Father Petar speech during visit of our Bishop His Grace irinej

September 24^th, 2023

Your Grace, Reverend Fathers, Father Deacons, Brothers and Sisters,

Today, we all have many reasons to rejoice.

1. Our guest or host is with us, that is, His Grace the Eastern American bishop Sr. Irinej. Welcome, Your Grace.
2. Today we celebrate 112 years since the founding of the KSS and their St.Patron Day Krsna Slava.
3. Today is 50 years of our marriage and 50 years of priestly service.
4. Today, my successor, Father Andrej Pavlović, was ordained a priest.
5. Today, His Grace, our father and bishop, Sr. Irinej, promoted the Gerasimchuk brothers Ilia Pavel and Gavril to the rank of readers.
6. Today, our bishop consecrated all the icons in the hall and the church as well as the Iconostasis, the artistic work of Iconographer Anna Gerasimchuk. The wooden works on the iconostasis were carried out by Sergej Hnidec.

Next, I would like to thank my faithful wife Gordana, who endured living with me for 50 years. For fifty years, she was a missionary with me and never once said that she was tired. And that's why there is the popular saying that a pop is half a pop. Also thanks to our sons who went through many trials at various parishes where I was a priest.

Protinica Gordana sacrified a lot for the benefit of Church. She had no time to sleep. Sometimes we had no money at all. She worked 7 days a week and evenings as a cleaner to make life of our children better and to share our money with people in need, that is why if I can say my complete success is dedicated to her. She was always by my side. She is my refuge and my greatest gift.

Money does not make people wealthy. In fact, some people are so poor all they have is money.

True wealth is found in God, gratitude for the gifts and blessings in life.

Since I am retiring at my personal request and with your blessing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you first, Your Eminence, for your paternal love that you have always shown to this parish and to me personally and to my wife. It was an honor for me to be your cleric. I knew what you required from a priest and I tried to fulfill it.

Next, I would like to thank my faithful wife Gordana, who endured living with me for 50 years. For fifty years, she was a missionary with me and never once said that she was tired. And that's why there is the popular saying that a popadija is half a pop. Also thanks to our sons who went through many trials at various parishes where I was a priest.

Protinica Gordana sacrified a lot for the benefit of Church. She had no time to sleep. Sometimes we had no money at all. She worked 7 days a week and evenings as a cleaner to make life of our children better and to share our money with people in need, that is why if I can say my complete success is dedicated to her. She was always by my side. She is my refuge and my greatest gift.

Money does not make people wealthy. In fact, some people are so poor all they have is money.

True wealth is found in God, gratitude for the gifts and blessings in life.

Thanks to our daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Thank you to the faithful people of this small parish who selflessly help the mission of this small community, and who have put up with me and supported me for 23 years.

Thanks to the president of the church board, Mirko Šebez, who was sent by God himself to accept this thankless duty. Thanks to the entire church administration. Thank you to Dr. Jasmina Jović and the Circle of Serbian Sisters, as well as the Sunday school teachers Đuka Šebez, Danijela Zubić, Marija Mejer, Elizabet Tomas and Jelena Tanasić for their cooperation and commitment to St. George's Church. Thank you to Dimitrij Jović, the long-term treasurer of the church municipality, who has been working selflessly for the good of this church for years. The treasurers of many church municipalities should come to him for training and learn how to meticulously keep church books.

Thank you to Anna Gerasimchuk the iconorapher, her husband Victor, the whole family and all the volunteers who were also sent by God to accept great responsibilities and completely change the interior appearance of our church with their iconographic works. Thank you to all the parishioners who selflessly helped all the projects of this community.

My retirement is not the end of my priestly ministry. I will continue to be available to the church, and with the bishop's blessing, I will serve in various churches, and I will pray to God for you, and I would also ask you to pray for me and the priest.

On this occasion, I would like to welcome my successor, Father Andrej, and presbytera, Kristina Pavlović, to Cincinnati, and congratulate Father Andrej on his ordination to the priesthood and his appointment as priest of this God-given parish.

In this parish, try not to make anyone feel humiliated or less valuable than you in your presence. There are always two options for every decision in the parish. To sit and wait. Or to get started and do something for yourself and others. Two can do a lot. In this and every parish, success can only be achieved through joint efforts. I hope that you will also become part of the project of the future of this parish. Remember, when you hear that storms and storms are coming, that prayer is the only remedy. The son once asked his father, dad, what is the difference between my smile and yours, and the father answered him, son, you smile when you are happy and I smile when I see you happy. So smile not only when you are happy, but also when you see your parishioners happy. No matter how educated, talented or rich we are, the way we treat others around us speaks the most about us. May the Lord give you eyes that see the good in people, a heart that forgives all insults, and a mind that forgets. God always has a plan for us, we just have to believe in his power. St. Nicholai of Žiča once said with a parable, as a snake guards its head, so you, son, guard your heart. You will have temptations, but don't forget that orange juice cannot come out of a lemon, so good words about others cannot come out of a bad person, because he finds fault with everyone.

Father Andrej, where I passed you will pass, where I came you will come, where I stop you continue, what I owe you repay.

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