Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York, Vladimir Božović, PhD, was the special guest at the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. John in Paterson

Following the solemn Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the program continued in the church and the fellowship hall, and later with a joyful Serbian gathering and a festive “table of love” at the Serbian Estate near the church, where a rich cultural and artistic program was performed featuring the folklore ensembles “Opančići” and “Drina.”

Alongside Bishops Maxim and Irinej, Consul General Vladimir Božović, PhD, delivered a ceremonial address in which he emphasized that this is a great jubilee for our Church. He stated that the Serbian St. John the Forerunner and Baptist is, in a spiritual sense, our Holy Father Saint Sava — the forerunner of the establishment of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its autocephalous mission — and the baptist, as he spiritually baptized the Serbian people and Serbia itself, making it a Christian and blessed land. He sacrificed himself, as did St. John the Baptist, reconciling estranged brothers and embedding himself into the very foundations of our faith, just as St. John gave himself for truth, justice, and love. For this reason, Consul General Božović noted, God glorified him, for he, like St. John, sacrificed himself for the Serbian people and for Serbia.

Consul General Božović also highlighted that it is a great blessing for the Serbian people that the hand of St. John the Baptist is in the possession of the Serbian Orthodox Church — the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and the Cetinje Monastery — and he invited everyone, when possible, to visit the Cetinje Monastery, Montenegro, Serbia, and the Republic of Srpska, as we are united in an unbreakable spiritual bond.

He added that this great holy relic, by God’s will and blessing, being in the hands of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church, is a testimony to how blessed our nation truly is. He emphasized that this shows we are a people chosen by God and that, in these difficult and challenging times, we must persevere — remain true to our Serbian identity, teach our children the Serbian language, faith, and traditions — and that the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in New York will always, as before, continue to provide support in these efforts.

Afterward, more than 350 guests enjoyed a festive banquet featuring traditional Serbian dishes, food, drinks, and wines, accompanied by a rich cultural and artistic program.