View source for Saint Sebastian (Dabovich)



[[File:Saint Sebastian of San Francisco and JacksonS.png]]

'''Saint Sebastian (Dabovich) (1863-1940)'''


Dabovich may be spelt Dabović.

Jovan is pronounced “Yovan”.  

Jovan may be spelt Ivan, Evan, Ioann, Johan, Johannes, John.  

Sebastian may be spelt Sevastian, Sevastjan. 

==Early life of Jovan (John) Dabović==

Jovan Dabović (John Dabovich) was born on 21 June, 1863, in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco San Francisco], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California California].  His parents were Ilija and Jelena Dabović, who had emigrated from Sassovae, in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Serbia Principality of Serbia].  

Ilija and Jelena Dabović were the first recorded [https://www.britannica.com/place/Serbia Serbian] immigrants to settle on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_of_the_United_States West Coast] (together with Ilija's brother Nikolaj).  They operated a small shop in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco San Francisco], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California California].  The family had originally lived in the village of [http://www.maplandia.com/serbia-and-montenegro/crna-gora/sasovici/ Sasovići] near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herceg_Novi Herceg Novi], at the entrance of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Kotor Bay of Kotor], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegro Montenegro] (Crna Gora).  In their move during 1853 (perhaps a consequence of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegrin%E2%80%93Ottoman_War_(1852%E2%80%9353) Ottoman-Montenegrin War] of 1852-1853, perhaps a consequence of the developing "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush gold rush]", perhaps both), they had crossed the Atlantic Ocean, traversed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isthmus_of_Panama Panama Isthmus] (there was no [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal Panama Canal] at that time), and then sailed north to California.  Other families followed.  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay San Francisco Bay] could provide a slightly familiar environment, since it has some small similarities to the Bay of Kotor.  

From the Lord, Ilija and Jelena Dabović were blessed with seven children, of whom Jovan was the fourth.  At his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Baptism baptism], he received the name John.  

According to his own writing, he was baptised in 1863 by the Hieromonk Kirill (of the [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikhvin_Assumption_Monastery Tikhvin Monastery]), a chaplain of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Russian_Navy Russian Imperial Navy], in a chapel aboard the ship "Bogatyr" (replaced in 1902 by a more modern cruiser).  The baptism occurred in this manner since there was not yet an established Orthodox parish in San Francisco, nor was there yet an assigned priest.  At that time, the navy chaplains cared for the members of the “Greek-Russian Slavonian Eastern Church and Benevolent Society” which had been formed in 1857.  The Russian Imperial Navy was likely present in San Francisco for reasons having to do in part with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Purchase sale of Alaska] to the USA which would be finalised in 1867.  This was a matter with many complex factors.  

John (Jovan) grew up within the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Faith], and within the worshipping life of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Church].  At first, worship tended to be informal and in the homes of the various believers in the San Francisco area.   In 1868, the Priest Nikolai Kovrigin (a priest of the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America Russian Mission]), was transferred from the Russian Orthodox
cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitka,_Alaska Sitka], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Alaska Alaska], along with an assistant, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Reader Reader] Vasily Shishkin, and the community began to hold worship services in the home
of a local [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbs Serb], Peter Sekulovich.  As an adult, Jovan wrote the following childhood recollection :
  I remember that first service, to which I went with my mother. We had to walk a long way along unpaved streets. 
  Furthermore we were mercilessly drenched by rain. At last we reached a small house ; we crossed over a ditch 
  (or temporarily excavated gutter) on a plank and entered the church.  The 'church' was set up in a divided room. 
  At the end, opposite the entrance, the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antimension Antimension] lay on a covered table.  A little table in a corner served 
  as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prothesis_(altar) table of oblation].  I remember two [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography icons] on the walls : the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Saviour] and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Icons_of_the_Theotokos Mother of God].  There were 
  approximately twenty communicants at that Liturgy.  
This was the remote beginning of the parish community which eventually became [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity_Cathedral_(San_Francisco,_California) Holy Trinity Cathedral] in that city.  

In 1872, [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2598%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BD_(%25D0%259C%25D0%25B8%25D1%2582%25D1%2580%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BF%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D1%258C%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9)&prev=search Bishop John (Mitropolsky)] transferred the diocesan cathedral, together with the administration and his residence to San Francisco.  Bishop John was of a strong missionary disposition.  He wished not only to care for the Orthodox Christian Faithful in Alaska and in the mainland USA, but also to make the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] available to everyone who wished to embrace this Faith and way of life.  It is probable that the evangelical attitude and motivation of Bishop John about making the Orthodox Christian Faith available to all Americans was inherited by Jovan, since it became his lifelong desire as well.  

Jovan attended services at the Pierce Street site of the cathedral, and he was predictably present at services.  He had developed a deep love for the Lord and for the Church, and he was very content to be in the Temple to serve and to [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship worship] the Lord.  From childhood, he felt in his heart the call from the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Lord] to serve Him as a [https://www.translatetheweb.com/?from=ru&to=en&ref=SERP&dl=en&rr=UC&a=https%3a%2f%2fru.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2f%25D0%25A1%25D0%25B2%25D1%258F%25D1%2589%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA priest] in due time.  He continued to pay attention to this call and to co-operate with it.  

Jovan attended the Mission School which Bishop John had transferred from Sitka, and he studied alongside the indigenous students that had moved with the school to San Francisco in order to continue their studies.  Besides other subjects, he learnt [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language Russian], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language Greek].  The former were taught by Dimitrios Frankiades, who also taught English.  The choirmaster Michael Vladimirov taught singing and mathematics.  

As he continued to grow up, Jovan became known for his humility, his abstinence, and his care for the poor.  In a practical expression of this care, he frequently gave his personal possessions away to the needy.  

After finishing high school, John served his parish as a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Reader reader] and as a teacher.  


[[File:Jovan Dabovich 1.png]]  '''Young Jovan Dabovich'''

==Higher education==

After he graduated from high school, Jovan served briefly in San Francisco also as a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cantor chanter] at services in the Temple.

In 1884, he was assigned briefly to assist at [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cathedral_of_St._Michael_the_Archangel_(Sitka,_Alaska) Saint Michael’s Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitka,_Alaska Sitka], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska Alaska].  While he was there, he came to know [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlingit Tlingit] families in the cathedral parish.  Through them, he became familiar with [[Saint Innocent (Veniaminov) |Saint Innocent (Veniaminov)]], and he also learnt about a group of Tlingits who had not yet accepted the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian Faith].  This was in the settlement of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneau,_Alaska Juneau].  He later wrote : 
  My assistants among the Indians — the Kolosh natives Ivan Hlyantich, Pavel Katlyeyan and others — set out 
  for what was then a very small place, now the sizable town of Juneau, and following special instructions 
  from me, they (and other parishioners) spread the Word and Orthodoxy — and the result of that is — the present
  [https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-ak-junsnc Church of St. Nicholas] in Juneau.  
Within 6 years of this beginning, the Tlingit of this place began to travel to Sitka in order to be baptised.  By 1893, the Temple of Saint Nicholas in Juneau had been constructed by both the Tlingit Orthodox Christians and the gold-miners who had settled there.  

In 1885, Jovan took the blessing to continue his studies, and he travelled to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russia].  There, in [https://www.britannica.com/place/St-Petersburg-Russia Saint Petersburg], the capital of the Russian Empire, he studied at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Petersburg_Theological_Academy Saint Petersburg Theological Academy], and also at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiev_Theological_Academy Kiev Theological Academy], in order to prepare for a life as a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Missionary missionary].

==Monastic tonsure, 1888==

After his 3 years of study in the 2 academies, Jovan was [https://orthochristian.com/101607.html tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk] in 1888, and he was given the name Sebastian.

==Diaconal ordination, 1888==

Soon afterwards, on 25 December, 1888, the Monk Sebastian (Dabovich) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Isidore_(Nikolsky)_of_St._Petersburg Metropolitan Isidore (Nikolsky)] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia/Novgorod Novgorod], [https://www.britannica.com/place/St-Petersburg-Russia Saint Petersburg] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Finland Finland].

==Diaconal service==

When Father Sebastian had been studying in Saint Petersburg, Metropolitan Isidore (Nikolsky) was marking 50 years of episcopal service.  During these years, he had participated in the ordination of more than 100 bishops, including all the bishops of the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_“Russian_Mission”_in_North_America North American mission] in the latter half of the 19th century. Father Sebastian wrote about him that he 
  was the most faithful friend, spiritual advisor, and material support, under God, of the young Church in North America 
  in her many serious trials, temptations, and persecutions.

Following his ordination, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Hierodeacon] Sebastian (Dabovich) received the blessing to return to San Francisco, where he served as a deacon at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity_Cathedral_(San_Francisco,_California) Saint Basil Cathedral] in San Francisco (which was later named "Holy Trinity Cathedral" after reconstruction).  He served under the omophor of [[Archbishop Vladimir (Sokolovsky-Avtonomov) |Bishop Vladimir (Sokolovsky-Avtonomov)]], who had been assigned to San Francisco in 1888.  

Hierodeacon Sebastian was assigned also to teach at the pastoral school in San Francisco.  

Bishop Vladimir had learned from [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2013/02/16/100419-saint-nicholas-equal-of-the-apostles-archbishop-of-japan Saint Nicholas (Kasatkin)] of Japan that, when the Orthodox Christian Faith is brought to new territories, it must be made available in the local languages.  He became the first Orthodox hierarch in North America to preach and serve in English.  He also required his priests to learn and serve in this language as well.  

Father Sebastian later recalled that : 
  The bishop paid special attention in the temple to preaching the word of God in English, which was the language commonly
  understood.  To this end the bishop himself, although not completely familiar with the English language, improvised talks 
  in English, which the people readily heard. 
Bishop Vladimir also assigned Father Sebastian, as a native English speaker, to be the English-language preacher at the San Francisco cathedral.  

