church choir, Sloboda, did a beautiful job singing the responses during the liturgy, adding a reverent and uplifting atmosphere to the service. After the Devine Liturgy, a parastos was held for our departed members. 

After the Divine Liturgy, everyone gathered in the Social Center for the cutting of the kolač and the blessing of the žito. This year, we were blessed with a special treat, as our Kolo Folklore group performed the Kraljevo Kolo for our parishioners and guests. Protodeacon Milovan Gogic also sang a few Serbian patriotic songs, including Vidovdan, which deeply moved all in attendance. A heartfelt thank you to Mileva Gvojic for her time, dedication, and efforts in reviving our folklore program and providing our children with such a meaningful experience.

During the luncheon, we were honored to have Fr. Radovan Jakovljevic from our neighboring parish, St. George in Schererville, Indiana, and Fr. Aleksandar Bugarin from St. George in Joliet, join us. The banquet was well attended by our own parishioners as well as faithful from neighboring parishes, creating a warm and joyous community celebration. In addition to speeches from His Grace and Fr. Aleksandar, Church Board President George Ivancevich reminded us of the importance of celebrating our church Slava together as a community—just as our relatives did in the South Chicago days and like we do in our own homes, including preparing, celebrating, and cleaning up together.

Thank you to all of our Church School Organizations—the Serbian Eagles, Crkveno Kolo Sestara, Knjeginja Zorka, Sloboda Choir, Sunday School, and Folklore group—for preparing the meal and bringing desserts, and to everyone who helped set up, serve, and clean up afterward. Your efforts made this celebration possible!

Written by Tanja Simic
Holy Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church