Voice of St George - Summer 2015

Spring 2012

Christ Is Risen!

Indeed He Is Risen!

THE SV OICE .G OF

T

EORGE

SUMMER 2015

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church

Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North & South America

Summer—time for a break, a vacation, a rest? Well, yes, but it is not time to take a vacation from the activities of your church. Some organizations take a summertime break; but they also ramp up for events like the annual Morava Folkfest, Summer camp in Jackson, special fundraising, the Apostles Fast, and the Diocesan end-ofsummer weekend. In this issue, we remind you that your commitment to being a Stewardship member of St George doesn’t take a vacation either. The Church still has its operating costs, people are still in need of your Christian compassion. We still need helpers to minister at the God’s Extended Hand mission every month. Providing a camp scholarship or a Kolo Kamp scholarship to a young person could make a difference in their life. Yes, there are plenty of places to share of your talent, treasure, and time during the summertime. We know you will not forget!—Marsha Jovanovic

3025 Denver Street • San Diego, CA 92117 telephone: (619)276-5827 web: http://stgeorgeinsd.com

Church Officers & Staff PARISH PRIEST

V. Rev. Protopresbyter Bratislav Krsic email: frbratso@sbcglobal.net PARISH DEACON

Rev. Deacon Paul Germain CHURCH OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

Dorothy Vukotich, Natalija Valenti Schrandt, Natalia Denton PRESIDENT

Kathryn Thickstun FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Dusan Selezan SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Velimir Jovanovic TREASURER

Bojana Rajkovic SECRETARY

Jeff Nicholas Schrandt MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Vojkan Popovic, Nebojsa Rajkovic, Vladimir Kezic, Radovan Borovic STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY

Toma Jovanovic AUDITING BOARD

Miro Copic, President Vesna Jovanovic, Dusanka Klacar TUTORS/VESTRYMEN

Milos Lukic, George Skaljac, Nebojsa Rajkovic, Miro Copic, Radovan Borovic S.S.S. ST. GEORGE CHOIR

Velimir Jovanovic, President CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS (KOLO Sestara)

Ljubinka Plavšić, President CHURCH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

Deacon Paul Germain MORAVA FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE (SENIOR)

Dobrila Undheim, Director ADULT ORTHODOX FELLOWSHIP

Deacon Paul Germain VOICE OF ST. GEORGE

Marsha Jovanovic, Editor (619)988-0650 • FAX (619)588-5767 email: marsha@marshaj.com Srdjan Dragic, Cover

Thank you to Morava Senior for dancing for so many occasions, spreading the good will of Balkan culture everywhere, and a special thank you to their visionary director, Dobrila Undheim. Morava Senior is always eager for new members, contact Dobrila for an application. See more on Page page 25. (Picture: Serbia at The Nations of San Diego event)

In this issue...

No Faith is More Beautiful than the Christian Faith Communique Of The Holy Assembly Of Bishops Father Bratso’s Comments Are We Rude to God? Newly Proclaimed Saints of the Orthodox Church From the Church President CHURCH CALENDAR 2015 Sunday Church School The Life Story of One of St George’s Oldest Members: Milica Vasic St George Choir FOCUS needs you!

Kolo Sisters A daughter remembers...

Stewardship List—June 2015 MORAVA! 2015 Graduates News The Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija

3 9 13 14 15 17 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 24 26 28 29

No Faith is More Beautiful than the Christian Faith THE MYSTERY OF FAITH What is true faith? True faith is faith in one God in Trinity, the Creator of heaven and earth, and of everything visible and invisible. God is the Being without beginning and without end. He is the Spirit that is not seen, but is everywhere present, sees everything, knows everything, can do everything, and is concerned about everything. God is full of love for all people and all creatures.

Who is God? True faith, the Orthodox faith, reveals to us and proclaims the mystery that God is not only one, but that the one God is in three persons. God is the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These are not three Gods, but one, because the Three Divine Persons share one and the same essence or substance, as they also share one love, one wisdom, one life and all the boundless treasury of divine and eternal powers and energies. We are baptized in the Name of that one God. We confess our faith in this one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit— every time we make the sign of the precious Cross upon ourselves. When we cross ourselves, we join together three fingers of our right hand to indicate that the Trinity is inseparable—one God. What is God like? God is Love. Unselfish Love. Even before the creation of the world God the Father was not alone (as taught by Jewish and Moslem religious leaders), but loved the Son and the Holy Spirit. And the Son loved the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit loved the Father and the Son. That means that God is Love from eternity, not only in time.

The Holy Trinity is an example of how we people, who are created persons, different from one another by nationality and education, can, with the help of God's Love, become one divine and human body—the Church. But as we become one, we do not lose the particular characteristics of each person.

Who is man? Man is the crown of all God's creatures.

God bestowed upon him His own likeness, and gave him the power of eternal life. He created him from a rational soul and a handsome body, that the body would serve the rational soul, and that both become the temple of the life-giving Trinity.

As God is not alone, Transfiguration fresco - Visoki Decani Serbian Orthodox Monastery so man also is not alone, but has countless brethren both in heaven and on exists radiates love and inspires us to earth. love.

Who are man's heavenly brethren? In the visible heavens we see the sun and moon and countless stars that mysteriously twinkle and silently witness that God is indeed Light, Love and Beauty.

But there is another unseen heaven. Only a man with a pure heart and a mind enlightened with spiritual vision can see this heaven, and see God, his Creator, who dwells within him. That unseen heaven is by nature spiritual; and these are the heavenly brethren of man: the Seraphim and Cherubim, the Archangels and Angels, and the rest of the bodiless Powers of heaven. Those bodiless Powers of heaven are full of God's love and light.

They continuously glorify God and communicate God's will to men.

Who are man's earthly brethren? All people are man's earthly brethren. All men are brethren with one another because they share one Father, the Creator of all creation. They are brethren also because they share the same human nature and the same forebears, Adam and Eve. Man is related to everything created, from the most minute to the greatest, from the atom to the stars. For God has stamped everything that exists with His creative power and glory. All things witness to the same Wisdom of God. God's love caresses us throughout all of creation, both seen and unseen. All that

What is God's revelation? Revelation is all that by which God has revealed Himself from antiquity and by which He revealed to men His mysteries and glory that are beyond description. All creation is theophany; all creation witnesses and reveals the glory and power of God to those whose minds are not darkened and whose hearts are not impure. God revealed His Love and His divine will in particular through the holy Archangels and Angels, and through divinely inspired holy persons: Prophets, Apostles and Saints. And, finally, through His Only-begotten Son, Christ the Lord.

What is the Bible or the Holy Scriptures? The Bible, or Holy Scriptures, is the Book above all books. It contains the holy writings of inspired men of God, where they recorded the truths and mysteries God revealed to men. The Holy Scriptures are the written Revelation of God. They are divided between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

REVELATION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT What is the Old Testament? The Old Testament or Covenant is the covenant or agreement God made with men, an agreement made through the patriarch Abraham, the one chosen by God, and his elect Continued on page 4

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 3

Continued from page 3.

posterity. The Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament are sacred writings that describe the events from the creation of the world up until the birth of the One through whom and for whom the world was made, the Lord, Jesus Christ, the One for whom all these events took place.

What is the New Testament? The New Testament or Covenant is the covenant of the God-Man Jesus Christ with mankind. The events and riddles of the Old Testament are here given their resolution and fullness. In the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, as sacred writings, eyewitnesses describe the events from the birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ, up until His glorious Resurrection from the dead and Ascension. Described also is the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's first disciples and their proclamation of His holy Name and Divine teaching. They also point ahead to all that will happen until the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgement.

How does the Old Testament begin?

The Old Testament begins with a description of the world coming into existence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The “heavens” here must be understood as the inhabitants of heaven—the Angels and the other bodiless heavenly Powers. And the earth was without form and void, that being the whole created material world.

What did God create in six days? On the first day God created light: “And God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.” That day was day one: all days come from and return to this day. (The Hebrew word Yom—day can indicate either a particular astronomical day, or the indefinite period of time in which the world came into existence.)

On the second day God created the heavenly firmament and separated the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament. And God called the

firmament Heaven. That is the sky that we see. Behind it are God's innumerable worlds, symbolically called the “waters above the firmament,” because they circle and flow throughout unbounded space, in harmony and without colliding with one another, each according to its own course.

On the third day, by the might of God's word, the water was separated from the dry land. On the earth grew grass and various trees bearing fruit. By the power of God's word that seed once planted always bears fruit, thanks to the blessing and commandment of God. On the fourth day God created lights in the firmament of the heavens. The sun to rule the day, and the moon to rule the night, and stars: to shine and to be signs of the times, days and years. The first created light, poured out upon all of creation, gathered itself this day and shines exceedingly through the heavenly lights.

The sun illumined the earth, heretofore wrapped in thick fog and mist.

On the fifth day God created living creatures in the waters, fish, and other creatures large and small, as well as birds of the air, each according to its kind.

On the sixth day God created the cattle, and small animals, and beasts of the earth, according to their kind.

Finally God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every animal that creeps upon the earth.

The most holy Trinity, our God, created man from the dust of the earth, and breathed into him the breath of life. God first created Adam, and then created a wife for him, “woman,” Eve, to be his helper along the way toward the eternal goal of their life and the life of all creation. Man and mankind thus become a mystical picture that reflects the Holy Trinity—Men are created for mutual

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love and the fulfillment of the selfless divine Love of the Trinity.

What is the Paradise where God placed man when He created him?