Thus, Hierodeacon Sebastian served under Bishop Vladimir until 1891, when Bishop Vladimir was recalled to Russia.

==Presbyteral ordination, 1892==

On 29 August, 1892 (the day after the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dormition Dormition of the Theotokos]), Hierodeacon Sebastian was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by [[Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)]] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity_Cathedral_(San_Francisco,_California) Cathedral of Saint Basil] in San Francisco, California.  

This ordination took place not long after Bishop Nicholas had been assigned to be the bishop of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands Aleutian Islands] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska Alaska] (he, himself, had been ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] only in the previous September).

==Pastoral service==

On the following Sunday, the newly-ordained [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Sebastian (Dabovich) gave his first homily as a priest, on the theme “Love according to Christian Doctrine”.  

Before his ordination, Hierodeacon Sebastian had submitted a report to Bishop Nicholas in which he estimated that there were about 1,500 Orthodox
Christians residing in the states of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California California] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon Oregon], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state) Washington].  He asked that he be assigned to care for these believers.  Bishop Nicholas, who saw his rare apostolic zeal, granted his request.

Thus, the newly-ordained Hieromonk Sebastian was assigned to serve as a missionary priest for California and the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Northwest-region Pacific Northwest].  

Within a week after his ordination, Hieromonk Sebastian (Dabovich) departed on a missionary tour of the West Coast of North America.  He travelled as far north as [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/vancouver Vancouver], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/british-columbia British Columbia], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], and as far south as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego San Diego], California.  When he returned, he had travelled more than 3,000 miles.  

On this missionary journey, Father Sebastian found poor Orthodox immigrants of many ethnic backgrounds who lived far from Orthodox Temples and clergy.  Because of the isolation, some had come under the influence of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism_in_the_United_States Protestants] ; however, they welcomed the opportunity to return to the Church of their youth.  He performed [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Baptism baptisms], both of children and adults, and he offered the other [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Mysteries Holy Mysteries] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Euchologion services of need] of the Church to the isolated Orthodox Christians. 

In Oregon, Father Sebastian came to the conclusion that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon Portland] was the best site for a chapel, even though there were not many Orthodox Christians in that city.  It was nevertheless a central location for believers in the surrounding area. For example, he had found a population of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Greece Greek] fishermen who had settled along the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River Columbia River] and in the port city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Oregon Astoria].  In Washington, Father Sebastian saw even more possibilities in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle Seattle]  There, he found a larger group of dedicated Orthodox Christians who were eager to form a parish.  He also found Orthodox Christians in the communities of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma,_Washington Tacoma], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gig_Harbor,_Washington Gig Harbour], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkeson,_Washington Wilkeson].  He also found some Orthodox Christians in Vancouver and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/victoria-bc Victoria], British Columbia.  In his missionary journeys, Father Sebastian offered the Orthodox Christian Faith to all.  He did not concern himself with ethnicity except in a secondary manner.  

He also found many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches#Uniate Uniats] who had acquired questionable practices resulting from their ecclesiastical ties to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholicism].  Despite this, they thought that they were actually Orthodox Christians.  

The newly-ordained [https://orthodoxiki.org/Presbyter Hieromonk] Sebastian tirelessly preached the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gospels Gospel], served [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgies], counselled people, and established many parishes throughout the country.  Throughout his life, he conveyed the light of liturgical certainty and calm to a world that was spiritually hungry and suffering. 

In 1893, at the request of [[Saint Alexis Toth |Father Alexis Toth]] for a second priest to serve in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis Minneapolis], the Hieromonk Sebastian (Dabovich) was sent by Bishop Nicholas to Minneapolis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota Minnesota], where he was assigned to replace Father Alexis Toth as the priest of [http://www.stmarysoca.org Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church].  Father Sebastian continued the work of Father Alexis as he strove to help former Uniats enter more deeply into the life of the Orthodox Church. While he was serving at Saint Mary's, he also taught at the Missionary School, which was established in 1894.  

Mr. Paul Zaichenko, who was at that time the choir director of the parish and the music director of the Missionary School, wrote about the service of Father Sebastian : 
  Fr. Sebastian Dabovich succeeded Fr. A. Toth as parish priest.  He was a quiet and pensive monk, always considerate, 
  conscientious, modest.  He performed his duties sincerely, and taught the Bible class of the parish school with 
  enthusiasm.  He was a tireless and unselfish worker, a humble and a just man before his Lord.  He was one of the 
  most worthy workers in the Mission.  I knew him back in San Francisco.  At that time he sang in the cathedral choir, 
  of which I was a choirmaster.  His aim was his betterment in religious life.  As in San Francisco, so too in 
  Minneapolis, he was the example of virtuous living ; he always considered it his duty to avoid an evil step.  Leading 
  a quiet monastic life, he found great happiness in reading religious books and in teaching students the Holy Bible. 
  He loved children and was always considerate of his parishioners.  Notwithstanding his short stay in Minneapolis, he 
  was loved by his flock.  He was a bright torch of love, kindness, and sincerity.  


[[File:Minneapolis seminary 2.png]]  '''Saint Mary's Temple, and the seminary, Minneapolis'''


While he was serving at the parish in Minneapolis, the Hieromonk Sebastian made his first visit to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago Chicago], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois Illinois)], where he spent 10 days helping Bishop Nicholas to organise an exhibit about the Orthodox Christian Faith and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian Church] at the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Columbian_Exposition World's Columbian Exposition]" ("World’s Fair").  

During his short stay in Chicago, Father Sebastian gathered local Orthodox Serbs and celebrated the Divine Liturgy for them.  Although he was only able to meet about 20 Serbs at that time, it opened a door for future work in that city.  

In December, 1893, Father Sebastian was recalled to San Francisco.  He soon went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson,_California Jackson], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California California], where he baptised a Serbian child.  At that time, he saw that there were many Serbs living there, and he there organised the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Sava_Church_(Jackson,_California) first Serbian Orthodox parish] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America].  It was dedicated to [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sava_of_Serbia Saint Sava of Serbia].  Jackson is situated about 209 km (130 mi) northeast of San Francisco and about 80 km (50 mi) southeast of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California Sacramento] (the state capital).  

In February, 1894, Bishop Nicholas went to Jackson to bless the parish.  In May, 1894, the first burial in the cemetery occurred.  By December, the Temple was completed. It was a small but beautiful building, situated prominently above the town, and surrounded by the cemetery.  Bishop Nicholas had bells for the church sent down from Alaska.  He also donated a chandelier, together with an icon of the Mother of God which had been painted at [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Panteleimon%27s_Monastery_(Athos) Saint Panteleimon’s Monastery] on [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Mount_Athos Mount Athos].  In time, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos  Mother of God] would perform miracles through this icon, which would come to be known as the “[Jackson Icon of the Mother of God]”.  


[[File:Jackson Icon of the Theotokos 1.png]]  '''Jackson Icon of the Mother of God (Theotokos)'''


On 16 December, 1894, Bishop Nicholas, assisted by Father Sebastian, sanctified the new Temple.  Father Sebastian took care to translate portions of the service into English for the sake of the non-Serbs who attended the service.  Thereafter, Father Sebastian regularly travelled to Jackson to serve in this Temple.  


[[File:Saint Sava Church Jackson Ca.png]]  '''Original appearance of the Temple of Saint Sava, Jackson, California'''

[[File:Saint_Sava_Church_JacksonS.png]]  '''Current appearance of Saint Sava's Temple, Jackson, California'''
  

In addition to this particular pastoral service, he was regularly travelling, and he proved to be an important help in organising groups of Orthodox Christians into worshipping communities.  This was particularly so in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_United_States Pacific Northwest] of the USA, although his missionary work took him as far south as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona Arizona].  The following are examples of the fruits of his Christ-loving labour.  

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle Seattle], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state) Washington], is situated the Temple which later became the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Spiridon_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Spiridon Cathedral], where he even served as a temporary priest before the arrival of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ambrose_Vretta Father Ambrose Vretta] in November, 1895.  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Orthodox_Church Holy Trinity Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkeson,_Washington Wilkeson], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state) Washington], is a community which he visited in 1892 and 1895 before its official beginning in 1896.  The Temple of [https://stnicholasportland.org Saint Nicholas] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon Portland], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon Oregon] (begun in 1890 by [https://stnicholasportland.org/about/parish-history/ Lavrenty Chernov Stevens], a Russian/Aleut who had moved there and who had built a small Temple), is a community in which he served its first Divine Liturgy in 1895.  


[[File:StSpiridon1895 1.jpg]]  '''Saint Spiridon's Temple, Seattle, 1895'''  


Father Sebastian also visited various settlements in California and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona Arizona], where he had heard that Serbs were living.  From these visits, in such places as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_Camp,_California Angels Camp] (near Jackson), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno,_California Fresno], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visalia,_California Visalia] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanford,_California Hanford]), and also in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisbee,_Arizona Bisbee], Arizona, Orthodox Christian communities were established in time.  

'''1895'''

In 1895, with the blessing of the Most Holy Synod and imperial consent, Hieromonk Sebastian (Dabovich) was awarded the right to wear the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pectoral_cross Gold Cross].  This award was given to him extraordinarily early (after 2 years instead of the usual 10 years).  As Bishop Nicholas said, when he gave the award :
  It is granted to you not only as a reward for your devout ministry in the lower ecclesiastical ranks, but even 
  more so as an encouragement in the ever greater labours and heroic tasks which you will continue to face in your 
  missionary ministry [...].  
  
