Patron Saint’s Day of the Royal Family of Serbia

The Royal Family of Serbia celebrated today its Patron Saint’s Day – St. Andrew the First Called, at the Royal Palace in Belgrade.

The hosts are Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine, and the celebration was attended by religious leaders, members of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown, as well as by the friends of the Royal Family.

His Holiness Irinej the Serbian Patriarch officiated the Holy Liturgy in the Royal Chapel dedicated to St. Andrew the First Called, together with the clergy of the Belgrade – Karlovac Diocese. After the liturgy, the act of cutting the “Slava” cake in the Blue Salon of the Royal Palace was also performed by His Holiness Irinej the Serbian Patriarch.

“His Holiness Patriarch Irinej this year, too, has done us the honour by officiating at the Royal Chapel on the day when we celebrate Apostle Andrew the First Called. We are grateful to him for that, and to all of you because you joined us at the Slava dining table. We Serbs have for centuries been joined by celebrating family patron saints, as people, as a community with our patron saint name. Today, too, we need these celebrations just as we have always needed them. It seems as if every year we make the diary of what had happened, and what we are hoping for in the year ahead of us. This year we were especially happy because of the wedding of Prince Philip and Princess Danica. This year some things brought us sadness, too. The last among them is the passing away of our dear relative, King Michael of Romania, may god give eternal memory and peace to his soul. Our people is going to need faith, patience and wisdom. Faith – to give us strength, patience – to resist weaknesses in ourselves, and wisdom – not to betray our fate”, said HRH Crown Prince Alexander.

The celebration of the Royal family’s Patron Saint’s Day was also attended by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Mihailo and Princess Ljubica, Mr. Milan-Cile and Mrs. Beba Marinkovic, the parents of HRH Princess Danica, Their Graces Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac, Bishop Pahomije of Vranje, Bishop Joanikije of Budim and Niksic, Bishop Atanasije of Mileseva, Efendi Edin Asceric, Mufti of Nis, Efendi Sead Nasufovic, Reis-ul-ulema of Islamic community of Serbia, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade Monseigneur Stanislav Hocevar, the Great Rabi Isak Asiel, members of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown Mr. Dragomir Acovic, Mr. Branko Terzic, Mr. Matija Beckovic, Mr. Predrag Markovic, Mr. Milan Parivodic, Mr. Zoran Zivanovic, Prof. Dr. Kosta Cavoski, Mr. Djordje Djurisic, Mr. Dusan Babac, Prof. Dr. Cedomir Antic, Mr Djurdje Ninkovic, Mr. Ljubodrag Grujic and many other distinguished guests.