Paradise is the place of the presence of God and closeness with God, where man lived together with the Creator, filled with all the gifts and blessings of eternal life, goodness and love. In paradise man fed himself from the Tree of Life.

What is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? God planted the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in Paradise that man may exercise the virtue of self-restraint and faithfulness to his Creator. The Tree of Life gave man eternal life and the gift of discerning that which is eternal from that which is transitory.

Fulfilling God’s commandment meant eating from the Tree of Life. Violating the commandment meant separating himself from God and His will, losing eternal life and succumbing to death.

Eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would darken the mind, destroy man’s gift of discerning the eternal from the transitory, alienate him from God and lead him off into short-lived physical pleasures and to death. On that tree and on that commandment man had to prove his love and freedom: will he be faithful to God, or listen to the Devil and his lie.

Who is the Devil? The Devil is a liar and the father of lies. He is the former Archangel Lucifer who rebelled against God out of pride, because he wanted to be equal to God. The Devil invented sin, and death, and hell. It is his evil and distorted will that is the source of every evil, by which he poisoned some former angels, and then even our forebears Adam and Eve, and through them their descendants.

Who prompted Eve into breaking God’s commandment? The Devil prompted Eve, through the serpent, to pick the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God’s enemy and slanderer (devil means slanderer) convinced Eve that he is a better friend to her than God, and she began to feed on the food of short-lived and

bodily pleasures. When she tasted the fruit of fleeting pleasures, she became mortal. In offering this fruit to her husband Adam, she committed the sin of murder. But Adam also tasted the fruit voluntarily, thereby sinning three ways: against God, against himself, and against his posterity. With man’s fall into sin he lost the power of eternal life; his mind was clouded, his heart was darkened, and his wisdom was drowned in foolishness and lunacy.

Why were Adam and Eve expelled from Paradise? Because they tasted the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and thereby transgressed God’s commandment. But even the expulsion from Paradise was done by God out of love for our forebears. The Tree of Life is also in Paradise. And whoever eats of the tree of life becomes immortal. Had Adam and Eve eaten of that fruit after the fall, having within themselves the poison of death, they would have immortalized themselves in their sinful and mortal condition. That would have been the most terrible hell.

And so that that greater evil would not happen to men, God expelled them from Paradise to prevent evil from becoming eternal.

But after the expulsion, so that Adam and Eve would not fall into despair, God promised to send them a Savior who will defeat the Devil—the Serpent, who will liberate them from death and lead them back to Paradise.

What did God say to Adam and Eve when he expelled them from Paradise?

To Eve God said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing… your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” To Adam He said, “Cursed is the ground because of you… in the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Not only do men suffer because of man’s sin, but all creatures and all of God’s creation. And already Adam’s first son kills his brother Abel.

Why did Cain kill Abel? He killed him out of envy: Cain envied Abel because God accepted Abel’s sincerely offered sacrifice. So it remains to this day: envy is the main cause of every fratricide. And every murder is fratricide, for all men are brothers.

Who was Noah, and how was he saved from the flood? Noah was one of God’s chosen ones. He was not corrupt, as were the people around him, but believed in God and hoped for the future Redeemer, the Son of God. God commanded Noah to build an ark (a boat), and bring into it his family, as well as one pair of all the animals on earth. Noah’s ark is a mystical image of Christ’s Church in which we are being saved from the flood of sins and death, and are being given eternal life.

What is idolatry? Idolatry is the falling away from the True God and worshipping idols, which held demons as false gods. Man becomes an idolater whenever he worships created things rather than serves the Creator. He is an idolater also when he worships himself or the work of his own hand.

Who was Abraham? Abraham was an Old Testament patriarch. He did not worship idols, as did his contemporaries. He believed in one God and in the promised Savior who will come from heaven. He was the first man to whom the Holy Trinity appeared mystically in the form of three angels, three guests at the oak of Mamre. According to God‘s promise, the chosen people of God were created from the descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac. We Christians are also the spiritual children of Abraham.

That is why we pray that God give rest to our departed brothers and sisters in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our forefathers.

Whom was Abraham prepared to offer as a sacrifice? Abraham was prepared to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. Here God was testing Abraham’s faith, and when he proved himself faithful, God bestowed upon him, through his son Isaac, the gift of a great and holy progeny. Christ the Savior is

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The great Serbian bishop, Danilo (Krstic), of blessed memory

also his descendant in the flesh, and the sacrifice of Isaac was the foreshadowing of the suffering and sacrifice of the Son of God.

How many sons did Isaac’s son Jacob have, the one called Israel by whom the people of Israel received their name? The Patriarch Jacob had twelve sons, who themselves became the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. His son Joseph was sold by his brothers into Egypt out of envy. But God saved him and through him saved all of Jacob’s descendants. And we Christians, because of Jacob, called Israel, are called the New Israel, that is to say, the new chosen people of God. How did Joseph get to the palace of Pharaoh, the King of Egypt? Joseph was alone able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. The Pharaoh then released him from his innocent imprisonment. The interpretation of the dreams was a gift from God. How did the Hebrews live in Egypt?

Because of a famine, the elderly Jacob and his sons came to Egypt to be with Joseph, the governor of all of Egypt. As long as the Egyptians remembered Joseph’s contributions, the Hebrews lived well. Later their lives became very difficult and they worked as slaves. +Bishop Danilo Krstich, Hieromonk Amfilohije Radovich, Belgrade 1982

Continued on page 6.

Нема лепше вере од хришћанске

постало храм животворне Тројице. Као што Бог није сам, тако ни човек није сам, него има безброј браће и на небу и на земљи.

О ТАЈНИ ВЕРЕ Шта је права вера? Права вера је вера у једнога Бога у Тројици, Творца неба и земље и свега видљивог и невидљивог. Бог је Биће без почетка и без краја. Он је Дух који се не види, али је свуда присутан, све види, све зна, све може, о свему брине. Бог је пун љубави према свим људима и свима створењима. Ко је Бог? Права вера, вера православна открива нам и јавља велику тајну да је Бог не само један него и тројичан. Бог је Света Тројица: Бог Отац, Бог Син, и Бог Дух Свети. То нису три Бога, него само један, јер Три Божанске Личности имају једну исту суштину, као и једну љубав, једну мудрост, један живот и све неизмерно богатство божанских вечних сила и енергија. У Име тога јединога Бога се ми крштавамо. Ту своју веру у једнога Бога Оца и Сина и Духа Светога ми исповедамо сваки пут када ставимо на себе знак часнога Крста. Када се крстимо, ми саставимо три прста десне руке да назначимо да је нераздељива Тројица – један Бог. Какав је Бог? Бог је Љубав. Несебична Љубав. И пре стварања света Бог Отац није био сам (као што то уче верске вође Јевреја и мухамеданаца), него је волео Сина и Духа Светога. Свети Дух је волео Оца и Сина. То значи да је Бог Љубав од вечности, не само у времену. Света Тројица служи нам за пример како и ми, људи који смо створене личности, и различити по народности и образовању, можемо уз помоћ Божије Љубави да постанемо једно богочовечанско Тело, тј. Црква, а да при том сједињењу не изгубимо посебне одлике сваке личности. Ко је човек? Човек је украс свих Божијих створења. Бог га је обдарио својим ликом и подарио му моћ вечног живота. Створио га је од разумне душе и дивног тела, да би тело служило разумној души, а обоје да би

Ко су небеска браћа човекова? На овом видном небу постоје сунце и месец и безбројне звезде које тајанствено трепере и својим немуштим језиком сведоче да је Бог заиста Светлост, Љубав и Лепота. Али постоји и једно друго небо, невидљиво. То небо могу видети само људи видовитог ума и чиста срца. Као и Бога, свога Творца, који у њему обитава. То невиљиво небо по природи је духовно; то и јесу небеска браћа човекова: Серафими и Херувими, Архангели и Ангели и остале бестелесне Силе небеске. Те бестелесне Силе небеске пуне су љубави и светлости Божје, оне непрестано Бога славе и јаљају људима вољу Божију. Ко су земаљска браћа човекова? Сви људи су земаљска браћа човекова. Сви људи су међусобно браћа јер имају једног Оца, Творца свих створења. Браћа су и зато што имају једну природу човечју и исте прародитеље Адама и Еву. Човек је у сродству и са свим осталим створењима, од најсићушнијих до највећих, од атома до звезда. Јер на свему што постоји присутан је исти печат стваралачке силе и славе Божије, све је сведок исте Мудрости Божје. Бог нас милује својом вечном Љубављу преко свих створења видљивих и невидљивих. Све што постоји зрачи љубављу и подстиче нас на љубав. Шта је Откривење Божје? Откривење је све оно чиме се Бог јављао од памтивека и чиме је откривао људима своје неизрециве тајне и своју вољу. Сва творевина је богојављење; сва створења сведоче и откривају славу и силу Божју, наравно онима само којима ум није помрачен и срце нечисто. Особито је Бог откривао своју Љубав и своју свету вољу преко светих Архангела и Ангела и преко богонадахнутих светих људи: Пророка, Апостола и Светитеља. И на