  You were not forced to pick up the Cross of a monk and a missionary, but did it of your own free will, for your 
  and others’ salvation.  This made you not your own but Christ’s (see Gal. 3:29) ; now you should seek not your 
  own (see I Cor. 13:5) but the things which are Jesus Christ’s (see Phil. 2:21).  
For the greater part of 1896, Hieromonk Sebastian was in his ancestral land [https://www.britannica.com/place/Serbia Serbia], where he had travelled to visit family, and where he spent several months furthering his theological studies.  When he returned to San Francisco in November of 1896, he was assigned to serve as the pastor of Saint Basil's Cathedral, and as a teacher in the church school.  He fulfilled this responsibility and at the same time, he continued his missionary journeys throughout the western USA.  Following the example of the [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2000/06/29/101842-the-holy-glorious-and-all-praised-leader-of-the-apostles-paul Apostle Paul], he continued to visit the new communities he had formed and organised, tending to their spiritual needs, making the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Mysteries Holy Mysteries] available to them, and ensuring their survival.  

During this year, the parish of Saint Sava in Jackson, California, was officially established as a Serbian Orthodox parish.  This establishment took place with the knowledge and blessing of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihailo_Jovanović_(metropolitan) Metropolitan Mihailo (Jovanovich) of Serbia].  

In August, 1897, Father Sebastian travelled to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte,_Montana Butte], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana Montana].  Butte was in an important region of copper-mining, and many Serbs had moved there for work.  On 15/28 August, Father Sebastian served the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] for the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dormition Dormition of the Theotokos].  There were 31 who attended, and Father Sebastian began with them the process of organising a parish.  While he made frequent visits to the community, it was first nurtured by Fathers [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ambrose_Vretta Ambrose Vretta] and [[Archpriest Vladimir and Matushka Rose Alexandrov |Vladimir Alexandrov]].  In due time, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity_Church_(Butte,_Montana) Holy Trinity Church] was founded there.  


[[File:Holy Trinity Church, Butte, Montana 1.png]]  '''Holy Trinity Temple, Butte, Montana''' 


In October, 1897, together with Bishop Nikolai (Ziorov), he visited [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ross,_California Fort Ross], California, on the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Coast Pacific coast] north of San Francisco.  Fort Ross was a trading-post of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian-American_Company Russian-American Company], which functioned until about 1842.  

In November, 1897, Father Sebastian accompanied [[Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)]] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C Washington, DC].  Also accompanying Bishop Nicholas in Washington were the Priests __ Popoff of Chicago, and [[Saint Alexander Hotovitzky |Alexander Hotovitzky]] of New York City.  The purpose of this journey was to present a formal complaint to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McKinley President W McKinley] about the theft of Church properties that had been and was still occurring in Alaska. This was the second meeting in the history of the USA between an Orthodox bishop and an American President (the first having been a meeting between Bishop Vladimir (Sokolovsky-Avtonomov) and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Cleveland President Grover Cleveland] in 1889).  

On 9 November, 1897, soon after returning to San Francisco, Father Sebastian officiated at the wedding of his niece, Ella, to a young Russian immigrant, [[Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) |Theodore Pashkovsky]].  

Also in 1897, Hieromonk Sebastian (Dabovich) was awarded the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Prince_Danilo_I Order of Prince Danilo] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_I_of_Montenegro Prince Nicholas {Petrović-Njegoš) of Montenegro], primarily in recognition of the pastoral care he had shown for Serbian immigrants who had come to America from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegro Montenegro], and also for the articles he had written about the province of Montenegro and its struggles against the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Turks Ottoman Turks].

In 1898, [[Saint Tikhon (Belavin) |Bishop Tikhon (Belavin)]] arrived in North America to be the successor of Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov) as the Bishop of the North American diocese.  

In 1899, by decree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia Emperor Nicholas II], the Hieromonk Sebastian (Dabovich) was awarded the [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%25A1%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D1%2582%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD_(%25D0%2594%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B1%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B8%25D1%2587)&prev=search Order of Saint Anne].  This award had come as a fruit of a "de-briefing" conversation about the Russian Mission between Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov) and Tsar Nicholas II in [https://www.britannica.com/place/St-Petersburg-Russia Saint Petersburg].  


[[File:Dabovich family 1900AS.png]]  '''Dabović family, 1900''' (Father Sebastian is seated, at the left)


At a time when he had begun to write and to publish (from his own limited funds) books about the Orthodox Faith in the English language, Father Sebastian was following an evangelical path which had been understood by the leadership of the Russian Mission and by others in Saint Petersburg even before he was yet born.  Therefore, ever seeking to reach out to those outside the Church, Father Sebastian initiated contacts and discussions with non-Orthodox churches.  His principal focus was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States) Protestant Episcopal Church of the USA], which, at that time, seemed to him and to others as being the most similar to the Orthodox Church amongst non-Orthodox American confessions.  He and they also perceived it to be the church most receptive to Orthodoxy.  This perception suggests that the main contacts were with the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_church High Church]" Anglicans of that time.  For instance, Father Sebastian had developed a correspondence with Bishop [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Chapman_Grafton Charles Grafton], Episcopalian bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fond_du_Lac,_Wisconsin Fond du Lac], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin Wisconsin], and there had been a conference of Orthodox-Episcopalian dialogue in Fond du Lac.  In November, 1900, Bishop Tikhon (Belavin), together with Father Sebastian and [[Saint John Kochurov |Father John Kochurov]], rector of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago Chicago] cathedral, attended the consecration of a vicar for Bishop Grafton.  Not long after this, Bishop Grafton made a visit to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia  Russia].  


[[File:Priest John kochurov, Archim Sebastian, Bishop Tikhon S.jpg]]  '''Priest John Kochurov ; Hieromonk Sebastian (Dabović) ; Bishop Tikhon'''


Such meetings did not imply any compromise of the Orthodox Christian Faith, but rather a firm witness to this Faith and hope to the others.  The intention was to try to entice the strayed sheep to return to the sheepfold.  Moreover, in his writings, Father Sebastian made it very clear that there could be no compromise nor betrayal of the Orthodox Christian Faith in such encounters with the non-Orthodox.  He wrote :
  [...] Christ forbids us to judge anybody, for only God knows whether our brother culpably holds the error, or whether 
  he believes it to be the truth.  But even if he believes his error to be the truth, error remains error, and can never 
  become truth.  Therefore, we must always condemn error, though we may not condemn the person erring.  
In 1900, Bishop Tikhon assigned the Hieromonk Sebastian (Davovich) to membership in the "North American Ecclesiastical Consistory", which was the equivalent of the diocesan council of the entire North American mission.  

'''1902'''

In 1902, Father Sebastian continued his missionary activities when he was assigned by Bishop Tikhon (Belavin) to serve in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Alaska Alaska] as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_(Christianity) Dean] of the  [https://www.oca.org/parishes/deanery/OCA-AK-SID Sitka Deanery], and Superintendent of the Alaska missions.  While he was in Alaska, he helped establish the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Sava_Church_(Douglas,_Alaska) Church of Saint Sava] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas,_Juneau Douglas], near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneau,_Alaska Juneau].  Land was donated
by the local mining company, and a donation for the Temple’s construction was sent from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Synod_of_the_Serbian_Orthodox_Church Holy Assembly (Synod) of Bishops in Serbia].  Working together with the local Orthodox Christians, Father Sebastian built the Temple with his own hands.  With the blessing of Bishop Tikhon, on 23 July, 1903, Father Sebastian, along with Hieromonk Anthony (Deshkevich-Koribut) and the Priest Aleksandar Jaroshevich, sanctified the Temple of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Sava_Church_(Douglas,_Alaska) Saint Sava] in Douglas, Alaska.  

At this time, Bishop Tikhon (Belavin) elevated the Hieromonk Sebastian (Dabovich) to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Igumen igumen].  


[[File:St Sava Church Douglas Alaska.png]]  '''Temple of Saint Sava, Douglas, Alaska'''


[[File:Missionaries in 1902.png]]  '''Some missionaries, 1902'''


Later in 1903, Bishop Tikhon (Belavin) sent Igumen Sebastian (Dabovich) to Chicago.  On his way there, he stopped to visit the parishioners of the [https://www.holytrinitybutte.org/ Holy Trinity Temple] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte,_Montana Butte], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana Montana], and to strengthen the community's resolve to provide for a permanent priest.  Within 4 months of his visit, enough money was collected to begin construction of the new Temple.  In Chicago, Father Sebastian likewise encouraged the now-increased number of Serbian parishioners in the project for establishing a Temple for the Serbian parishioners.  

In 1903, with the blessing of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_Holy_Synod Most Holy Synod], the diocesan see was transferred from [https://www.britannica.com/place/San-Francisco-California San Francisco] to [https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-City New York City].  

In 1903, [[Metropolitan Innocent (Pustynsky) |Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky)]] was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate], and he was assigned to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Auxiliary_bishop Vicar-Bishop] of Sitka and Alaska. 

Towards the end of that year, Igumen Sebastian (Dabovich) made a brief visit to Russia and to Serbia before he returned to his labours.   

In September, 1904, the new Temple of the Holy Trinity in Butte, Montana, was completed, and on the Feast of the [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2016/08/29/102419-the-beheading-of-the-holy-glorious-prophet-forerunner-and-baptis Beheading of Saint John the Forerunner] (29 August/11 September), Igumen Sebastian served the first Divine Liturgy in the new Temple.  He was assisted by the Serbian priest, Hieromonk Jacob (Odzhich). 

Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) continued to adjust the structure of the Diocese of North America and the Aleutians in order to meet the needs of its multi-ethnic constituents.  In the Orthodox spirit of "sobornost" (catholicity), he understood that each ethnic group required special attention
and leadership.  He expressed this in a report to the Most Holy Synod in 1905 :
  We do not consider that we have the right to interfere with the national character of the churches in this country ; on the 
  contrary, we try to preserve it, giving each a chance to be governed by leaders of the same nationality. 
It was in this spirit that Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky) had been ordained for Alaska, and that [[Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny) |Bishop Raphael (Hawaweeny)]] had been ordained in 1904.  It was now his hope to be able to provide similarly for the Serbian parishioners.  


