On Sunday, October 11, the faithful of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church gathered with great joy to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the consecration of their holy temple. The church was consecrated on August 11, 2001, by Metropolitan Christopher of blessed memory. The celebration was moved to October so that our former parish priest, Very Rev. Fr. Miloš Vesin, could join us from Novi Sad.

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was led by His Grace Bishop Seraphim. Concelebrating with His Grace were Very Rev. Fr. Miloš Vesin, who served our parish for 33 years, our parish priest, Very Rev. Fr. Aleksandar Savic, and Deacon Miloš Božić. Serving in the altar alongside our own altar servers were faithful from our sister parish in South Bend. The Sloboda Choir beautifully sang the responses, and the church was filled with faithful from our own parish and from neighboring communities, including South Bend, Schererville, South Chicago, East Chicago, and Sts. Peter and Paul Macedonian Church.

In his inspiring sermon, Bishop Seraphim reflected on the day’s Gospel reading and tied its message to our celebration. He reminded the faithful that a consecrated church is truly the house of God and the gate of heaven, and that the living Church is built up through the faith, love and service of its people.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a memorial service was offered for all the departed members of our parish and for the priests who served our community over its more than 122-year history. It was a moving moment of gratitude for all those whose faith and sacrifice built the parish we enjoy today. May their memory be eternal.

The celebration also included a special moment of recognition. Three of our parishioners were awarded the silver medal of the Order of St. Mardarije for their outstanding service to our parish.

George Ivancevich has served for many years as President of our Church-School Congregation and as a member of the Diocesan Council, representing our parish with great responsibility, dedication and integrity. His contribution to the growth and well-being of our parish has been immeasurable. Through his leadership, commitment and personal example, he has been a role model not only to our parish family but also to his own family, showing the importance of faith, service and responsibility.

Paul Kovacevich, our Vice President, comes from a distinguished family; his father served as Metropolitan. Having grown up in our parish while his father served here as parish priest, Paul has remained a loyal and devoted member of our church throughout the years. He faithfully directs our choir and generously supports not only the needs of our parish but also the needs of the Church wherever they arise. He also faithfully helps keep our Narrow Path Bookstore running and open, one of the first religious bookstores in Chicago and in our diocese. His lifelong commitment to our faith and his willingness to serve are a wonderful example of dedication and generosity.

Norma Janich is a longtime member of our parish board and choir whose faithful service touches many parts of our church life. Every week she lovingly adorns our church with flowers, adding beauty to our sacred space, and she thoughtfully brings fellow parishioners to Liturgy when they are no longer able to drive themselves. She also faithfully attends weekday services and helps with the responses during the Liturgy. Through her quiet, consistent and selfless dedication, Norma shows us Christian love in action and reminds us that even the simplest acts of service can have a profound impact on our parish community.

In addition, His Eminence Metropolitan Longin awarded an episcopal grammata to our Kolo of Serbian Sisters in honor of its 100th anniversary, which will be celebrated on October 18. Bishop Seraphim presented the grammata on the Metropolitan’s behalf, and Kolo President Desa Radovich accepted it on behalf of the Kolo. For a full century, the sisters of our Kolo have served our parish with love and devotion, and this blessing from His Eminence is a fitting tribute to their faithful work.

We congratulate all the recipients and thank them for their example of faith and service.

Following the Liturgy, the faithful gathered in the church hall, where a delicious lunch was served. A short program followed, opening with performances by the children of our folklore group, who delighted everyone with their traditional dances and showed that our heritage lives on in the next generation.

Church Board President George Ivancevich opened the speeches by expressing his gratitude to Fr. Miloš and to Fr. Aleksandar for their dedicated service to our parish. He then took the audience back to the days when our new church was being built, sharing many details of that great undertaking. He spoke especially about the story of our church windows. Many expected traditional stained glass, but the late Metropolitan Christopher had a different vision. He chose clear windows bearing images of the saints, so that the church would be filled with natural light while the saints still look down upon the faithful. Today those windows are one of the most distinctive features of our church, and a lasting reminder of the Metropolitan’s wisdom and love for our parish.

Fr. Miloš and Fr. Aleksandar also addressed the gathering. Fr. Miloš shared memories from his decades of service, including the building of the church and the fresco project that adorns its walls. Fr. Aleksandar thanked the many parishioners and organizations who give life to the parish today, and expressed his hope for many more blessed years to come.

The day was a true celebration of faith, community and gratitude. We thank His Grace Bishop Seraphim for his presence and blessing, our guests for joining us, and everyone who worked so hard to make this jubilee a success.

May the Holy Archangel Michael continue to guard and protect our parish, and may God grant us many more blessed years in our holy temple.