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 6

крају преко Сина свог Јединородног, Христа Господа. Шта је Библија или Свето писмо? Библија или Свето писмо је Књига над књигама. То су свети списи богонадахнутих људи Божјих, у којима су они записали истине и тајне које је Бог открио људима. Свето писмо је записано Откривење Божије. Дели се на Стари завет и Нови завет. ОТКРИВЕЊЕ У СТАРОМ ЗАВЕТУ Шта је Стари завет? Стари завет је савез Бога са људима, склопљен преко изабраника Божјег патријарха Аврама и његовог богоизабраног потомства. У Светом писму Старог завета, као светим списима, описују се догађаји од стварања света, па до рођења Онога кроз кога и ради кога је свет и створен, и ради кога су се сви ти догађаји збивали: Господа Исуса Христа. Шта је Нови завет? Нови завет је савез Богочовека Исуса Христа са људима. Збивања и загонетке Старог завета добили су у њему своју одгонетку и пуноћу. У Светом писму Новог завета, као светим списима, очевици су описали догађаје од рођења Господа Исуса Христа, па све до његовог славног Васкрсења из мртвих и Вазнесења. Ту је описан и силазак Светог Духа на прве Христове ученике и њихово проповедање Његовог светог Имена и науке божанске. У њима је указано и на све оно што ће се догодити до Другог доласка Христовог и Страшног суда. Како почиње Стари завет? Стари завет почиње описом постанка света: “У почетку створи Бог небо и земљу”. Под речју “небо” треба разумети становнике неба – Ангеле и остале бестелесне небеске Силе. “А Земља беше без обличја и пуста”, тј. цео створени материјални свет. Шта је створио Бог за шест дана? Први дан створена је светлост: “И рече Бог: Нека буде светлост! И би светлост. И виде Бог светлост да је добра; и растави Бог светлост од таме”. Тај дан је дан један: из њега извиру и њему се враћају сви дани.

даном, и месец да управља ноћу, и звезде: да светле и да буду знаци времена, дана и година. Првостворена светлост, расута по целој творевини, сабрала се и особито заблистала, овог дана, кроз небеска светила. Сунце је обасјало земљу, обавијену дотада густим маглама и влагом. Пети дан Бог је ствроио жива створења у водама, рибе и остала створења велика и мала, као и птице небеске, по врстама њиховим.

Only canonical icon depicting The Holy Trinity, written by Andrei Rublev, under St. Cyprian's spiritual guidance

(Јеврејска реч “јом” дан, може да значи одређени астрономски или неограничени временски период настанка света). Други дан Бог је створио свод небески и раставио воду под сводом од воде над сводом, а свод назва Бог небо. То је оно видљиво небо. Иза њега се налазе безбројни Божји светови, названи симболично – “вода над сводом”, јер круже и теку, сваки својом путањом, хармонично и без сударања, по бескрајном простору. Трећи дан снагом речи Божје оделила се вода од копна. На земљи је израсла трава и разноврсна дрвета која рађају плод. Силом Божије речи то једном засејано семе, увек доноси плод, захваљујући благослову и заповести Бога.. Четврти дан Бог је створио светила на своду небеском. Сунце да управља

Шести дан створио је Бог стоку и ситне животиње и звери земаљске, по врстама њиховим. На крају рече Бог:

Да начинимо човека по лику и подобију Нашем, који ће бити господар од риба морских и од птица небеских и од стоке и од целе земље и од свих животиња што се мичу по земљи.

Пресвета Тројица, Бог наш, створио је човека од праха земаљског, и удахнуо у њега дух живота. Прво је Бог створио Адама, па му је онда створио жену, “човечицу”, Еву, да му буде помоћник на путу ка вечном циљу њиховог живота и живота свих створења. Човек и човечанство постају тако тајанствена слика у којој се огледа Света Тројица: Људи су створени да се узајамно воле и испуне несебичном божанском Љубављу. Шта је Рај у који је Бог увео човека, створивипи га? Рај је место близине и присутности Божје, у коме је човек био заједно са Творцем, обдарен свима даровима и блаженством VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 7

вечног живота, доброте и љубави. Човек се у Рају хранио са Дрвета живота. Шта је Дрво познања добра и зла? Дрво познања добра и зла је засадио Бог у Рају да би се човек вежбао у врлини уздржања и верности своме Створитељу. Дрво живота је човеку давало бесмртни живот и дар разликовања онога што је вечно од онога што је пролазно. Извршавати Божју заповест значило је – јести са дрвета живота; погазити заповест значило је – одвојити се од Бога и његове воље, изгубити вечни живот и предати се смрти. Једење са Дрвета познања добра и зла помрачује ум, уништава у човеку дар разликовања вечног и пролазног, отуђује га од Бога и одводи га у пролазна телесна задовољства и у смрт. На том дрвету и на тој заповести човек је имао да провери своју љубав и слободу: да ли ће бити веран Богу или ће послушати Ђавола и његову лаж. Ко је Ђаво? Ђаво је лажа и отац лажи. Он је бивши Архангео Деница који се побунио против Бога, јер се погордио и зажелео да буде једнак са Богом. Ђаво је изумео грех и смрт и пакао. Његова зла и изопачена воља је извор сваког зла, којим је затровао неке од бивших ангела па онда и наше прародитеље Адама и Еву, а преко њих и њихове потомке. Ко је наговорио Еву да погази заповест Божју? Ђаво је наговорио Еву – преко змије – да убере забрањено воће са Дрвета познања добра и зла. Ева је поверовала овом Божјем противнику и клеветнику (ђавао значи – клеветник), да је он њен већи пријатељ него Бог и почела је да се храни храном пролазности и телесних задовољстава. Окусивши плод пролазних задовољстава, она је постала смртна. Понудивши то воће своме мужу Адаму, она је учинила грех убиства. Али и Адам је добровољно окусио од истог плода и учинио троструки грех: према Богу, Continued on page 8.

Continued from page 7. према себи и према своме потомству. Падом у грех човек је изгубио моћ вечног живота; помрачио му се ум, потамнело срце а мудрост утонула у безумље и лудост. Зашто су Адам и Ева истерани из Раја? Зато што су окусили плод са Дрвета познања добра и зла и тиме преступили Божју заповест. Али и то истеривање из Раја Бог је учинио из љубави према нашим прародитељима. У Рају постоји и Дрво живота. Ко једе плодове са Дрвета живота постаје бесмртан. Ако би Адам и Ева јели те плодове, са отровом смрти у себи после пада, они би себе обесмртили у стању греховности и смртности. То би онда био најстрашнији пакао. И да се то веће зло не би десило људима, Бог их је истерао из Раја. Значи истерао их је Бог из Раја да би спречио да зло постане вечно. Али да Адам и Ева после истеривања не падну у очајање, Бог им је обећао да ће им послати Спаситеља који ће победити Ђавола – Змију и који ће их ослободити од смрти и поново довести у Рај. Шта је Бог казао Адаму и Еви кад их је прогнао из Раја? Еви је рекао: “С муком ћеш рађати децу, и воља ће твоја стајати под влашћу мужа твога, и он ће ти бити господар”. Адаму је рекао: “Земља да је проклета због тебе…са знојем лица свога ћеш јести хлеб, докле се не вратиш у земљу од које си узет; јер си прах и у прах ћеш се вратити”. Због човековог греха страдају не само људи, него и сва створења и цела творевина Божја. Тако је већ први син Адамов убио свога брата Авеља. Зашто је Каин убио Авеља? Убио га је из зависти: Каин је завидео Авељу зато што је Бог примио Авељеву од срца принету жртву. Тако бива и до данас: завист је главни узрок свакога братоубиства. А свако убиство је братоубиство јер сви људи су – браћа.

Ко је био Ноје и како се он спасао од потопа? Ноје је један од изабраника Божјих. Он није био покварен као његови савременици, него је веровао у Бога и очекивао будућег Избавитеља, Сина Божјег. Бог је заповедио Ноју да направи ковчег (лађу) и да у њега смести своју породицу и по један пар од свих животиња на земљи, да се избаве од потопа. Потоп је дошао да очисти нагомилане грехе људске и да опере обесвећену земљу. Лађа Нојева је тајанствена слика Цркве Христове у којој се ми спасавамо од потопа греха и смрти и задобијамо живот вечни. Шта је идолопоклонство? То је отпадништво од правога Бога и клањање киповима (идолима), у којима су били ђаволи, лажни богови. Човек постаје идолопоклоник кад год почне да се клања створењима уместо да служи Творцу. Идолопоклоник је и онда кад почне да обожава себе или дела руку својих. Ко је био Авраам? Авраам је био старозаветни патријарх. Он се није клањао идолима, као његови савременици. Веровао је у једнога Бога и у обећанога Спаситеља, који ће доћи са неба. Њему се првом од људи јавила тајанствено Света Тројица у виду три Ангела, три госта код Мавријског дуба. Од Авраама преко његовог сина Исака намножио се, по Божјем обећању, Изабрани народ Божји. И ми хришћани смо духовна деца Авраама. Зато се молимо да Бог упокоји нашу уснулу браћу и сестре у недрима Аврама, Исака и Јакова, наших праотаца. Кога је Авраам хтео да принесе на жртву? Хтео је да принесе на жртву свог јединца Исака. Ту је Бог испробао његову веру, па кад се он показао веран, Бог га је преко сина Исака, обдарио великим и светим потомством. И Христос Спаситељ је његов потомак по телу, а Исакова жртва је била предуказање Христовог страдања и жртве. Колико синова је имао Јаков, син Исаков названи Израил, по коме је Изабрани народ добио своје име?