[[File:Serbian Missionaries with Father Sebastian.png]]  '''Archimandrite Sebastian, Serbian missionaries and others'''


'''1905, Serbian Mission'''

In March, 1905, Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) established the "[https://www.eserbia.org/history/190-life-of-the-serbs-before-the-founding-of-the-serbian-mission-in-america-1905 Serbian Orthodox Mission in America]", with its centre in Chicago.  He then blessed Father Sebastian to lead the Serbian Mission.  

At that time, Igumen Sebastian (Dabovich) was assigned to serve in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago Chicago], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois Illinois].  The Serbian community did not yet, however, have its own permanent building.  As with many communities everywhere, the rational sheep were unable to galvanise themselves without a shepherd.  Therefore, soon after his arrival in June, 1905, Igumen Sebastian served the Divine Liturgy in a rented hall on Milwaukee Avenue, with about 200 Serbian families in attendance.  Immediately afterwards, he organised a parish committee, and he began to look for a building suitable for the new Temple.  Within a matter of days, the first Serbian Orthodox church in the city had been established.  

On "Vidovdan" (the Feast-day of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitus Saint Vitus], and the day of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kosovo Battle of Kosovo] in 1389), 15/28 June, 1905, Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church sanctified] the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Temple in Butte.  He was assisted by Father Sebastian and by Father Jacob, who became the first permanent priest of this parish. 

On 18 September, 1905, Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) elevated Igumen Sebastian (Dabovich) to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org//Archimandrite archimandrite] in the new [https://www.serbiancathedral.org/ Holy Resurrection Temple] in Chicago.  At that time, Archbishop Tikhon said to him in public : 
  I greet you, most honourable Father Archimandrite Sebastian, with your elevation to the rank of archimandrite and your 
  assignment as head of the Serbian Mission in America.  You were entrusted by the diocesan authorities even earlier, 
  as a native Serb, with the administration of one or another of the Serbian parishes here.  Now you are being called 
  to a greater ministry : upon you is being laid the care of all the Serbian churches in our extensive diocese and of 
  the spiritual needs of all the Serbs in America.  You know how many of them are scattered here : how often they go 
  astray like sheep that have no shepherd, how they end up in a foreign home, and how, having come here for work or 
  to become rich, some of them have become spiritually impoverished and, in this heterodox country, lose the great 
  spiritual treasure of the old country : the holy Orthodox Faith, love for the Slavic people, and fondness for their 
  good native customs.  Our benevolently solicitous hierarchy, which is always concerned about the needs of the Slavs, 
  who are of one blood with us, desires to have mercy on these people, and is calling upon you now to guide spiritually
  the Serbs who are living here.  

In 1905, Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) nominated Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_Holy_Synod Most Holy Synod] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg Saint Petersburg] as a candidate for ordination to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Holy Episcopate].  It is not completely apparent why this nomination did not proceed, although there were certainly some known complicating factors.  Archbishop Tikhon had asked Father Sebastian to write letters to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitrije,_Serbian_Patriarch Patriarch Dimitrije (Pavlović)] and to the Holy Synod of Bishops in Serbia, and to ask for a letter confirming that, as far as they were concerned, there was no obstacle to the appointment of a bishop for the Serbs in North America.  However, the Serbian bishops considered that since they had no first-hand knowledge of the situation in North America, and also not being certain of the relationship between the Russian and Serbian hierarchies in the context of America, they did not feel confident about writing such a letter to the Most Holy Synod in Russia.  Moreover, during the summer of that year, Serbia was enmeshed in 3 battles with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottomans], and there was also a general election.  Furthermore, not all Serbs in the USA wished to be part of the Russian diocese if there were any hope of having an administration in the USA directly connected with Serbia.  To this effect, there was some correspondence with bishops in Serbia.  

Nevertheless, since Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) was not to become a bishop, he was left free to continue his valuable and broad missionary activities.  To become a bishop, because of the nature of episcopal responsibilities, can make some missionary activities much more difficult.  However, the many divergent opinions amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serb_diaspora Serbians in North America] did present difficulties for the development of the Serbian Mission as intended by Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin).  


[[File:1905 Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich Holy Trinity Church ChicagoA.jpg]] '''Archimandrite Sebastian inside Holy Trinity Church, Chicago'''


For the next 5 years, Archimandrite Sebastian led the Serbian Mission from its centre at the [http://www.serbiancathedral.org Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago Chicago], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois Illinois], where he was serving as the parish priest.  During his time as head of the Serbian Orthodox Mission, he tended to the needs of the many Serbian communities throughout the country.  He also initiated the publication of the "Herald of the Serbian Church in North America", the first Serbian Church newspaper in the USA.  

It is useful to know the opinion of [[Saint Nikolaj (Velimirovic) |Bishop Nikolai (Velimirović)]] : 
  Archimandrite Dabovich could have been a bishop even in 1907.  The Russian archbishop wanted to consecrate him as a 
  Russian bishop for the Serbian people.  But the Serbs did not want it that way.  Archbishop Tikhon was sorry about that. 
  He was eager to show his appreciation to Fr. Dabovich for all his wonderful work.  Failing to make him a bishop, he did 
  something else.  Once when he celebrated the Holy Liturgy in the Serbian church in Chicago, he presented our 
  archimandrite with a precious mitre, which was worth 1,000 roubles in gold.  But Fr. Dabovich quickly sold that 
  precious gift and gave it to the church towards paying its debts. Such a man was he. He was absolutely unselfish. 


[[File:Original Holy Resurrection Church Chicago.png]]   '''Original Holy Resurrection Church, Chicago'''


In addition to pastoral and missionary work, Archimandrite Sebastian prepared Orthodox literature in the English language : the lives of the saints, an explanation of the services, and collections of sermons.  

In 1907, Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) was transferred away from North America and recalled to serve within the Russian Empire.  This decision, taken for whatever reason by the Most Holy Synod, interrupted the focussed development of the North American diocese. 

'''Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky), 1907'''

In 1907, [[Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky) |Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky)]], the new leader of the Diocese of North America and the Aleutians, arrived in New York City.  Archbishop Platon continued to develop the missionary work of the diocese in a manner similar to that of Archbishop Tikhon.  

In September, 1908, Archimandrite Sebastian wrote to Archbishop Platon in order to explain the current difficulties faced by the Serbian Mission.  The main difficulty was, as it had been, finding an adequate number of Serbian clergy to care for the increasing number of communities that were developing : 
  Last [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Easter] in three churches there were no services, a fourth was closed, and many colonies with a fairly dense 
  Orthodox population did not even hear ‘Christ is Risen’.  It is impossible to obtain priests anywhere, and in most 
  cases people cannot give enough to support a priest properly.  Now they have promised me in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgrade Belgrade] that at the 
  next Assembly of Bishops they will raise the question of allocating two scholarships for the Mission, so that two 
  Serbian lads from America may be educated at a seminary in Serbia.  But this presents other problems : finding the 
  money to send these lads to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe Europe].  
  
  Serbian archpastors in the Old Country with brotherly love expect Your Eminence to organise our part of the Church. 
  The Lord’s blessing will doubtless be given to a continuation of the work begun with wisdom, after six years of 
  responsibility, by His Eminence Tikhon, now Archpastor of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslavl Yaroslavl].  
These words express well enough the difficult situation of Archimandrite Sebastian and the mission, perhaps a variant illustration of the idioms : "sit between 2 stools" or "sit upon 2 chairs".  He did not fall between, but he had to manage to sit on both at once, as it were.  The 2 chairs may be described as the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.  The placement is the missionary field of North America.  At that time, following the canonical prescriptions, the Orthodox Church remained one Church for all people under one bishop on one territory.  The missionary territory required delicate communications on the part of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Church of Russia] with the other Local Churches, such as those of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Serbia Serbia], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Antioch Antioch], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Greece Greece], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Constantinople] and others, whose people were now emigrating to North America (and elsewhere), and who needed to be nourished spiritually.  

Of course, the situation with the Serbian communities was but one of many similar situations faced by Archbishop Platon, and by Archbishop Tikhon before him.  There was a rapid expansion of the number of communities, and it was difficult to find both enough clergy to serve them, and enough money to support them.  Speed was of the essence, but the resources were often insufficient.  

In 1908, Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) was assigned to serve at [https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-we-denxcc Holy Transfiguration Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver Denver], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado Colorado].  This parish, which had been received from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches#Uniate Unia] in 1904, consisted of both Serbs and Russians (the term "Russian" ought to be understood loosely : most people called Russians were not from the main part of Russia, but from other parts of the empire).  

In July, 1909, Archimandrite Sebastian travelled from Denver to San Francisco, where he took part in the sanctification of the newly-rebuilt Holy Trinity Cathedral.  

By this time, Archimandrite Sebastian may have been coming to a point of exasperation.  It seemed that he was approaching the limit of his ability to accomplish what he had been blessed to do, and what he had remained committed whole-heartedly to do : to establish and nurture the Serbian Mission.  

Despite his determination and commitment, many Serbs in the USA had made it clear to him that they did not wish to support or be united under the Serbian Orthodox Mission because it was within the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church.  Some even blamed Father Sebastian for having established the mission under the Russian Church and for situating the Serbian congregations in America under that Church.  Such [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_of_nationalism_in_Europe nationalistic sentiments] had generally been developing after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutions_of_1848 revolutions of 1848] under various secular influences (the so-called "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment Enlightenment]" and the ideas of the German philosopher [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Wilhelm_Friedrich_Hegel G W F Hegel]). Their spirit was contrary to Orthodox Christian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiology ecclesiology], and they influenced the perceptions of Orthodox Christians.  Another term used for this phenomenon is "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribalism tribalism]".  It was not at all the Serbs alone who were thus influenced.  Not long before this, in 1872, there had been a Pan-Orthodox Synod in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Constantinople] which condemned "[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Phyletism ethno-phyletism]".  Nevertheless, some rejected the Serbian Mission as being “a totally Russophile agency”, and Father Sebastian as being, in their opinion, a “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russophilia Russophile]”.  

