Celebration of The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary in the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada

On September 20, 2026, the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, parishes throughout the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada celebrated in a prayerful and solemn atmosphere the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos – the Mala Gospojina, the Slava of a number of Circles of Serbian Sisters.

The Slava of the Circle of Serbian Sisters was celebrated at the Saint Petka Church in Lakeshore. The Holy Liturgy was served by the Diocesan Deputy, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Miroljub Todorovic, with the concelebration of the parish priest Fr. Marko Dimic. The godmother of the Slava was sister Rada Jeftic, while sister Radojka Cimbur took over the godmothership for the following year. The Slava was also enhanced by the presidents of the Circles of Serbian Sisters at the Saint Dimitrije Church and the Windsor Gracanica, sisters Gordana Krndija and Raviojla Ajdinovic. The Slava luncheon was also attended by Fr. Georgije Tubonjic and Fr. Milorad Delic.

The Mala Gospojina Circle of Serbian Sisters at the Saint Arsenije Sremac Church in Whitby beautifully and piously celebrated their Slava on Sunday September 20. During the Holy Liturgy, which was served by parish priest Fr. Petar Marjanovic, the Slava gifts were blessed after the prayer from the ambo, and the godmothers of the Slava were Danica Dzelebdzic with her daughter Natasha. On that occasion, sisters Slobodanka Brkljac and Gordana Dimitrijevic took over the godmothership for the following year. After the Holy Liturgy, everyone moved to the church hall, where a rich festive table of love was prepared for all the guests present.

The slava of the Circle of Serbian Sisters was also celebrated at the Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Bearer Church in Calgary. After the Holy Liturgy, which was served by the parish priest Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Obrad Filipovic with the concelebration of the parish priest of North Edmonton Fr. Njegoš Perkovic, a festive Slava luncheon with a suitable program was organized at the Serbian Centre. The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Canada, Stefan Tomasevic, visited Calgary, where he attended the service and celebration of the Slava of the Circle of Serbian Sisters. On this occasion, Ambassador Tomasevic spoke with the clergy and representatives of the Serbian community in Alberta. During the meeting, the importance of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian organizations in Canada in preserving the national, cultural and spiritual identity, as well as nurturing the ties of the Serbian community with the motherland, was emphasized.