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 8

Патријарх Јаков је имао дванаест синова, који су родоначелници дванаест племена Израилових. Његовог сина Јосифа браћа су из зависти продала у Египат, али га је Бог спасио и преко њега спасио све Јаковљеве потомке. И ми хришћани се по Јакову , названом Израил, зовемо Нови Израил Божји, тј. нови изабрани Народ Божји. Како је Јосиф доспоео на двор фараона, цара египатског? Једини Јосиф је знао да протумачи царев сан. зато га је фараон извео из тамнице у коју је био невин бачен. Тумачење снова је био дар Божји. Како су живели Јевреји у Египту? Стари Јаков и његови синови су дошли због глади у Египат код Јосифа, управитеља целе египатске земље. Док су Египћани памтили његова доброчинства, Јевреји су живели добро. Касније су живели веома тешко, радећи као робови. Епископ Данило, Епископ Амфилохије Orthodox Church Terms RECONCILIATION The removal of hostility and barriers between humans and God, and between individuals, accomplished by Christ (Rom. 5:11; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19).

REDEMPTION The deliverance of humanity from sin and death by Christ, who assumed humanity by His Incarnation, conquered sin and death by His life-giving death and glorious Resurrection, releases those who are in captivity to the evil one, and unites humanity to God by His Ascension (Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:15) .PROPITIATION An offering that results in atonement, redemption, and reconciliation. Christ offered Himself on the Cross as a propitiation for our sins, to liberate humanity from sin and death. See Rom. 3:21-26; Heb. 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10.

Communique Of The Holy Assembly Of Bishops Of The Serbian Orthodox Church held In Belgrade May 14-29, 2015 The regular meeting of the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church took place at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade from May 14 – 29, 2015 under the presidency of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej. Participating in the Assembly were all diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, with the exception of Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabra Bosna. Also present at the Assembly for the first time since the 2011 meeting was His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan, released a few months prior from the Skoplje Idrizovo prison in large part through the efforts of His Holiness Russian Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox Church, in cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church to the measure possible.

The Assembly began its work with the joint serving of the hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Archangel Michael Cathedral in Belgrade. Serbian Patriarch Irinej served and delivered a homily at the liturgy, with the concelebration of seventeen hierarchs and also the prayerful presence of the same number. In the sequence of eucharistic rites the traditional rite of the Invocation of the Holy Spirit was also served for a successful course and outcome of the Assembly.

Afterward, at the beginning of the first meeting of the Assembly, in his introductory remarks to the gathered hierarchs, the Patriarch indicated the most essential issues in the life and mission of the Ser-

bian Orthodox Church at this moment in history, in the days of great temptation and challenges both with us and in the world, but also of great possibilities for spiritual renewal and rebirth.

The most God-pleasing and therefore most important decision is the decision of establishing new feast days in the calendar of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Namely, to the assembly of Saints unanimously were numbered, which is to say they were canonized and glorified, the holy martyrs of Prebilovac (their memory will be celebrated 24 July/6 August); also, St. Mardarije (Uskokovic), bishop of America-Canada (his feast will be each 29 November/ 12 December) and the Venerable Sebastian of Jackson (Dabovic, celebrated 17/30 November).

The Assembly decided that the great jubilee—the 1,000th year anniversary of the martyrdom of St. John Vladimir, the greatest Serbian ruler from the preNemanjic period (1016-2016), be celebrated with dignity by the Serbian Orthodox Church, and not only on a local or regional level. Various different spiritual and cultural manifestations will begin already this year, and the final celebration will be next year, God grant.

The Assembly accepted the reports from the Serbian Orthodox Church delegation who participated in the work of the panorthodox, pre-conciliar conferences and pan-orthodox committee for revision of the texts prepared for the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, planned for next year, and finally accepted a position on the key issues which will be decided at that pan-orthodox Council.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 9

The final formulation of that position was entrusted to a special committee, which include members of the aforementioned delegation.

The report on work on the interior of the St. Sava Church on Vracar was accepted and final decisions were rendered for further course of this work, particularly the plans for the mosaics and frescoes in close collaboration with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian authorities.

Since conditions were met for renewing dialogue with representatives of the “Macedonian Orthodox Church“—the condition was that the wrongly imprisoned Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid be released—the Assembly decided to reply positively to the suggestion of Archbishop Stefan regarding the continuation of dialogue in the aim of avoiding a church schism and establishing canonical order in the Republic of Macedonia. Representing the Serbian Orthodox Church in this dialogue will be Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands and Bishop Irinej of Backa and Bishop Grigorije of Zahum and Hercegovina, and together with them and representing the Ohrid Archbishopric, will be Bishop David of Stobi.

The Assembly decided to accept one more dialogue—dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, rather the Croatian conference of bishops, on the occasion of the intentions of the Roman Catholic Church to canonize the contraversial Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, archContinued on page 10

Continued from page 9

bishop of Zagreb during World War II and supreme military vicar in the socalled Independent State of Croatia. To this aim the Holy Synod will, by order of the Assembly, educate the suitable committee. Stepinac's role in that tragic period will be discussed, in context of Serbian-Croatian relations in the 20th century.

Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagred-Ljubljana was named president of the standing Assembly Committee for dialogue with the Croatian conference of bishops, Bishop Jovan of Slavonia was named president of the Committee for Jasenovac, while Bishop Jefrem of Banja Luka, will remain on the committee for issues investigating the deaths in the concentration camp in Gradina, on the Bosnian side.

Special attention was dedicated this year as in previous ones, to the tribulations of our Church and people in Kosovo and Metohija and decisions were made regarding the ways and manner in which to lessen these troubles, if they cannot be removed, with special appeals made for the, God knows, how many times repeated—enabling the refugees and displaced persons to return and their survival on the hearth of their great grandfathers. With that same concern and responsibility, the difficulties and temptations which meet the Church and the Serbian people in Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina and elsewhere were reviewed, due to pressures, injustices and discriminations, as well as in Serbia itself due to the occasional noncanonical intrusion of clerics from neighboring local churches, on the territory of our dioceses in Eastern Serbia.

As in previous years, just as much attention was given to the issue of Christian schooling and enlightenment, religious education, scientific-educational institutions such as the Library, Archives, and the Serbian Orthodox Church Museum, educational activities, information services and similar.

The Assembly expressed its gratitude to the Serbian government and all state authorities in Serbia, first of all to the Committee for cooperation with church and religious institutions in the Ministry of Justice, for their full understanding and support, particularly for those in Kosovo and Metohija. The same appreciation belongs to the Srpska Republika — its government and people.

Special attention was dedicated to the crisis of marriage and family, which is highlighted by the growing number of abortions, which is a euphemism for infanticide, divorce, domestic violence and other phenomena that destroy marriage and family. Great concern was expressed regarding emigration, the “draining of minds,” the general lack of care for young people, for the village, for the socially disadvantaged, and so on.

The issue of religious services in the Army of Serbia was discussed and measures were proposed for its improvement. The Holy Synod submitted its reports, which were heard and accepted, reports from diocesan bishops, diocesan boards, charitable foundations of “Philanthropy,” the pilgrimage agency “Dobrocinstvo” and other institutions of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“chorepiscopus Nikolaj,” to repent and return to the Mother Church who, if they do, will receive them joyously in her embrace.

Bishops Georgije of Canada and Filaret of Milesevo have been released from the dioceses entrusted to them and are at the disposal of the Assembly.

The Supreme Court on New South Wales in Australia handed down its judgement in favor of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church, against the self-proclaimed schismatic “Free Serbian Church,” which the Assembly greeted joyously.

The members of the Holy Synod of Bishops was determined. Besides Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands and Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac, whose mandates are still in effect, the mandate of Bishop Teodosije of Ras and Prizren was extended and Bishop Irinej of Backa was elected as a new member of the Synod.

Bishop of Backa Irinej, Spokesman of the Holy Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church

A decision was made to consider the possibility of representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church taking part in Brussels for the sake of having a contact and promoting its interests before the institutions of the European Union, in cooperation with the offices of other Orthodox Churches, and if necessary, with a representative of the Vatican as a state.

The current Diocese of Central Europe has been renamed to the Diocese of Frankfurt and all Germany, with its see in Frankfurt.

The monk Artemije, leader of the wellknown schismatic group, is returned to the order of a layman under his baptismal name of Marko and is permanently excluded from the church community, with the invitation extended to both him and Negoslav Nikolic, his false VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 10

Vidovdan Celebration Sunday, June 28, After Liturgy - Banquet & Program honoring our 2015 graduates.