All this being the case, it is nevertheless a pastoral principle (well understood by Father Sebastian) that the food presented to the sheep must be recognisable by the sheep as being food before they will take it.  In this, whether the sheep are "regular" sheep or the "rational" sheep of the Lord, they behave similarly.  Despite the inability of some of the Serbian immigrants to perceive it, Father Sebastian was a selfless servant of Christ in His Church.  He neglected himself, and he cared first of all for the spiritual well-being and salvation of Christ’s flock. 

Both Archbishop Tikhon and Archimandrite Sebastian understood that, for the Serbian flock in America to be nourished properly, they needed a Serbian
archpastor and Serbian priests who spoke their language and understood their needs. This principle had been the motivation for their attempt to organise the Serbian Orthodox Mission and to have a Serbian bishop ordained for North America.  Father Sebastian had been open to the possibility of Serbian congregations in America being placed directly under the Serbian Church.  However, under the circumstances of the Serbian Church at the time, that Church was not able to shoulder such a responsibility as demanded by some.  He, himself, was not concerned about this detail as much as he was that there be good clergy found to care for the many congregations that did not have a permanent pastor.  He was further concerned that of the 19 fully-organised communities, only 11 had full-time canonical clergy.  This left an open door for wandering impostors and irregular clergy to invade (which they did).  In fact, the Serbs were not alone in this vulnerability at that time.  

In late 1909, Father Sebastian came to perceive that there was no longer the former general goodwill amongst the Serbian communities towards him. He therefore understood that he would not be able to continue to lead the Serbian Mission, and he asked Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky) to be released from this responsibility.  Archimandrite Sebastian also wrote to the Most Holy Synod, in which he included these words : 
  Most Serbs have said that they do not want any other jurisdiction, not even Russian, but their own Serbian Church 
  jurisdiction.  On this day I am submitting to North American Archbishop Platon my resignation as administrator 
  of the Serbian Mission, for I am exhausted from the effort and cannot oppose a multitude single-handed. [...] 
  Once again I caution the Holy Synod that the Serbian Church in glorious, vast America has been left without an
  administrator and I urge that a Serbian archpastor be sent.  
In response to Archbishop Platon's report and request in this regard, the Most Holy Synod responded favourably.  However, they included in their response the following : 
  Concerning the Hieromonk Sebastian, His Grace Tikhon of the Aleutians, in his communication to the Holy Synod of 
  June 2, 1902, no. 74, wrote that the appointed Hieromonk, during his service in the Mission, exerted considerable 
  efforts towards 1) building holy churches in America (the construction of churches in Jackson and Seattle, and the 
  decoration of the cathedral church in San Francisco), 2) organising church-parish life in Minneapolis shortly after
  the parishioners joined the Orthodox Church, 3) raising religious and national consciousness among Slavs scattered 
  across America, 4) acquainting non-Slav Christians (primarily Episcopalians) in America with the teachings of the 
  Orthodox Church, for which purpose he wrote and published, from his meagre resources, several books in English, 
  and 5) translating official documents of the Administration into English. 

'''1910 : release from the responsibility of leading the Serbian Mission'''

In 1910, Archbishop Platon released Archimandrite Sebastian from the responsibility of the Serbian Mission, and he assigned him to care for Serbian parishes in California.   Father Sebastian soon reported to Archbishop Platon the positive developments regarding these parishes, and about clergy he had found who were arriving to serve some of them.  

On 14 August, 1910, the new [http://www.spc.rs/eng/centennial_celebration_sv_vasilije_ostrog_angels_camp_california_sunday_may_15_2010 Saint Basil of Ostrog Temple] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_Camp,_California Angels Camp], California, was sanctified.  


[[File:Saint Basil of Ostrog Temple Angels Camp Ca 2.png]]  '''Temple of Saint Basil of Ostrog, Angels Camp, California'''


Father Sebastian continued to care for other developing communities, including the one in Los Angeles.  This newly-constructed [http://saintsavachurchla.org/ Temple of Saint Sava] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles Los Angeles] was sanctified in 1911.  


[[File:Saint Sava Temple Los Angeles Ca 2.png]]  '''Temple of Saint Sava, Los Angeles, California'''


Although it is not mentioned that Father Sebastian was directly involved in its establishment, in 1912, the Serbian [[Regina SK Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church 1912 |Congregation of Holy Trinity]] was established in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/regina Regina], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].  Because of his activities, he must have been involved at least by correspondence. Regina, Saskatchewan, is approximately 1,000 km (621 mi) northeast of Butte, Montana, and by this time there were means of easier and more rapid communication and travel between the 2 cities than in the previous decades.  


[[File:Holy-Trinity-Serbian-Orthodox-Church-Regina-Saskatchewan.jpg]]  '''Holy Trinity Temple, Regina, Saskatchewan (est. 1912, constructed 1916)'''


'''1912-1913 : chaplaincy in Serbia'''

Although Father Sebastian intended to continue in Los Angles, events abroad redirected his focus of service.  In 1912, the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Balkan-Wars Balkan Wars] began.  At this time, Father Sebastian felt a responsibility to help there.  He received the blessing to be absent on leave, and he travelled to Serbia, where he served as a military chaplain for more than a year.  While he was there, he made several pilgrimages to holy places.  He also wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade, in which he supported the development of a diocese of the Church of Serbia in North America.   

Then in 1913, with the blessing of [[Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky) |Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky)]], Father Sebastian joined the faculty of the newly-opened [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Platon%27s_Orthodox_Theological_Seminary_(Tenafly,_New_Jersey) Saint Platon Seminary] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey Tenafly], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey].  While he was there, he
prepared for ordination several Serbian seminarians, who went on to become much-needed priests for the Serbian parishes in America.  


[[File:Saint Platon Seminary Tenafly NJ 2.png]]  '''Saint Platon's Theological Seminary, Tenafly, New Jersey'''


In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Archimandrite Sebastian also travelled to various Serbian communities on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_of_the_United_States East Coast] to serve them.  His travels took him also to [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hamilton Hamilton], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].  The [[Hamilton ON Saint Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church 1913 |congregation and Temple of Saint Nicholas]] was established there in 1913.  This was now the second Serbian congregation to be established in Canada.  


[[File:Temple of Saint Nicholas, Hamilton, Ontario 2.png]]  '''Temple of Saint Nicholas, Hamilton, Ontario'''


Father Sebastian also continued to be involved in conferences and discussions with the non-Orthodox.  As always in such encounters, he took a charitable but uncompromising approach by seeing what was good and right about those he met, but at the same time speaking with love about the cases in which what they believed and practiced was not yet in harmony with the Orthodox way.  He continued to encourage the non-Orthodox to "come home". 

'''1914, Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)'''

In 1914, [[Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)]] took the place of Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky) as the head of the North American Diocese.  Archbishop Evdokim proved to be of a different disposition from his predecessor.   

In 1915, Archimadnrite Sebastian (Dabovich) met with [[Saint Nikolaj (Velimirovic) |Archimandrite Nikolaj (Velimirović)]] in San Francisco.  Father Sebastian met him at the railway station, and introduced him to many of the resident Serbs.  He then took him to Holy Trinity Cathedral there.  A close spiritual kinship began to develop between these two dedicated missionaries.  Father Nikolaj later wrote about him :
  He was a sincere and convinced believer and a Christian missionary of world-scope.  He travelled restlessly and 
  preached and lectured indefatigably.  He composed books, wrote articles, epistles, and thousands of private 
  letters to laymen and priests with needed explanations, exhortations and encouragements.  He spoke and wrote 
  in Serbian, English, and Russian.  His clumsy handbag was always full with New Testaments, religious booklets, 
  printed sermons and tracts.  Also with small crosses for boys and girls.  All this he distributed freely.  He 
  never visited a Serbian family empty-handed.  He remembered the apostolic words : 'It is more blessed to give 
  than to receive' (Acts 20:35). 

By 1916, the tension between the Serbian parishes and the Russian Orthodox North American diocese had come to a point of separation.  On the one hand, all the registered Serbian parishes wished to form a diocese under the Serbian Orthodox Church.  On the other hand, in part because of the nature of the process, the Russian Orthodox Church was unwilling to release the parishes.  Further, there was no obvious request for the parishes on the part of the Serbian Orthodox Church.  The Serbian Church was at that time greatly beleaguered along with the whole country.  At this time, many thousands of Serbs had been forced from their homes in the context of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Retreat_(Serbian) Great Retreat]", also called the "Albanian Golgotha".  Tens of thousands of Serbs perished during this inexpressibly painful time, as they fled their homeland even in the midst of winter.  Some eventually returned ; some never returned.  

Father Sebastian managed to remain relatively detached from the brewing conflict, but he was not spared being subjected to various unjust accusations.  He had formerly been resented by some Serbs for supposedly being too pro-Russian, and now he was resented by some Russians for seeming to be too pro-Serbian.  Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky) was trying to keep the Serbian parishes together in the diocese to which they had come into being.  He accused Father Sebastian of “agitating against the Russian Church authorities in America”, and he accused Archimandrite Nikolaj (Velimirović) of “spreading dissension among Serbian parishes in America”.  

On 5 October, 1916, Archbishop Evdokim called an Assembly of Serbian Clergy in Chicago, for the purpose of “sorting out the ambitions of the Serbs”.  At this meeting, presided over by the archbishop, Father Sebastian was strongly criticised.  Contrary to these sorts of attacks, Father Sebastian did not involve himself in empty political polemics.  It was always his concern to nourish the spiritual flock in accordance with the Orthodox tradition.  

After that meeting, Father Sebastian received a letter of sympathy from one of the Serbian priests present, Father Matej Stijachich : 
  With a feeling of profound pain in my soul, I remembered long after our meeting in Chicago [...] that business of ‘bearded 
  children’, and also the personal attacks on Your person at every opportunity.  Believe me, the sympathies of the Serbian 
  clergy were never so much on your side as they are today.  
Archimandrite Nikolaj (Velimirović) commented that Archimandrite Sebastian simply 
  went on with his apostolic mission all over America from coast to coast.  Thus many times he visited lonely Serbian 
  families in deserts and wildernesses to administer Holy Sacraments and bring consolation. 

