The archbishop of Vrhbosna in peace, cardinal Vinko Puljić concelebrated together with ten priests, including: Vicar General of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, Msgr. Slađan Ćosić, provost of the Table Chapter and professor at the Sarajevo KBF, Msgr. Pavo Jurišić and the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, Msgr. Javier Camañes-Forés.

Introducing into the Holy Mass, Archbishop Vukšić greeted the faithful crowd and in a special way Cardinal Vinko, whom he congratulated on the anniversary of his episcopal ordination, saying that his service and his example should be an encouragement to all of us.

After the announced evangelical Holy Mass passage, the Epiphany announcement of Easter for 2024 was read, which the Church will celebrate on March 31^st as the centre of the entire liturgical year from which all the holy days originate.

What, in fact, are we celebrating?

At the beginning of the sermon, Archbishop Tomo called on all of us as believers to try to imagine the meaning of this holiday for ourselves today, on the Feast of the Epiphany. He also said that it is one of the few holidays in the Church calendar that has more than one name: Baptism, Holy Three Kings, Epiphany...

"All these names have their own justification, but they are all summed up by the concept of Epiphany, when we remember the manifestation of the Lord God. And related to that, we ask the question: What, in fact, are we celebrating on this holiday? Didn't Christ the Lord manifest himself on the Christmas holiday? Isn't it the day of God's appearance and God's coming? And the recognition of God by people who, in that environment and those circumstances, were close to the place and event of his birth", asked the archbishop.

God manifests himself to all people

"And, of course, Christmas is the day of God's manifestation, and of course many other events from the life of Jesus bear witness to his manifestation. In addition to the fact that there are many events, there are also many ways of God's manifestation to people; To the shepherds on the night of their birth, the voice of heaven through an angel announces, in Cana of Galilee, Christ the Lord manifests himself later in his public activity, as - the Lord", interpreted Monsignor Vukšić and recalled how, in the context of the Epiphany, wise men come to worship Christ the Lord, guided by a star. He also noted that there are many other ways in which God providence and Christ himself adapts his manifestation - according to the opportunities, according to the possibilities, according to the abilities of those to whom the manifestation is addressed.

"But, apart from the fact that we are called to recognize the different events of God's manifestation and the different ways of God's manifestation, we are even more called in faith to recognize the different levels of God's manifestation to people. All, namely, until this event, until the arrival of the wise men from the East, from the East which is more east rather than the Middle East, God's manifestation happened only to one chosen people. This is the first time and the first occasion that God has manifested himself to all people", emphasized Bishop Vukšić, reminding that with this event the period of one chosen people ends and the period of the election of all peoples begins - and all people and all nations become chosen and accepted into God's plan of salvation.

Let us mention that the liturgical singing was animated by the Cathedral Mixed Choir Josip Stadler under the direction of rev. Marko Stanušić. Assisted by theology students of the Vrhbosna Theological Seminary under the direction of liturgy professor rev. Ivan Rako.