The Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nektarios of Aegina was solemnly celebrated at Saint Sava Cathedral in London, with the prayerful participation of the faithful.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Grace Bishop Nektarije of London and Great Britain and Ireland, concelebrated by the Episcopal Vicar for Southern Britain, the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dragan Lazić; the Episcopal Vicar for Northern Britain and Ireland, the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Nenad Popović; the Diocesan Secretary, the Reverend Borislav Kovačević; the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Georgije Kuzminko; and the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Goran Spaić, with the assistance of Subdeacon Nenad Kačarević.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the funeral service was offered for the newly departed servant of God, Nikolija Petrović.
Following the reading of the Holy Gospel, Bishop Nektarije addressed the family of the departed Nikolija and the assembled faithful, offering words of comfort and Christian hope in the Resurrection and eternal life. In his homily, he called upon all present to look to the life of this devout Christian woman as an example. Until her final days, she strove to live according to God’s commandments and, through her deeds, to contribute to the preservation of the unity of our Church community in London.
Nikolija was a pillar, a source of support and a word of comfort to many. Through her dignified bearing, devotion to the Church and love for the heritage handed down to us by our forebears, she bore witness to the truth that faith is preserved not through words alone, but above all through the way we live, through faithfulness and through our responsibility towards the community to which we belong. For this reason, she will remain in the memory of her family, friends and the Church community as a shining example of a Christian woman whose life and goodness will long be remembered.
Following the funeral service, the family, clergy and faithful accompanied the newly departed Nikolija to her final resting place at Brookwood Cemetery.
Following the burial, refreshments were served to all those present, lovingly prepared by the devoted ladies of our Church community.
May her memory be eternal, and may she inherit the Kingdom of Heaven!