In the face of this situation, and with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I World War I] still raging, and with his ancestral land in shock and in shambles, he felt that he ought to be in Serbia at this time (a spiritual perception and understanding, not mere emotion).  He asked the Most Holy Synod of the Church of Russia to release him so that he could serve the Serbian Church in the land of his ancestors.  

In 1917 this request was granted, and Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) travelled once again to Serbia in order to serve as chaplain in the Serbian army.  Serbia was not liberated until 1918.  



[[File:Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich 2.jpg]]

==Transfer to Serbia-Yugoslavia, 1917==

When Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) returned to Serbia (in the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Kingdom-of-Serbs-Croats-and-Slovenes Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes], later Yugoslavia), he was sent to serve as a chaplain in the Serbian Army in the aftermath of the "Great Retreat" and the end of World War I.  He joined the suffering of his ancestral people, and he accompanied them on their return to their homeland at the end of the war.

After this, Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) continued his pastoral labours in the same manner as before.  His life involved repeated travels from Serbia to the USA and back again.  By the end of 1917, the tensions between the American Serbs and Russians came to an end.  The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution] of October, 1917, had cut off the North American Diocese from the Church of Russia herself, and the administration of the Russian parishes outside the former Russian Empire was in great disarray.  This situation persisted for very many years.  

In February, 1921, Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) met Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) in New York City.  Vladkika Nikolaj had been ordained to the Holy Episcopate in 1919.  His was the first visit of any Serbian hierarch to North America.  Both men respected each other as true servants of the Lord, servants who loved the Lord above and beyond all else.  Vladika Nikolaj later wrote about this meeting :
  His poverty amazed me when I met him. [...] I invited him to lunch.  Blushing, he said, 'Thank you ; I just
  bought a roll of bread with my last five cents'.  And salary ? None.  He lived on people’s freely given 
  donations.  And still, even with empty pockets, he planned new journeys to [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Alaska Alaska], to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan Japan], and of course 
  to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe Europe].  'But you are without means !' I remarked.  He smiled with his usual childlike and fascinating
  smile and quoted the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Scripture Bible] : 'The Lord will provide' (see [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Genesis Genesis] 22:8).  And marvellously enough, the Lord 
  always provided for His faithful servant.  

[[File:Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) 2.jpg]]


By 1921, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America] had been established.  Archimandrite Sebastian had some hope that the Serbs might receive a bishop and a diocesan organisation as well, since Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) had arrived in the USA to investigate the situation in order to make proposals.  Therefore, he addressed Patriarch [https://religion.wikia.org/wiki/Dimitrije_(Pavlovic)_of_Serbia Dimitrije (Pavlović)] of Serbia about the matter :
  Considering the conditions and problems of the Serbian population in colonies across America, with their churches, 
  organisation and needs, it is imperative to undertake as soon as possible the reorganisation and unification of our 
  parishes and missions there, so that it truly becomes the Serbian Church in America.  His Grace Bishop Nikolaj could 
  do this, taking advantage of the present circumstances which are well known to him, especially since he enjoys the 
  sympathies of the authorities there.  
In the autumn, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Varnava_(Rosić)_of_Serbia Metropolitan Varnava (Rosic)] proposed that Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) be assigned to North America, with [[Saint Mardarije (Uskokovic) |Archimandrite Mardarije (Uskoković)]] as his assistant.  There was resistance in Serbia about exporting Bishop Nikolaj.  Debate continued until it was decided in 1923 that Archimandrite Mardarije (Uskoković) would be assigned to serve as administrator for the newly-formed Serbian Orthodox Diocese of North America and Canada.  The matter of deciding upon a bishop continued to include the candidacy of Archimandrite Sebastian.  However, in 1925, the Holy Assembly of Serbian Bishops elected Archimandrite Mardarije as the Bishop of the American-Canadian Diocese.  On 25 April, 1926, he was ordained in Belgrade, and he arrived in the USA in July, 1926.  

While he was in the USA in 1921, Archimandrite Sebastian was contracted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bible_Society American Bible Society] to distribute Bibles in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans Balkans].  In
the USA, he continued to serve in Serbian Orthodox Temples, and also in the homes of those believers who lived far from an Orthodox Temple, and who were unable to travel to any Temple.  During such visits, he would often see to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Baptism baptism] of children and to the solemnising of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Marriage marriages], and he would provide in other appropriate ways for their spiritual welfare.  

Archimandrite Sebastian also continued his missionary journeys to the Orthodox Mission in Japan, which had long interested and inspired him.  Already in 1912 (not long before his repose), Archbishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nicholas_of_Japan Nicholas (Kasatkin)] of Japan had proposed that Father Sebastian stay in Japan and do missionary work there.  Although he had been unable to remain, Father Sebastian returned many times in order to support the missionary labours of the Church in Japan.  He likewise continued to travel to the USA for a similar purpose.  Later, Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) wrote about him that Father Sebastian had traversed the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean Pacific Ocean] 9 times during his lifetime, and the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-Ocean Atlantic Ocean] 15 times.  

After the fifteenth crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, Archimandrite Sebastian remained in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Yugoslavia Serbia], now in retirement.  Patriarch Varnava (Rosić) gave him an apartment, where he lived until 1938.  Then he moved to the diocese Bishop Nikolaj, and to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Zica_Monastery_(Serbia) monastery in Zhicha], where he stayed for a time.  He had a faithful cell-attendant, the Priest Jovan Rapaich who cared for him for the remainder of his days.  Father Sebastian went for a time to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herceg_Novi Herceg Novi] (from where his parents had emigrated), and then he returned finally to Zhicha.  

By 1940, Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) had become quite enfeebled because his heart was malfunctioning.  Bishop Nikolaj visited him very frequently, and provided for his needs (for which Father Sebastian was very grateful).  

During Bishop Nikolaj's last visit to Father Sebastian, Vladika Nikolaj reported that Father Sebastian was sitting in an armchair, and that his breathing was laboured.  When Vladika Nikolaj asked him whether he needed anything, Father Sebastian uttered his last words : “The Heavenly Kingdom without end !” [The intent is the [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/the-kingdom-of-heaven/heaven-and-hell Kingdom of Heaven] where there is life eternal.] Bishop Nikolaj reported that "These were his last words, representative of his entire service on earth".  


[[File:Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich.png]]  '''Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich)'''

==Repose, 1940==

Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) fell asleep in the Lord on 30 November, 1940, in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Žiča Monastery of Žiča] (Zhicha) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Yugoslavia Yugoslavia] (as it was at that time called).   

On the eve and the morning of 1 December, 1940, the [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-presbyter-or-over-bishop Funeral Services for the Burial of a Presbyter] (Hieromonk) were offered by Bishop Nikolaj (Velomirovic) and others in the monastery's Temple.  Present was the American Consul General.  

After the funeral services, the body of Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) was interred in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Zica_Monastery_(Serbia) monastery cemetery].  


[[File:Grave-markers Saint Sebastian 2.png]]  '''1987 Grave-marker in Žiča ; monuments in California'''


It should be understood that during the next year, 1941, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_occupation_of_Serbia Axis forces invaded Serbia].  The Zhicha Monastery was in one of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_order_of_battle_for_the_invasion_of_Yugoslavia centres of battle].  As a consequence, the monastery was bombed, and then set afire by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany Nazi Germans].  

Because of this, the grave-marker that remained for Archimandrite Sebastian was merely two pieces of metal in the form of the Cross, which simply bore his name.  This is itself an expression of his Christian monastic humility.

==Glorification, 2015==

In 2007, with the blessing of [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sr&u=http://www.eparhija-sumadijska.org.rs/vesti/item/2679-%25D1%2583%25D0%25BF%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D1%2598%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BE-%25D1%2581%25D0%25B5-%25D1%2583-%25D0%25B3%25D0%25BE%25D1%2581%25D0%25BF%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B4%25D1%2583-%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BF%25D0%25B8%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BF-%25D0%25B6%25D0%25B8%25D1%2587%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B8-%25D1%2585%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B7%25D0%25BE%25D1%2581%25D1%2582%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BC&prev=search Bishop Hrizostom (Stolić)] of Zhicha and the blessing of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Maxim_(Vasilijević)_of_Western_America Bishop Maxim (Vasilijević)] of Western America, Father Sebastian’s remains were disinterred from his grave in Zhicha Monastery in Serbia and they were transferred to the Saint Sava Church in Jackson, California (the first Temple founded by Father Sebastian, and the first Serbian Orthodox Church in the Western Hemisphere), where they were [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://pravoslavie.ru/23831.html&prev=search again interred].   

On 1 September, 2007, the [https://www.stsebastianorthodoxchurch.org/Saint-Sebastian---History.php Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Jackson] to mark this occasion, the bishops serving included [[Metropolitan Christopher (Kovacevic) |Metropolitan Christopher (Kovacevic)]] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Serbia Serbian Orthodox Church]), [[Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov)]] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Bulgaria Bulgarian Orthodox Church]), [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Kyrill_(Dmitrieff)_of_San_Franciscoof Archbishop Kyrill (Dmitrieff)] of San Francisco and the [https://wadiocese.org/ Western American Diocese] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_Church_Outside_Russia Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]), [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Irinej_Bishop Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevich)] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Australia_and_New_Zealand Diocese of Australia and New Zealand], and numerous priests and deacons.  The Divine Liturgy was followed by a memorial service for Father Sebastian, the interment of his remains in the Saint Sava Church, and by a talk about Father Sebastian’s life by Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevich) of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. 

Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabović) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Glorification glorified] by the Bishops of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Serbia Serbian Orthodox Church] at its regular session 14-29 May, 2015. 
  The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church during its regular session held 
  from 14-29 May, 2015, inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, decided that his name be added 
  to the Diptych of saints of the Holy Orthodox Church.  From the holy Archimandrite Sebastian 
  Dabovich (1863-1940) we realise how historical predicaments become a starting point for 
  knowledge of God and spontaneous praise.

