Serbian Orthodox Church

Founder's Patron Saint-day of Vratna Monastery

On the second day of Christmas, on the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God, His Grace Bishop Ilarion of Timok celebrated the Holy Liturgy in Vratna monastery which marked the same day as its Founder's Patron Saint-day - Saint Nikodim of Tismana.

The Bishop was concelebrated by protopresbyter-staurophor Vlajko Bankovic, protosynchelos Simeon and archdeacon Ilija. In his feast day's sermon, Bishop Ilarion reminded on the life of Saint Nikodim,  for who it is known that he built monasteries of Vratna and Manastirica, and also it is believed that he is the founder of Monastery of Bukova.

The Polozajnik—first Guest at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church on Christmas

The Polozajnik—First Guest at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church on Christmas Day 2021 Nicholas Thomas (Altar Helper)

A special gift is prepared for this First Guest (in the old days in Serbia, it was a scarf or wool stockings) and he or she is given the reserved piece of česnica(made from corn wheat. The polozajnik (First Guest), whether young or old, male or female, is said to come in the name of God with best wishes.

Nativity of the Lord in New Gracanica

The great Cathedral church of the Resurrection of the Lord testifies to a well-known truth and a common experience that Serbian Christmas is decorated with a whole series of beautiful customs: a decorated Yule log (badnjak); on the straw, which symbolizes the manger of Bethlehem, garlic, wheat, dried fruit with walnuts, a kissing icon surrounded by bouquets of flowers are placed. The whole festive decor was the work of hands and an expression of love of hard-working sisters and youth at the Cathedral church.

Aid delivered to Petrinja and Glina

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Heruvim in the Diocese of Osijek-Polje and Baranjaa aid has been collected for those endangered by the recent earthquakes that hit the Diocese of Gornji Karlovac.

Material assistance in the form of food and hygiene supplies was loaded on January 8, 2021 in Osijek and Borovo with the effort of parishioners and the competent clergy. On the day of the Holy First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen, trucks with material assistance arrived for those in need in Petrinja and Glina.

Metropolitan Porfirije: We have been making efforts to help people to settle down

  Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana received, on the 8jh of January  2011, the aid of the City of Belgrade, which was sent to Petrinja, and informed the news agency Tanjug that it was necessary to support people who had lost their homes in the earthquake with accommodation.

He stated that more prefabricated houses were needed, because a large number of people had been left without homes in the earthquake. - There are many older people. They spend their nights in cars, and not only those whose homes were destroyed, but also those who had a possibility  where to sleep, but for fear of recurrences of earthquakes, they do not dare to spend the night in their homes, said Metropolitan Porfirije.

Christmas in Diocese of Eastern America (PHOTO)