Саопштење Светог Архијерејског Сабора 30. Мај 2015 - 15:05 Саопштење за јавност са редовног заседања одржаног у Београду од 14. до 29. маја 2015. године Редовно заседање Светог Архијерејског Сабора Српске Православне Цркве одржано је, под председништвом Његове Светости Патријарха српског г. Иринеја, од 14. до 29. маја 2015. године у Патријаршији српској у Београду. У раду Сабора учествовали су сви епархијски архијереји Српске Православне Цркве осим митрополита дабробосанског г. Николаја. По први пут после заседања 2011. године на Сабору је био и архиепископ охридски и митрополит скопски г. Јован, ослобођен пре неколико месеци из скопског затвора Идризово великим заузимањем Његове Светости Патријарха московског г. Кирила и Руске Православне Цркве уопште, уз садејство Српске Православне Цркве у мери у којој је то било могућно. Сабор је свој рад започео саборним служењем свете архијерејске Литургије у Саборном храму Светог Архангела Михаила у Београду. Литургију је служио и на њој беседио Патријарх српски г. Иринеј уз саслужење седамнаесторице архијерејâ и молитвено присуство још толико њих. У склопу евхаристијског чинопоследовања извршен је и традиционални чин призива Светога Духа за успешан ток и исход овогодишњег Сабора. Потом је Патријарх на почетку прве саборске седнице, у уводном обраћању сабраним архијерејима, указао на најважнија питања живота и мисије Српске Православне Цркве у овом историјском тренутку, у данима великих искушења и изазова и код нас и у свету, али и великих могућности за духовни препород и напредак. Најбогоугоднија и стога најважнија саборска одлука јесте одлука о установљавању нових празника у календару Српске Православне Цркве. Наиме, сабору светих

једногласно су прибројани, тојест канонизовани су и прослављени, свети мученици пребиловачки (њихов спомен ће се славити 24. јула по старом, односно 6. августа по новом календару), затим свети Мардарије (Ускоковић), епископ америчкоканадски (његов празник ће бити сваког 29. новембра, односно 12. децембра), и преподобни Севастијан Џексонски (Дабовић, спомен 17/30. новембра). Сабор је одлучио да се на нивоу Српске Православне Цркве, а не само на локалном или регионалном нивоу, достојно прослави велики јубилеј хиљаду година од мученичке смрти светог Јована Владимира, највећег српског владара из преднемањићког периода (1016-2016). Разне духовне и културне манифестације почеће већ ове године, а завршна свечаност биће, ако Бог дâ, идуће године. Сабор је прихватио извештаје о учешћу делегације Српске Православне Цркве у раду свеправославних предсаборских конференција и свеправославне комисије за ревизију текстова припремљених за Свети и Велики Сабор Православне Цркве, који се планира за идућу годину, и начелно одобрио став који је иста заступала по кључним питањима о којима ће се одлучивати на том свеправославном Сабору. Коначну формулацију тога става поверила је посебној комисији, у коју улазе и чланови споменуте делегације. Примљен је и извештај о радовима на унутрашњем уређењу Спомен-храма Светог Саве на Врачару и донете начелне одлуке о даљем току тих радова, нарочито о програму израде мозаикâ и фрескописању у најтешњој сарадњи са Руском Православном Црквом и надлежним органима Русије. Пошто је испуњен услов за обнављање дијалога са представницима „Македонске Православне Цркве“, - а то је било ослобођење неправедно утамниченог VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 11

архиепископа охридског г. Јована, Сабор је одлучио да позитивно одговори на предлог архиепископа г. Стефана о наставку дијалога у циљу превазилажења црквеног раскола и васпостављања канонског поретка у Републици Македонији. Српску Православну Цркву у дијалогу ће представљати митрополит црногорско-приморски г. Амфилохије и епископи бачки г. Иринеј и захумско-херцеговачки г. Григорије, а уз њих ће, као представник канонске Охридске Архиепископије, бити и епископ стобијски г. Давид. Сабор је одлучио да прихвати још један дијалог - дијалог са Римокатоличком Црквом, односно са Хрватском бискупском конференцијом, поводом намере Римокатоличке Цркве да канонизује контроверзнога кардинала Алојзија Степинца, надбискупа загребачког за време Другог светског рата и званичног викара оружаних снага такозване НДХ. У ту сврху Свети Синод ће, по налогу Сабора, образовати одговарајућу комисију. Разговараће се о Степинчевој улози у том трагичном раздобљу, и то у контексту српско-хрватских односа у 20. веку. За председника сталне саборске Комисије за дијалог са Хрватском бискупском конференцијом именован је митрополит загребачко-љубљански г. Порфирије, а за председника Одбора за Јасеновац - епископ славонски г. Јован, док је за питања изучавања јасеновачких логора смрти у Градини, на босанској страни, и даље надлежан епископ бањалучки г. Јефрем. Као и сваке године, посебна пажња је посвећена невољама наше Цркве и нашег народа на Косову и Метохији и донете су одлуке о путевима и начинима да се те невоље ублаже, кад већ не могу бити отклоњене, са посебним, по Бог зна који пут поновљеним, апелом да се Continued on page 12.

Continued from page 11. прогнанима и расељенима омогући повратак и опстанак на прадедовским огњиштима. Са једнаком бригом и одговорношћу сагледане су, такође, тешкоће и искушења са којима се Црква и српски народ сусрећу у Црној Гори, Хрватској, Босни и Херцеговини и другде услед притисака, неправди и дискриминације, као и у самој Србији услед повремених неканонских упада клирикâ суседних помесних Цркава на подручје наших епархија у Источној Србији. Не мање пажње посвећено је, кaо и ранијих година, питањима црквене просвете и школства, верске наставе, научно-просветних установа, као што су Библиотека, Архив и Музеј Српске Православне Цркве, научне делатности, информативне службе и слично. Изражена је захвалност Сабора Влади Србије и свим надлежним државним надлештвима у Србији, у првом реду Управи за сарадњу са Црквама и верским заједницама при Министарству правде, за свестрано разумевање и подршку, нарочито за ону на Косову и Метохији. Иста таква захвалност припада и Републици Српској – њеној Влади и народу. Посебна пажња посвећена је кризи брака и породице, чији врхунац је све већи број абортусâ, што је еуфемизам за чедоморство, разводâ, породичног насиља и других појава које разарају брак и породицу. Изражена је велика забринутост због исељавања, „одлива мозгова ”, опште небриге за младе, за село, за социјално угрожене, и тако даље. Разматрано је и питање верске службе у Војсци Србије и предложене мере за њено побољшање. Саслушани су и прихваћени извештаји о раду Светог Синода, епархијских архијереја, епархијских управних одбора, добротворне фондације „Човекољубље”, поклоничке агенције

„Доброчинство” и других установа Српске Православне Цркве. Начелно је одлучено да се размотри могућност деловања представника Српске Православне Цркве у Бриселу ради контаката и промовисања њених интереса пред институцијама Европске уније, у сарадњи са представништвима неких других Православних Цркава, а по потреби и са представништвом Ватикана као државе. Досадашња Епархија средњеевропска преименована је у Епархију франкфуртску и све Немачке, са седиштем у Франкфурту. Монах Артемије, вођа познате расколничке групације, враћен је у ред световњакâ под својим крштеним именом Марко и трајно искључен из црквене заједнице, уз позив њему и Негославу Николићу, његовом лажном „хорепископу Николају”, да се покају и врате Мајци Цркви, која ће их, ако то учине, са радошћу примити у свој загрљај. Епископи канадски г. Георгије и милешевски г. Филарет разрешени су од управљања повереним им епархијама и стављени Сабору на располагање. Врховни суд Новог Јужног Велса у Аустралији донео је пресуду у корист Митрополије аустралијсконовозеландске Српске Православне Цркве, а против самозване расколничке „Слободне Српске Цркве”, што је Сабор са радошћу поздравио. Одређени су чланови Светог Архијерејског Синода. Поред митрополита црногорско-приморског г. Амфилохија и епископа шабачког г. Лаврентија, чији мандат још траје, продужен је мандат епископу рашкопризренском г. Теодосију, а за новога члана изабран је епископ бачки г. Иринеј.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 12

Епископ бачки Иринеј, портпарол Светог Архијерејског Сабора

More Orthodox Church Terms SALVATION The fulfillment of humanity in Christ, through deliverance from the curse of sin and death, to union with God through Christ the Savior.

Salvation includes a process of growth of the whole person whereby the sinner is changed into the image and likeness of God. One is saved by faith through grace. However, saving faith is more than mere belief.

It must be a living faith manifested by works of righteousness, whereby we cooperate with God to do His will. We receive the grace of God for salvation through participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

SAINT Literally, "a holy person." With God as the source of true holiness, all Christians are called to be saints (see Rom. 16:2; 1 Cor. 1:1, 2). But from the earliest times, the Church has designated certain outstanding men and women who have departed this life and reached deification as worthy of veneration and canonization as saints or holy persons.

C E L E B R AT I O N * D E D I C AT I O N * P R O G R E S S * V I S I O N God’s greatest gift to us is our family: our natural family as well as our parish family.

Throughout our life’s journey, our family will take many forms. For a child, family is parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, godparents and others. As we mature, we become stewards of our parents as they also have been for us. We see this all around us when children care for their aging parents.

As Orthodox Christians, we are also stewards of our parish family, those with whom we worship the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, fellowship and serve the community. In the same way that we care for our natural family, we also care for our Christian brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, and those who have yet to

A Conversation with Archimandrite Metodije (Markovic), Abbot of the Royal Serbian Lavra Monastery Hilandar (part 3) In public opinion there is a position, sometimes stressed greatly, that the European Union interferes too much in the internal affairs of Mount Athos, pressuring Mount Athos to change its century old structure, but this is not true.

Also, the Greek government never launched anything which would influence a change in the structure that applies to Mount Athos. The most important thing is the issue of the “avaton,” that is, the entrance of woman on Mount Athos.

This is an interesting issue, and perhaps following this answer I should mention that the avaton principle is nothing unusual but is the approach of all monasteries. The only difference here is that the entire peninsula is like a small republic dedicated to monasticism, so that this principle applies to a relatively large territory. In the history of monasticism there have been many monasteries, both men and women's, in which entrance of the opposite sex was forbidden. And even if

find Christ and the precious and salvific Orthodox Faith.

In the early church, all the members of the church offered the Eucharistic sacrifice. Each person coming to the gathering of the Church brought with them everything they could spare for the needs of the Church. This was for the sustenance of the clergy, widows and orphans, for helping the poor, for the spreading of the Gospel, and for all the good works of the Church. This is the Church that we as Orthodox Christians claim to be.