Saint Sebastian (Dabović) was glorified at the same time as [[Saint Mardarije (Uskokovic) |Saint Mardarije (Uskoković)]].  They were both referred to as “preachers of the Gospel, God-pleasing servants of the holy life, and inspirers of many missionaries”.  


'''Feast-days'''

Saint Sebastian (Dabović) is commemorated on 17/30 November, the date of his repose.  

With the blessing, he may be commemorated also on 19 May, the date of the glorification.  


'''Tropar 	Tone 4'''

O God of our Fathers,  

ever act with kindness towards us.  

Take not away Your mercy from us ; 

but through the supplications of Holy Archimandrite Sebastian  

guide our lives in peace.  


'''Kontak 	Tone 8'''

O Apostle and Enlightener of America, born in San Francisco, 

the first one born in America to become an Orthodox priest, 

fiery preacher of the word of Christ amongst the peoples of America, 

you travelled throughout the country, and you preached the Truth and love. 

You confirmed many souls in the Orthodox Faith, 

and you erected many Temples to the glory of God. 

Although you were poor, you were rich in the Holy Spirit.  

O Father Sebastian of Jackson, and Apostle of all America, 

intercede with the Lord whom you served with your whole heart, 

that He give us your last spoken wish : “the Kingdom of Heaven without end”.     


[[File:Saints Mardarije and Sebastian 2.png]]  '''Saint Sebastian (right) and Saint Mardarije (left)``


[[File:Saint Sebastian 1.png]]  [[File:Icon of Saint Sebastian DabovicAS.png]]   '''Icons of Saint Sebastian (Dabović)'''

==Reflections==

It was previously written that Father Sebastian (Dabovich) faced the difficulty of "sitting between 2 chairs", with regard to the relationship between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.  In his own life, this was also the case.  He was the first priest who was born in North America to be serving on this continent.  He was a diligent and zealous shepherd.  Nevertheless, the vast majority of people he cared for were those who had immigrated to North America`.  From having lived in Europe, they had a different formation.  From having lived in what may be called Yugoslvia (where they had been constantly under pressure from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottoman Empire] and from the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Empire]), they had a different perspective.  These differences produced greater and greater difficulties for all concerned as time progressed.  

Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic) wrote that :
  At the time of his death, Fr. Sebastian owned nothing more than a gold cross, some books, and a few personal mementos. 
  He had long since given away any significant personal possessions to the poor and needy, choosing for himself a life
  of poverty, simplicity, and dedicated missionary service.
This apostle of North America was the first Orthodox priest who was born in the USA itself, and he is also the first native-born American to be tonsured as an Orthodox monk.  (Alaskan-born priests were ordained before Father Sebastian, but this was when Alaska was still part of Russia.)  In his missionary motivation, and in the manner of his missionary travels and preaching, he rather reflects the Apostle Paul (apart from being shipwrecked and imprisoned).  As with the [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2000/06/29/101842-the-holy-glorious-and-all-praised-leader-of-the-apostles-paul Apostle Paul], a saying of the 20th century may express the many difficulties of life : "No good deed goes unpunished".  Although not likely intended by the originators, this saying expresses the typical response of evil to the action of good, as expressed in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gospel_of_John Gospel according to John], "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:5).  Darkness tries in vain to keep away the light.  Likewise,  "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11) applies, as with Christ, to both.  Both, as the Lord, suffered slander.  Both loved the Lord intensely, and they were both undaunted by difficulties, obstacles and opposition.  

Known as the “Father of Serbian Orthodoxy in America”, Father Sebastian built up the souls of believers of many nationalities including Serbs.  He organised the Church, erected houses of prayer, and was devoted to charitable work.  In addition to establishing many churches, Saint Sebastian also wrote many articles and sermons.  As part of his missionary labours, Father Sebastian compiled one of the first English translations of the Divine Liturgy, and he wrote and published, from his own meagre means, some of the first English-language books of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Catechisms_in_English Orthodox catechism].  He is distinguished by the tremendous apostolic, pastoral, and literary work that he accomplished during the 48 years of his priestly ministry.  

Besides bearing witness to his missionary and pastoral zeal, Father Sebastian’s books also testify to his ardent love for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Jesus Christ] and His Church, to the depth of his knowledge of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian Faith], to his careful adherence to the teachings of the Church, to his literary and poetic gifts, and to his profound sense of spiritual beauty.  A large portion of the books consists of sermons that he gave in Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral in San Francisco and in mission parishes on various feast-days. These sermons reveal him as an inspired preacher, whose words could soar to the heights and at the same time strike deeply the hearts of his listeners.  

Bishop Ireinej (Dobrijević) said about him that :
  Although he was of Serbian ancestry, Fr. Sebastian knew his task was to minister to Orthodox Christians of all ethnic 
  backgrounds, and to minister and reach out to the non-Orthodox as well. Being fluent in English, Serbian, and Russian, 
  and knowing some Greek as well, Fr. Sebastian was a bridge between the New World and the ancient Faith of traditional 
  Orthodox lands.  In the words of Bishop Irinej : 'By every report Sebastian Dabovich was not one to ask about jurisdictional 
  or national affiliation before setting out on long journeys to minister to Orthodox Christians in mining communities, 
  lumber camps, or far-distant towns or villages.  He offered his pastoral services with a free hand to anyone who was in need. 
  Just as he gave no thought to his own comforts as a youth, caring more for the needs of others than for his own concerns, 
  Fr. Sebastian denied himself all worldly comforts of home, family, or earthly possessions, so that he could provide for the
  spiritual needs of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russian], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Serbia Serbian], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Bulgaria Bulgarian], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Greece Greek], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Antioch Syrian], or Arab Orthodox Christians who required his aid.  
  He took part in the work of [[Saint Alexis Toth]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkes-Barre,_Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre] to bring former [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches Uniats] more fully into the Orthodox ethos 
  and way of life ; and he laboured to bring [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States) Episcopalians] into the saving enclosure of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Faith] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Church].  
  He was an Orthodox apostle of universal significance'.  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irinej_Dobrijević Bishop Irinej (Dobrijević)] also wrote about Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) : 
  Without any outside funding or organisational support, he carried the gospel of peace from 
  country to country. [...] Concentrating much of his work in the United States, he ceaselessly 
  travelled back and forth across the American continent, using every available mode of 
  transportation — from stagecoach to railroad to foot.  His wider ministry stretched from the 
  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Peninsula Aleutian Peninsula] of Alaska, to Russia and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan Japan], to small Balkan towns on the coasts of 
  the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea Black] and [https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Adriatic_Sea Adriatic] Seas.  
[[Saint Nikolaj (Velimirovic) |Saint Nicolaj (Velimirović)]] of Žiča (Zhicha), Serbia, who buried Father Sebastian at the Zhicha Monastery when the latter reposed there in 1940, called him “a viceless man” ; and And Saint Nikolaj fittingly designated him “the greatest Serbian missionary of modern times”.  

Ten years after Father Sebastian’s repose, Saint Nikolaj wrote about him : 
  Here is a man who indebted all the Serbian race, especially all the Serbs and all the 
  Serbian organisations in America.  Should that man remain without a monument or any sign of 
  honour on American soil ? He does not need it.  He did not wish it.  All he wished to his last 
  breath was the Kingdom of Heaven, which I believe he has obtained by the Grace of his Lord. 
  But his people need it ; his posterity needs it.  The Serbian people always cultivated the 
  noble virtue of gratitude.  Let them express their traditional gratitude to this remarkable
  Serbian — Father Sebastian Dabovich. 

In the Serbian Western Diocese, an annual [https://westsrbdio.org/alhambra-parish-hosts-fifth-annual-sts-sebastian-mardarije-orthodox-institute/ Saints Sebastian and Mardarije Orthodox Institute was established.]  

'''Awards :'''

[https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/7739814 Order of Saint Daniel] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_I_of_Montenegro Prince Nicholas] of Montenegro, 1897 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Saint_Anna Order of Saint Anne], from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, 1899

Awards from the King of Serbia and from the Patriarch of Jerusalem



[[File:Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich)AS.png]]

==Writings==

'''Some Writings'''

• [https://books.google.ca/books?id=5jJDAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&redir_esc=y&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false "The Holy Orthodox Church"] (1898)  ISBN : 9781230211879.  [https://archive.org/details/holyorthodoxchur0000dabo alternative source]  

• [https://archive.org/details/livesofsaintssev00dabo "The Lives of the Saints"] (1898) ISBN : 1933275383. 

• [https://books.google.ca/books?id=RsJFAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=&f=false "Preaching in the Russian Church : Lectures and Sermons by a Priest of the Holy Orthodox Church"] (1899)  ISBN : 1933275227.  [https://books.google.ca/books?id=RsJFAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=ISBN+10+1933275227&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkzu-fzJXqAhXMRjABHf1mAWQQ6AEwAnoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q&f=false Reprinted in June, 2008], by the "[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/ Orthodox Research Institute]" ; ISBN 10 : 1933275227 ; ISBN 13 : 978-33275222.  [https://archive.org/details/preachinginrussi0000seba alternative source]  

• [http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/the-condition-of-society.aspx Homily : “On the Condition of Society”]. 

• [https://pravoslavie.ru/62090.html Sermon on the Feast of the Ascension].    

• [https://www.holy-trinity.org/history/1898/04.01-27_RAPV-SF-History.htm "Orthodox Church in California from 1806 until 1840".]  

• [https://archive.org/details/livesofsaintssev00dabo The Lives of the Saints, and several Lectures and Sermons]  

• [https://orthodoxhistory.org/2010/11/01/fr-sebastian-dabovich-on-st-innocent-of-alaska/ “Saint Innocent of Alaska” (100th Anniversary of his birth)]. 

• ‘A History of San Francisco’s Orthodox Community’ in “Russian American Orthodox Messenger” (13 & 27 April, 1898). 

