Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
January 26, 2005

PATRIARCH PAVLE WELCOMES DELEGATION OF FUND FOR TRAINING YOUNG AGRARIANS
CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. SAVA IN LONDON
ST. SAVA’S DAY EXHIBITION OF ICONS AND FRESCOES BY STUDENTS OF THE ACADEMY FOR FRESCO PAINTING AND RESTORATION IN PARACIN

PATRIARCH PAVLE WELCOMES DELEGATION
OF FUND FOR TRAINING YOUNG AGRARIANS

On Wednesday, January 26, 2005 His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle received a delegation of the Fund for Training Young Agrarians headed by its president, Borka Vucic.

The delegation took this opportunity to thank His Holiness for the presence of His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo at the Second St. Sava’s Assembly of Young Agrarians held on January 23, 2005 in Belgrade’s Sava Center. Over 2,000 participants in the Assembly expressed their sincere support for the recently founded Fund for Kosovo and Metohija and made donations. Serbian Prime Minister Dr. Vojislav Kostunica heads the Fund and Patriarch Pavle is its honorary chair.

CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. SAVA IN LONDON

The patronal feast of the church and parish of St. Sava in London was festively celebrated on Saturday, January 22, and Sunday, January 23, 2005. The celebration was organized the Sunday preceding St. Sava’s Day in order to enable as many parishioners to attend religious services and spiritual academies as possible, considering their job responsibilities. This year’s celebration was enhanced by the presence and participation in services by His Grace Bishop Irinej of Nis.

The celebration began with festive evening services by church elder Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Milun Kostic and Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Radomir Acimovic, both parish priests in London. This was followed by a formal St. Sava’s evening in the large meeting room of Holy Bishop Nikolaj Hall, which was attended by His Grace Bishop Irinej, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Miroslav Milenkovic, the elder of the church of St. George n Krusevac, London parish priests and Protodeacon Dr. Stanimir Spasovic, dean and professor of St. Sava Theological Faculty in the United States, and Protodeacon Djordje Cekerevac of London. Members of the London parish filled the large hall to the last seat and focused their attention on enjoying a rich cultural arts program by members of the folklore groups Srbija from Hanover, Rastko and Nemanja from London, and the musical group Dunav, comprised of Englishmen who nurture the Balkan musical tradition. After the formal program the celebration continued with a party for youth.

On Sunday, January 23, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Nis served Holy Liturgy with the concelebration of priests Miroslav Milenkovic, Milun Kostic, Radomir Acimovic, Vid Vukovic, Slobodan Radojcic, Zarko Nedic, Nikola Kotura, priest Obren Jovanovic of Cetinje and the two aforementioned protodeacons. Six readers also took part in the service. The St. Sava Choir did the chanting, and the large London church was completely filled with devoted faithful and school children that attend the Church school at St. Sava Church. Her Royal Highness Princess Margita of Baden, Serbia-Montenegro Ambassador Dr. Dragisa Burzan and his deputy and military attache, as well as the hosts of this year’s celebration, Dragan and Hafa Karic and their daughter, Danijela, attended the Holy Liturgy. In his sermon His Grace Bishop Irinej discussed the spiritual and historical significance of the life and works of St. Sava for all generations from his age into ours. He placed special emphasis on the importance of preserving the Serbian national identity of our people living abroad and toward that end called on parents to be firm in raising their children on the foundation of St. Sava’s teachings, including an excellent knowledge of the Serbian language and culture. The religious service concluded with the cutting of the slava cake and Mr. Zoran Gacesa agreed to be the slava host next year. All children present in church received packets with books and sweets from the slava hosts in celebration of their school patronal feast.

After a banquet luncheon in the large meeting room of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj Hall, the celebration continued with a formal St. Sava’s Day academy in the large meeting room of Hammersmith city hall. The program consisted of folk music and art and folk dances performed by students of the Church school and the folklore group at St. Sava Church in London (over 150 students), as well as a guest appearance by the folklore group Srbija from Hanover. After the welcoming remarks by this year’s slava host, Mr. Dragan Karic, Protodeacon Dr. Stanimir Spasovic inspirationally delivered a formal St. Sava’s Day address. Drawing from his great personal educational experience in Belgrade and the United States, Dr. Spasovic demonstrated the importance of the spiritual, cultural and civilizational legacy of St. Sava among the Serbian people in all lands where it has been scattered by God’s Hand. The life experience of Serbian spiritual and national being has confirmed that the only true path of salvation is that of St. Sava, and that those who respect it both in the homeland and abroad need have no fear of the modern danger of losing their spiritual and national being.

The next day, on Monday, January 24, Bishop Irinej and Prota Miroslav Milenkovic visited two of the most famous London churches: Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Protodeacon Djordje Cekerevac, who together with the London parish priests hosted the eminent guests from the Diocese of Nis, told them about the history and significance of these churches for the English people and culture and also escorted them during their visit to the church of the Holy Prince Lazarus and the parish in Birmingham, where they were welcomed by Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Milenko Zebic, the hierarchal deputy. Overjoyed to hear from Bishop Irinej that for the first time he served Holy Liturgy for Christmas and Epiphany under the dome of the Nis Cathedral, now largely restored after a catastrophic fire that occurred three years ago, the London parish administration, the Kosovka Devojka Serbian Sisters Society and the Karic Foundation provided donations for that purpose. The celebration of St. Sava’s Day is a source of great spiritual joy and strength for the faithful sons and daughters of the Serbian Orthodox Church who charge themselves spiritually under the domes of St. Sava Cathedral in London.

Monk Pavle (Kondic)

ST. SAVA’S DAY EXHIBITION OF ICONS AND FRESCOES BY STUDENTS OF THE ACADEMY FOR FRESCO PAINTING AND RESTORATION IN PARACIN

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Ignjatije of Branicevo, as part of St. Sava’s Day week, an exhibition of icons, frescoes and mosaics by the students of the Academy for Fresco Painting and Restoration of the Serbian Orthodox Church will open in Paracin’s Cultural Center Gallery on January 26, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

Works on display are the result of the work of second, third and four year students, students awaiting the final examination and graduates in this academic year. Fresco painting professor Goran Janicijevic, who selected works representing contemporary church art, will also open the exhibition.

The focus of the exhibition will be a fresco of St. Sava painted by final year student Branislav Klickovic.

The exhibition will be open to the public until February 15, 2005.

[Serbian Translation Services]