In the Gospel of Saint Matthew (6:19), Jesus instructs us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal….” Often in life, we pursue and collect those things that do not last. We must ask, “One hundred years from now, where will our posses-

entrance to the monastery, or the church, itself was permitted there are specific living quarters where monks or nuns live where persons of the opposite sex were not permitted to enter. So this idea of avaton has been preserved to some degree in all monasteries.

There were a number of proposals at the European Assembly that this avaton be abolished, but in the reports on human rights the idea of avaton was interpreted unilaterally and unreasonably. The European Union cannot take this issue into consideration by imposing something which goes against our conscience because when Greece became a member a special declaration on the protection of the status of Mount Athos was signed.

There are undoubtably those who would like to change this and transform Mount Athos from a living monastic community into a dead exhibition of monastic buildings. Such initiatives existed before and they failed. But let’s say that even if we don’t take these uncultured initiatives as direct threats, we consider their spirit as a clear message of the direction the European Union and its people are heading.

This is important for the Serbian people, as well as all Christians. Also, lovers of VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 13

sions be?” Our greatest blessing is our family.

As Orthodox Christians, we are called to be stewards of this great gift. If we are faithful to this calling, perhaps our Lord will say to us as he did to the faithful steward, “Well done good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:23).

Therefore, we call upon each of you to concretely demonstrate your loving duty as a steward of our cherished St. George parish family. Give to the Lord generously of your time, talent and treasure, and He will not fail to give generously of His. With kind thanksgiving thoughts and in prayer for all of you before the Lord, Father Bratso Krsic

monasticism and Mount Athos are frightened that under some pressure hotels will be built on Mount Athos and that it be turned into a tourist attraction. However, this also is not feasible since all of Mount Athos is private property divided among twenty monasteries, and you here in America know very well what private property means.

More of the interview conducted by Proto Bratso Krsic will be in future issues.

Are We Rude to God? And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Gen 3:8-13)

When we consider our relationship with God we tend to always frame it around sin.

If we have transgressed the commandments, we have sinned and therefore are not in communion with God. Just as Adam and Eve found themselves separating from God through an action opposite of a commandment (don’t eat the fruit from the tree), they then tried to “trick” God by hiding and offering excuses. So we see a different behavior welling up in our first parents. As God is all knowing, He assuredly knew exactly where Adam and Eve were in the Garden, but He wanted to see how they responded to the question “Where are you?”. What does Adam do?

He blames his wife! It is clear that the beginnings of disrespect towards God started early in creation.

We can be dis-respecters of God through sin and also through something more subtle, simply by lacking common courtesy! Is it a sin to stand before the Icon of Christ in prayer and constantly give in to mental distraction, thereby giving no attention to God? Yes, of course. But it is also quite rude I would say. How do we react when we are talking with our spouse about something important, all the while they are intent on tapping away on their phone, and look up to ask “What did you say?” When we pray we are supposed to be in a conversation with God. We can’t hear Him responding to us when we are constantly distracted with thoughts that are not related to our conversation. Communication in our personal life and our life with Christ is

of paramount importance. We can’t have fruitful relationships with our family or God without proper communication.

tainly received a very stern rebuke from Christ because of his disrespect.

Let us then consider Zacharias, the father of St. John the Baptist.

And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time. (Luke 1:18-20).

As the Archangel Gabriel is a representative of God and a pretty reliable source as His messenger, speaking to him this way was not a good idea! Zacharias is fortunate the Lord had mercy on him by only making him mute for a time. This boldness and trust in one’s own plan in the face of God’s Archangel could have resulted in a lightening bolt directed to his personage. And how quickly God relieved Zacharias of his burden with the simple exclamation that his son be named John.

We can contrast Zacharias’s mistake with the beautiful humility of the Theotokos.

Again when Archangel Gabriel approached Mary and informed her that she will carry God in her womb, scripture says, Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?

(Luke 1:34) Her response to his explanation was as follows, Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38) It is clear in this exchange that the Virgin was asking with respect and humility based on her willingness to serve God in all things.

How rude was Peter when he had the audacity to say to Christ; Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matt 16:22-23) Can you imagine how Peter felt when Christ called him Satan? Not likely as bad as when he wept bitterly after the cock crew, but Peter cer-

Fast forward to the 21st century where being rude to God is a full-time job for government officials, politicians, activists and the growing population of secular humanists. The never ending quest to remove God from the public square, from education, from the media and from our lives is their ultimate goal. Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of blessed memory posits that the overarching reason man continues to fall away from God is due to the spirit of self-asserting human pride. The opposite of pride is humility. But how is humility viewed in our society —as weakness. However the holy fathers teach that there is actually more power in humility, for it requires restraint even when we are persecuted or offended in some way. Consider the martyrs. Instead of striking out to those who wanted to kill them, they submitted themselves to unbelievable tortures and death. I would argue it takes much greater strength to submit to martyrdom than to give in to that which is opposite of God’s commandments.

Of course there are many other examples of ways to be rude to God. However our task as Orthodox Christians is to strive to do that which is pleasing to God until the end of our days. This is not a mystery. We have so many examples in the Saints, we have the writings, we have the elders, the teachers, the tradition. We must ask ourselves, what am I to answer when God calls? Will He say, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord? Or will we be cast out because our wedding garment is stained. So start simple; pray in the morning upon arising and in the evening before bed; pray before every meal; attend Divine Liturgy and prepare to receive Holy Communion. These are all basic things we do to please God and be in communion with Him. And show a little courtesy towards God as a bonus!

Amen.

Deacon Paul Germain VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 14

Newly Proclaimed Saints of the Orthodox Church The Holy Assembly of Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church during its regular session on May 29th, 2015, added the names of Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) and Bishop Mardarije (Uskokovic), the Clergymen and Preachers of the Gospel, God-pleasing servants of the holy life, and inspirers of many missionaries, to the Dyptich of Saints (Calendar of Saints) of the Orthodox Church....

The life of St. Mardarije of Libertyville (1889-1935) Born in village of Kornet, Ljesani County, in Montenegro, on November 2, 1889, to pious parents Petar and Jela Uskokovic, he was baptized in his village church dedicated to St. George and received his baptismal name Ivan. His mother was from the well-known Bozovic family. Both of his parents were well respected in their community holding the office of leadership and particularly his father was a captain of their clan. Considering his parents’ status, young Ivan was sent to further his education, first in Rijeka Crnojevic, Cetinje, and then in Belgrade, Serbia. While in Belgrade, young Ivan advanced his childhood desire to serve God and the Church, and so from there he headed to monastery Studenica where after a short period of novice life he gets tonsured to monasticism having received the name Mardarije. With the decision of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, now young hierodeacon Mardarije is sent to Russia where he spent twelve years (1905-1917) furthering his theological education and growing in wisdom. From there, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church sent him to the United States of America to organize the Serbian Orthodox Church. On December 1, 1923, now archimandrite Mardarije is appointed as administrator of the Serbian American-Canadian diocese with the see in Chicago and that same year he purchased around ten acres of land in Libertyville, Illinois, where later St. Sava monastery was built. He was elected by the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church as the first bishop for the newly established diocese in America on December 7, 1925, and his consecration took place on Palm Sunday, the Feast of the

Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, on April 25, 1926.

From then on His Grace Bishop Mardarije, the first bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, labored tirelessly in building churches, St. Sava monastery in Libertyville, sowing Christian love, spread peace, preached and witnessed the Gospel of Christ throughout his diocese. In spite of inescapable wordly trends, he lived spontaneity of truth and a provision of grace, just because Life has dawned from the Tomb, and is dawning still. Having labored as bishop for a little over nine years he died peacefully on December 12, 1935, hospitalized in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while writing his last Nativity Encyclical to his beloved flock.

His earthly remains were laid to rest at St. Sava monastery in Libertyville. The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church during its regular session held from May 14-29, 2015 brought forth a decision that his name be added to the Diptych of saints of the Holy Orthodox Church.

From the Holy Hierarch Mardarije, we see how the grace of God reaches the heart of our cities, bringing to the confusion of the world the breeze of the Spirit and the serenity of the Age to come.

The life of St. Sebastian of Jackson (1863-1940) This apostle of North America was the first American born Orthodox priest. His parents, Ilija and Jelena Dabovic, were the first recorded immigrants on the West Coast. They lived in San Francisco, operated a small shop, and were blessed with seven children. St. Sebastian was their fourth child who at baptism received name John. He was born on June 21, 1863. His ministry in the Church started at early age.

After he finished high school he served his parish as a reader and teacher. Before he was sent to Russia, he spent time in Sitka, Alaska, assisted with parish ministries at St. Archangel Michael Cathedral. After three years of study at the St. Petersburg and Kiev Theological Academies, John was tonsured a monk and received monastic name Sebastian in 1887. That same year he was ordained a hierodeacon. He served as deacon at the San Francisco Cathedral until Bishop Nicholas ordained him a priest on August 16, 1892. As newly ordained Hieromonk Fr. Sebastian tire-

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 15

lessly preached the Gospel, served Divine Liturgies, counseled and established many parishes throughout the country. During his life he conveyed the light of liturgical certainty and calm to a world that was spiritually hungry and suffering. Archbishop Tikhon asked Fr. Sebastian to lead a Serbian mission in the North American diocese, elevated him to archimandrite on August 15, 1905, and sent him to Chicago, Illinois, where this holy man served as parish priest. In 1910, he asked for release from the parish so that he could return to missionary work. Having spent three years at the newly opened St. Platon Seminary in Tenafly, New Jersey, he went back to Serbia to serve as a chaplain in the Serbian army in the Balkan Wars and WW I. After his brief visit to the Unites States of America in 1915 and 1917, the rest of his life he spent in Serbia where he peacefully reposed in monastery Zicha on November 30, 1940, having his earthly remains laid to rest there until they were exhumed and translated to Jackson, California, on September 1, 2007, at St. Sava Church, the oldest and one of many Serbian Orthodox Churches in America that he founded in 1894. Fr Sebastian built up souls, organized the Church, erected houses of prayer, and was devoted to charitable work. In addition to establishing many churches, St. Sebastian also wrote many articles and sermons. His last spoken words and wish were: The Heavenly Kingdom without end! Meaning: the kingdom of the virtues whence the miracle of eternal surprises bursts forth. The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church during its regular session held from May 14-29, 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 (1863-2013) we realize how historical predicaments become a starting point for knowledge of God and spontaneous praise.