• ……“[https://orthodoxhistory.org/2010/03/02/source-of-the-week-dabovich-on-bishop-nestor-2/ The Death of Bishop Nestor (Zass)].” 

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Father Sebastian developed one of the first English language translations of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy.  In addition, he wrote articles about Orthodoxy in Alaska and California, about Orthodox traditions surrounding the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, and about many other subjects not presently available.  


'''Writings about Saint Sebastian (Dabovich) by various authors'''

Great gratitude is expressed to "[http://www.stinnocent.com/seraphim/books/ow.htm The Orthodox Word]" for its biographical publications about the life of Saint Sebastian.  


[[File:Synaxis-of-Saints ChicagoS.png]]  '''Synaxis of the Saints of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago'''  [[File:Saint Sebastian Dabovic.jpeg]] '''Saint Sebastian'''

==References==

(Christiansen), Hieromonk Damascene, ‘[http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/archimandrite-sebastian-dabovich-serbian-apostle-to-america.pdf Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich : Serbian Orthodox Apostle]’ in “The Orthodox Word”, vol. 43, nos. 1-2 (January-April, 2007), pp. 252-253.  

“[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America The Russian Mission in North America]”

‘[https://www.sainthermanmonastery.com/product-p/ow304e.htm The Glorification of St. Sebastian]’ in “The Orthodox Word”, vol. 51, no. 5 (304) (September–October, 2015). 

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sebastian_(Dabovich)	Orthodoxwiki biography]

[https://orthodoxtacoma.com/saintsna_stsebastiandabovich Biography of Saint Sebastian on the web-site of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Tacoma, Washington] 

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%25A1%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D1%2582%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD_(%25D0%2594%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B1%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B8%25D1%2587)&prev=search Russian Wikipedia biography]  

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://pravoslavie.ru/23831.html&prev=search Article about the reburial of the relics of Archimandrite Sebastian in 2007]  


'''Additional information :'''

[https://pravoslavie.ru/7352.html (Christensen), Hieromonk Damascene, “Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich : Honouring an American Apostle”]   

Dobrijevich, Mirko (later Irinej, Bishop of Australia and New Zealand), ‘The First American Serbian Apostle – Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich’ in “Again”, vol. 16, no. 4 (December 1993), pp. 13, 15.

Namee, Matthew, [http://orthodoxhistory.org/tag/sebastian-dabovich/ “Fr. Sebastian Dabovich & the mystery of St. Tikhon’s miter”]
 
Palandech, John R, “Commemorative Book of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Chicago, 1905-1955” (Chicago, IL : Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral).

[https://books.google.ca/books/about/The_History_of_the_Serbian_Orthodox_Chur.html?id=1hzZAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y Pavlovich, Paul, “A History of the Serbian Orthodox Church”  (Serbian Heritage Books, 1989). ISBN 10 : 096913312X ; ISBN 13 : 9780969133124.]  

…..“[https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/oca-represented-at-800th-anniversary-of-autocephaly-celebration-of-serbian-orthodox-church The Serbians : Story of a People]” (Serbian Heritage Books, 1988). ISBN 10 : 0969133111 ; ISBN 13 : 978-0969133117.

[https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2017/11/archimandrite-sebastian-dabovich.html Sanidopoulos, John, “Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich : Serbian Orthodox Apostle to America”, 30 November, 2017]   

[https://www.oca.org/cdn/PDFs/dept-archives/orthodox-christians-na.pdf Stokoe M, Kishkovsky, L, ‘The Serbs’ in “Orthodox Christians in North America, 1794-1994”, chapter 4, p. 24]     

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975).  ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Vallens, Alexander, [https://web.archive.org/web/20051115162448/http://www.transfigcathedral.org/faith/corner/Dabovich.pdf “Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich: The First Serbian Orthodox Apostle”] (2005).

(Velimirovich) Bishop Nikolai, ‘Father Sebastian Dabovich’ in “Serb National Federation Commemorative Book, 1951” (Pittsburgh, PA : Serb National Federation).
	
[https://www.sebastianpress.org/product-p/sp-bk-nh-1998-001.htm Vukovic, Sava, Bishop of Sumadija, “History of the Serbian Orthodox Church in America and Canada, 1891-1941” (Alhambra, CA : Sebastian Press, 1998).]  ISBN : 281-96173-1891-1941. 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America The “Russian Mission” in North America]  

[[Saint Tikhon (Belavin) |Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin)]]  

[[Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny) |Bishop Raphael (Hawaweeny)]]

[[Saint Mardarije (Uskokovic) |Bishop Mardarije (Uskoković)]]  

[[Saint Nikolaj (Velimirovic) |Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović)]]  

[[Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)]]

[[Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)]]  

[[Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)]]  

[[Bishop Georgije (Djokic) |Bishop Georgije (Ðjokić)]]

[[Bishop Mitrofan (Kodic) |Bishop Mitrofan (Kodić)]]

[http://www.saintspiridon.org/?page_id=21 History of Saint Spiridon’s Cathedral, Seattle]

[http://westsrbdio.org/en/latest-news/diocesan-news/959-holy-missionaries-mardarije-uskokovic-and-sebastian-dabovich-newly-proclaimed-as-saints-of-the-orthodox-church Holy Missionaries MARDARIJE (Uskokovic) and SEBASTIAN (Dabovich) Newly Proclaimed Saints of the Orthodox Church!] Western American Diocese of the Church of Serbia.

[http://www.eserbia.org/graveyards/jackson-california Saint Sava Serbian cemetery in Jackson, California]  

[http://www.ledger.news/roots/st-sava-turns-125-the-back-story/article_4770641e-0728-11ea-97ba-df02bd5f271d.html 'St. Sava Turns 125: The Back Story Part V – Sebastian Dabovich and The Founding of St. Sava' in "Ledger News" 10 November, 2019]  

[http://www.eserbia.org/graveyards/143-saint-sava-jackson-ca/747-dabovich-sebastijan Photos of the new headstone for Archimandrite Sebastian in Jackson, California]

[http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/82008.htm Pravoslavie.ru "2015 Symposium in Honour of Newly-Glorified St. Sebastian Dabovich"]

[https://arizonaorthodox.com/saints-north-america/st-sebastian-jackson-san-francisco/ Biography "St. Sebastian of San Francisco and Jackson" on the web-site of All Saints of North America, Sun City, Arizona]  

[https://sobory.ru/article/?object=48631 Article about St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Douglas, Alaska] 

[https://youtu.be/VO_1AdYRGW8 Video about Market Street, San Francisco, 14 April, 1906 (before the earthquake)]  

[http://www.spc.rs/eng/celebration_feast_st_john_kochurov_chicagos_holy_trinity_cathedral History of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity_Orthodox_Cathedral_(Chicago,_Illinois) Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago, Illinois]  

[[Regina SK Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church 1912 |Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, Regina, Saskatchewan]] 

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://pravoslavie.ru/23831.html&prev=search “In California, the first American Orthodox Priest Archimandrite Sevastian (Dabovich) was Reburied”, 7 September, 2007]  

[http://www.eserbia.org/people/prosopography/143-archimandrite-sebastian-dabovich?showall=&start=2 Serbica Americana : "Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich - The Beginning of His Apostolic Labour"] (eserbia.org site)

[https://oca.org/news/headline-news/serbian-orthodox-church-glorifies-two-north-americans OCA news item : "Serbian Orthodox Church Glorifies Two North Americans"]

[http://orthodoxhistory.org/2010/07/27/source-of-the-week-an-interview-with-fr-sebastian-dabovich/ Orthodox History : "An Interview with Fr. Sebastian Dabovich"]

[http://www.pravmir.com/holy-missionary-sebastian-dabovich-of-jackson-proclaimed-new-saint-of-the-orthodox-church/ Pravmir biography "Holy Missionary Sebastian (Dabovich) of Jackson"]

[http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/88404.htm 2015 Feast-day item : "Memory of St. Sebastian of San Francisco and Jackson Celebrated"]  

[https://www.eserbia.org/history/190-life-of-the-serbs-before-the-founding-of-the-serbian-mission-in-america-1905 Article "Life of the Serbs before the founding of the Serbian Mission in America 1905"]  

[https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/oca-represented-at-canonization-of-saints-sebastian-and-mardarije OCA represented at the Canonisation of Saints Sebastian and Mardarije]   

[https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/thearena/the_newly_glorified_st._sebastian_of_san_francisco “The Newly Glorified St Sebastian of San Francisco”] (podcast) 

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVkE-WB2eCM Video : St Sebastian Dabovic - Priest's Travelling Kit]  

[https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith "The Orthodox Faith" : a catechetical series by the Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko] 

[http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/catechism.html Orthodox Christian Fellowship catechism]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Sava_Church_(Jackson,_California) Saint Sava Orthodox Church, Jackson, CA]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church in America]    

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Serbia Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church of Serbia]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Serbian_Orthodox_Church_in_North_and_South_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of North and South America]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada]  

[https://www.serborth.org/canada Web-site of the Serbian Diocese of Canada]  

[http://www.istocnik.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Istocnik105-Konacan.pdf ‘Our Serbian Orthodox Church : 800 Years on the Path of Saint Sava’ in “Istocnik – Herald of the Serbian Orthodox Church-Canadian Diocese”, issue 105 (August, 2019), pp. 27-34.]     

[https://orthochristian.com/124516.html “Serbian Church holds Main Celebration for 800th Anniversary of Autocephaly” at Žiča, Serbia, 8 October, 2019]  [with video] 

[https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/oca-represented-at-800th-anniversary-of-autocephaly-celebration-of-serbian-orthodox-church “OCA represented at 800th Anniversary of Autocephaly Celebration of Serbian Orthodox Church” (2019)]    

[https://www.telegraf.rs/english/2914862-chicago-is-no-longer-a-serbian-city-more-and-more-people-are-avoiding-to-call-themselves-serbs 2017 article about the consequences of anti-Serbian sentiment in the USA]  




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