Saint Petka Clergy

His Grace Bishop Maxim Vasiljević was elected Bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South American at the regular assembly of the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, Serbia in 2006. Bishop Maxim is professor of Patristics at the Theological Faculty of the University of Belgrade, and taught Christian Anthropology and Sociology at the University of East Sarajevo and Patrology at the St. Sava School of Theology in Libertyville, Illinois. His Grace Bishop Maxim graduated from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, in 1993. He completed his Masters of Theology at the University of Athens in 1996, and then three years later, in 1999, at the same university, he defended his doctorate in the field of Dogmatics and Patristics. He worked for one year on his post-doctorate in Paris and the Sorbonne in 2003-04, in the field of Byzantine History and Hagiography. During this time, he also delved in the theory and practical application of painting at the French Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. Bishop Maxim speaks Greek, French, Russian and English. He was the editor of “Theology” - Journal of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade. He also leads the Diocesan iconographical school inspired by Byzantine and Serbian medieval fresco painting and by Fr. Stamatis Skliris. Bishop Maxim's scholarly books, studies, and articles include essays on Holy Fathers and Saints; he has also written on the hagiographical and iconographical themes.

Born October 9, 1972 in Sombor, Serbia (then Yugoslavia), he moved with his parents to Akron, Ohio in 1979. Upon graduating high school he enrolled into the St. Sava School of Theology in Libertyville, Illinois. Having completing his studies, he married Tatiana Kostur on September 8, 1996. On October 13, 1996, he was ordained to the deaconate by the hand of His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern America. He served at St. Archangel Michael Serbian Church in Akron until his ordination to the priesthood on December 19, 1996. He was appointed to the newly established Sts. Peter and Paul Serbian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. While in Atlanta he also served as parish administrator of the newly formed St. Simeon Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and St. Archangel Michael Church in Huntsville, Alabama. On November 1, 2003 he was appointed to St. George Serbian Church in Hermitage, Pennsylvania where he served until September 1, 2015, when he was received by His Grace Bishop Maxim to the Diocese of Western America and appointed to St. Petka Serbian Church in San Marcos, California. He is a member of the editorial board of The Path of Orthodoxy, administrator of the official website of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America and administrator of the clergy healthcare for clergy in North and South America.

Protodeacon David-John Williams was born in Wales and raised in the Anglican tradition. He converted to Orthodoxy soon after moving to the United States as a professional musician.

He served the parish of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Irvine, California as parish board president for a number of years before being ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Maxim in 2014. On September 2, 2023, Bishop Maxim elevated him to the rank of Protodeacon at the Little Entrance of the Divine Liturgy during the annual Diocesan Days gathering in Southern California.

Protodeacon David, his wife Diaconissa Lauren and two children Zoe and Theodore, now call north county San Diego their home. Both Lauren and David work in the San Marcos Carlsbad area as educators. In addition to his diaconal ministry Protodeacon David is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Saint Katherine San Diego and a post-graduate researcher at the Hellenic Institute at Royal Holloway University of London. His Phd research concerns the sharing of sacred space, sacred objects and holy people in the Byzantine Mediterranean.

Born on November 16, 1947 in Cetina, Knin Municipality, Split county in North Dalmatia of father Mihajlo and mother Anica (nee Vranjes). He completed his elementary studies in his hometown. He continued his studies at the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Seminary in Belgrade where he studied from 1963-1968. On October 14, 1970, he was ordained to the deaconate at The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos Church in Knin and the next day to the priesthood at Monastery Krka by Bishop Stefan of Dalmatia. He served at the Church of the Dormition in Sibenik from the date of his ordination until December 23, 1970, when he was appointed to his first parish in Markovac, Dalmatinsko-Kosovo. He also administered the Polaca parish, near Knin; both parishes were in the Knin Deanery. In 1975, Bishop Nikolaj awarded him the right to wear the red sash and in 1980 he was elevated to Protonamesnik. In 1978 he was transferred to Sibenik where he was appointed second priest and clerk at the diocesan office. In 1985 he passed his clerical exam at the Patriarchate in Belgrade for a permanent clerical position. In January 1987 he moved to the US, to St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville. On August 18, 1988 he was received into the Western American Diocese and appointed to the St. Petka Serbian Church where he served until his retirement in August 2015. He resides in San Marcos and takes active part in the liturgical life of the parish.