From the celebration of the glorification of Sts Mardarije and Sebastian may droplets of consolation fall upon the heart of those who, living in the heart of America, seek what is fair and honest.

Copyright © 2015 Western American Diocese. All Rights Reserved.

Troparion of Sts. Mardarije and Sebastian: O God of our Fathers, Always act with kindness towards us; Take not Your mercy from us, But through the prayers of Saints Mardarije and Sebastian Guide our lives in peace.

Kontakion to St. Mardarije of Libertyville, Tone 8: Tireless preacher of Christ the Lord, Leader on the path of St. Sava for your people in diaspora, Labor-loving practitioner and teacher of repentance, Holy Mardarije of Libertyville and America, Together with all the Enlighteners of the American lands, Entreat the only Lover of Mankind,

Come experience this once in a lifetime event!

Learn how ordinary lives become extraordinary by the power and grace of God. Some of us remember them as they lived and worked among us. Today, all of us gather as they pray to God for us!

To grant all Orthodox Christians peace and unity!

Kontakion to St. Sebastian of Jackson, Tone 8: Apostle and Enlightener of America, Born in San Francisco,

SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS • HIS HOLINESS, IRINEJ, SERBIAN PATRIARCH • RULING HIERARCHS OF ORTHODOX CHURCH IN U.S.A. • CHURCH AND CIVIL DIGINTARIES

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH

First born in America to become a priest, Nurtured in the Faith in Orthodox Russia, Fiery preacher of Christ’s word among the peoples of America, You traveled throughout the country preaching the Truth and love, Confirming many souls in the Orthodox Faith,

Welcome Reception

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH Canonization Festivities Procession of Relics and Icons of New Saints Official Proclamation Divine Liturgy, Lunch, Program Evening Festivities and Youth Performances

And erecting many churches to the glory of God, Poor in body but rich in the Spirit, O Father Sebastian of Jackson and Apostle of All America, Pray the Lord Whom you served with your whole heart, To grant us your last spoken wish: The Kingdom of Heaven without end!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH Divine Liturgy, Banquet and Program

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 16

From the Church President Dear Fellow Parishioners, Summer is almost here!

The days are longer and even sunnier (June gloom notwithstanding), our children are out of school, and we’re spending more time relaxing. Because many of us would like to take full advantage of this wonderful time of year, we will go on our own summer schedule at St. George by beginning our Sunday services one half-hour earlier: Matins at 9:00 AM, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM. Fr. Bratso will announce the start date for our new summer schedule soon. Our Sunday service is the most important event of the week. It is the time for us to come together to worship and pray as a family of faith. It renews and strengthens us as a parish just as it renews and strengthens us as individuals. See you on Sunday!

We have wonderful and exciting events over the summer.

Vidovdan Celebration: Sunday, June 28, after Liturgy - Banquet and program honoring our graduates. Dr. Michael Pravica will give a talk on “Science, religion, and the quest to understand the infinite mysteries of our existence.” Come show our graduates how proud we are of them. Our young people are our legacy.

Canonization of Sts. Mardarije of Libertyville and Sebastian of Jackson: September 4, 5, 6. St. Steven’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Alhambra. His Holiness Irinej and other dignitaries have been invited. The preliminary schedule of events is on the previous page. It will be a wonderful opportunity to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event. Liturgy will not be served at St. George that weekend.

battle over the Dopudja estate, St George will soon become the owner (through an LLC) of the real property owned by the Dopudja family. At least for now, St. George will keep the small duplexes as rental property. St. George will receive very little cash from the Dopudja estate. Under the terms of the legal settlement, all of the income and assets from the Dopudja estate must be used solely for the improvement and upkeep of the sanctuary and cannot be used on any of the rest of our property, such as the social hall and parish home.

Similarly, St. George now owns the Gregovich property in Ocean Beach.

Soon, we will begin renting the small duplex and adjacent cottage. Fortunately, the Gregovich trust did not

Update on trust income: As many of you know, two of our long-time parishioners demonstrated their love for our parish by remembering St George in their wills and trusts. Unfortunately, there have been some inaccurate rumors circulating about the value of these trusts and what it means to our church finances. After a long-fought legal

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 17

restrict the use of the Gregovich funds, and the church board plans to use the modest amount of cash we received to further the renovation of the hall.

Stewardship! It’s never too late to submit your stewardship card. Volunteer to help with an event. Talk to Fr. Bratso, Deacon Paul, or any board member to find out how you can help. Each of us plays an important part in sustaining and strengthening our parish.

Yours in Christ, Kate Thickstun, Church Board President

CHURCH CALENDAR 2015 JULY 12

Diocesan Summer Camp (http://www.campstsava.org) - First week

19

Diocesan Summer Camp (http://www.campstsava.org) - Second week

26

Diocesan Summer Camp (http://www.campstsava.org) - Third week

AUGUST 14-28 15

Dormition Fast Trio Balkan Strings Concert, Saturday, 6PM-11PM

SEPTEMBER 4-6

Canonization of Sts Mardarije & Sebastian at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Alhambra, CA (St George church closed for the weekend)

13

Sunday Church School begins new term

20

Circle of Serbian Sisters (Kolo) Slava (Mala-Gospojina)

OCTOBER 3 16-17 17

SERBFEST Opolo Wine Harvest Festival in Paso Robles, CA St Stefan and Jelena (Stiljanovic)

NOVEMBER 14

Cevap Challenge

26

Thanksgiving Day

28

Nativity Fast begins (through January 6, 2016)

29

Stewardship Sunday

30

Diocesan KSS Slava (Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos)

DECEMBER 19

St Nicholas Day - Serbian Children’s day

JANUARY 2016 6

Badnje Vece/Christmas Eve

7

Bozic/Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

17

Annual Stewardship Meeting

24

St. Sava Celebration

For more information call Fr. Bratso Krsic at 619-276-5827 or visit www.SaintGeorgeInSD.org

First grandchild for the Kunac family.

Malcolm Alexander Milhorn was born to Dr. Anastasia Kunac & Brian Milhorn. Proud grandparents are Maria & Dusan Kunac. Baby’s uncle is Mark Kunac who lives in Paris, France. The new “Baba” was one of the little one’s first visitors at his home in New York.

Olga & Marijan Nikolovski with their four grandchildren, welcoming #4 Luka Don Reddan, born May 21. Parents are Irena & Don Reddan. Other grandchildren are Sasha & Evan High & Monique Nikolovska.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 18

Sunday Church School Dear Parents and my co-workers in Jesus Christ: Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14) Sunday school for 2014/15 officially ended on Sunday, May 31, 2015. I would like to thank all of the participates in our Orthodox Christian education program. I am very grateful to those parents who helped, supported, and gave of their time, talent, and treasure.

Your encouraging words mean a lot to us as we continue improving our Sunday School program.

For the summer days ahead, please, continue to participate in the Liturgy and prayer life. And I ask you to do these four things: • To pray with your children together every day.

• Come to church and bring your children.

• If all possible, participate in the St. Sava summer camp program, (www.campstsava.org).

• Continue reading the Bible and the daily lives of saints.

As adults, we often have questions about God, faith, and our response to the daily challenges we face. Where do we find answers that are spiritually sound and beneficial to our souls? The answer is in the Church where God is, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

If we as adults have these questions, imagine how many more questions our children have. We have to nourish ourselves spiritually to support our children. Sunday School will help you in raising your children in the spirit of the Gospel and the Orthodox Faith. Keep in mind what they learn in Sunday school is only about 30% of their total spiritual and Orthodox education; the other 70% they should learn at home.

This means that home is the true and main school of the Orthodox Way of Life, and you are the primary teachers. How do we respond to this call?

Please, take the time to ask your children about what they have learned in Sunday school. Pray together, but most of all pray for your children. Let us work together as a team.

As always I welcome your help and suggestions. Our Sunday school teachers and helpers for 2014/15 among others were: Anastasija Krsic, Ana Miletic Sedy, P. Lisa Krsic, Elizabeth Kasic, Nemanja Zdralo, Gordana Nikolic, Maja Topalovic and Anastasija Wilgus. Thank you for being my co-workers in Jesus Christ! A special also thanks to Princess Ana who visited our Sunday school students on Sunday, May 31, 2015!

Our 2015/16 Sunday School Program will begin on Sunday, September 13, 2015. I look forward to your participation.

With all my love in Him, Fr. Bratso Krsic

The Life Story of One of St George’s Oldest Members: Milica Vasic

zanja cerke Milice i druge dece i oko pomaganja obrade imanja.

Po nekoj evidenciji Milica Vasic je najstariji srpski stanovnik San Diega a mozda i sire regije. Rodjena je 1920 godine od oca Marka i majke Marte Plavsic u selu Golubic nadomak Knina.

Dalmacija.

Otac se ozenio sa Martom odmah po dolasku iz I svetskog rata, gde je najpre mobilisan u AustroUgarsku vojsku, da bi cim je dosao na front sa Srbijom presao na srpsku stranu i nastavio borbe potiv Austro-Ugarske.

Otac i majka su porodili jos sedmero dece, a Milica kao najstarija je pomagala u njihovom odrastanju, da bi se kao devetnaesto godisnja devojka 1939 udala za Dusana Vasica rodom iz Golubica. Sa Dusanom je Milica porodila troje dece, sinove Nikolu i Gojka i cerku Andju.

Suprug Dusan je bio aktivni borac Dinarske Cetnicke Divizije, koju je vodio lokalni svestenik Momcilo Djujic, koji je po vojnoj liniji postao Vojvoda. Dinarska Cetnicka Divizija, koju je formirao i u kojoj je komandovao. Vojvoda Djujic je odigrao veliku ulogu u zastiti srpskog zivlja od ustaskog terora u kninskoj Krajini.

Kad se zavrsio II svetski rat, Djujic koji se borio za kraljevinu Jugoslaviju, zbog promene politickog sistema ( na vlast su dosli komunisti) je sa celom svojom vojskom izbegao iz Jugoslavije i vecina njih se nastanila u Americi, Engleskoj, Kanadi, Australiji. Milicin suprug Dusan Vasic se sa vojvodom nastanio u Americi. Milica se sa svoje troje dece pridruzila suprugu Dusanu tek posle 13 godina. Dolazak u tako daleku zemlju bio je Milicin veliki izazov, ali i veliko zadovoljstvo nastaviti zivot sa suprugom koga nije videla punih 13 godina.

Posle zavrsetka rata ostao je da zivi i radi u Beogradu a 1919 godine dolazi u Golubic i zeni se sa devojkom Martom Martic iz obliznjeg sela Zagrovic. Sledece 1920 rodila im se cerka Milica. Otac Marko je jednom godisnje dolazio iz Beograda u Golubic, da pomaze zeni Marti oko podi-

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 19

Veliki deo zivota je provela u Geri, Indiana, da bi se posle smrti supruga Dusana preselila u San Diego, gde i danas zivi.

Milica je imala tezak zivot, prvo kao devojka gde je morala pomagati majci oko odrzavanja imanja i brinuti za mladju bracu i sestre.

Udajom dolazi u veliku familiju Vasica, gde je morala da brine o svoje troje dece i da brine oko obrade velikog imanja Vasica.

Dolaskom u Ameriku, morala je odmah da se zaposli u firmi i donosi prihode familiji.

Nazalost muz joj je odmah po penzionisanju preminuo, a imala je i vecu nesrecu jer je izgubila dva sina Gojka i Nikolu Danas u 95 godini Milica je aktivna u familji u kojoj zivi sa cerkom Andjom, unukom Slobodanom i sa dva praunuka, Bobijem i Dusanom.

Milica ima pet unucadi i sest praunucadi.

I ako u poznim godinama, Milica ne propusta da ide u crkvu svake nedelje.

Pozelimo nasoj Milici, zdrav i dug zivot.

Radomir Plavsic, the son of Milica’s sister

The Choir is always looking for new members

St George Choir I am happy to report that on Easter Sunday we had 33 singers in our choir! I wish we would get half of that on a regular Sunday. Typically, we get 12 singers on a non-holiday Sunday, which is okay, considering that in New York at the St. Sava Cathedral they typically have eight singers on such Sundays. Mira and I were at St. John's Church in San Francisco on Christmas, and its choir had 11 singers.

So in comparison with these much larger parishes, we are doing well, although I would be very happy to see more than 12 singers in our choir on a regular Sunday.

For a while our choir was short on tenors.

We don't have that problem any more.

However, lately we have been short on sopranos. Kate, our choir director who has a beautiful soprano voice, can both direct the choir and sing at the same time.

On several occasions lately she was the only soprano. So, I appeal to all of our sopranos to come in larger numbers on a regular Sunday Liturgy. And we are always looking for new choir members.

You don't have to be a professional singer or to have musical training to join our choir. Just see Kate or any choir member.

Velimir Jovanovic, Choir President

• Serving/cleanup (we need 10 people): 67:30 pm

FOCUS needs you!

Please join us as we prepare and serve FOCUS (Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve) dinner for our brothers and sisters in need at God's Extended Hand (1625 Island Ave. SD 92101) every third Wednesday of each month.

Help is needed as follows: • Food Prep (we need 4 people): 3-6 pm • Doormen (we need 2 people): 5:20-7:20 pm

• Sermon will be given around 5:40 pm

Please share this information with friends or family in our parish, and encourage them to join you in serving.

We absolutely need more people participating regularly to keep this important ministry functioning successfully!

Please let me know the approximate time you can be there, and if you have any questions or need more information.

Fr. Bratso Krsic

Srpska slava accepted for UNESCO list of non-material cultural heritage The UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is composed of intangible heritage elements that concerned communities and States and Parties consider require urgent measures to keep them alive. Inscriptions on this List help to mobilize international cooperation and assistance for stakeholders to undertake appropriate safeguarding measures. During the period from 2009 to 2014, the Committee inscribed 38 elements on this List. The Serbian Slava was added in November 2014.

THE CANONIZATION OF STS. MARDARIJE AND SEBASTIAN SEPTEMBER 4, 5, 6, 2015!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND ST STEVEN’S CATHEDRAL, ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 20

A daughter remembers...

Kolo Sisters The St. George church slava was celebrated on Sunday, May 3 after Divine Liturgy. It was a glorious occasion with special guests bishop (vladika) Maksim and Archmandrite (Iguman) Sava Janjic from Decani Monastery in Kosovo. Marvelous special music was performed by Maja Markovic and Kaija Germain.

Maja Topalovic was in charge of the kitchen, and the food was delicious. All around it was a festive and informative event. Prior, the kolo was able to solicit the funds necessary to purchase 20 round tables! A huge HVALA to all who donated to this effort, which made for beautiful table settings for this event and many others to come.

Marija Milasinovic for the Kolo

Long-time St. George and St. Petka steward Milovan Petric passed away Sunday, May 16. He was born July 21, 1920 in Orahovica, Yugoslavia. His parents were Kristine (Stevanovic) and Pavle Petric.

Milovan left his home when World War II began, escaping through many countries -- Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, and Portugal. He served in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force attached to the British Foreign Air Force. He arrived at a Displaced Person Camp in Santa Cesareo, Italy, with a convoy of Royal Yugoslav Air Force soldiers who were being discharged by the British Foreign Office for not joining the Tito forces in Yugoslavia.

In Santa Cesareo, he met and married his wife of 68 years, Jelena Kinach on February 15, 1927.

After the war, Milovan and Jelena left Italy and lived in Lima, Peru until they were able to get passage to the United States. They finally arrived in Gary, Indiana and were united with Jelena’s brother, Alex Kinach and late sister, Vera Derado, arriving on December 24, 1951.

They had four children together: Vera, Christina (Marin), Alexander, and Lydia (Rhoads). In 1967, the family moved from Gary to Vista, California, where Milovan and Jelena had a chicken ranch for over 20 years.

Milovan will be remembered for his sense of humor and his smile.

Lydia Petric Rhoads

New ministry to young people in Backa Palanka, Serbia Some of you may have seen the following post to the St George Facebook page, I did and have decided to give this young woman a hand as she begins a new life in the land of her birth: My name is Milica (Salai), and some of you might recognize me because I lived in Los Angeles, CA, for many years. I used to go to St Sava Church in San Gabriel, and a long time ago I danced in their kolo group. Well, I moved back to Serbia last year, got married, and now I'm teaching kids and young adults English in Backa Palanka.

book sitting in a box or somewhere on the shelf collecting dust, and some of you have read a book and might not needed it anymore. I am in great need of books and if you all can donate one book to my project, it would really help a child in need.

My city has a small library but it doesn't have books in English. My students range in age from 7-30 years old. Most of them are kids or in their teen years. I created a page on Facebook called “Books for Millie’s students,” and from it you can follow what we are doing so far and see how to help as well.

My mission is to open a library not only for my students but available to other people who know how to read in English.

Please Help In Any Way That You Can! God Bless You!

I wrote to Milica, got her mailing address and have already sent her a couple of boxes of my no-longer-used books, plus a couple of children’s references I found at a garage sale. It isn’t cheap sending books to Serbia via US Mail, but the books do get there, delivered to her door. I’m sure it would be more expensive to buy English language books over there, if you could even find them.

So if you have books you would like to donate to her project, please contact me, and I will send them for you. She needs especially children’s books and young readers books.

It’s been an amazing journey, and this is the best thing that has happened in my life. My students are super bright and very educated. I am teaching them how to read and write and to have conversations in English. This year I'm making a bigger and better classroom for them, a study room and a library. I am doing this to help my students have a brighter future. I love kids and I always have opened my door to any new child that needs my help.

This is just one more way you can be a good steward of what God has so abundantly given us in the USA. I’ll be posting updates about “Books for Millie’s students” in future issues of the Voice.

The reason I'm writing to all of you is to ask for your help by donating English language books. I know most people have a

Marsha Jovanovic, editor, marsha@marshaj.com

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 21

• Jaich, Dennis, Rhonda and Family

• Milicevic, Nikola and Nada

Stewardship List—June 2015

• Jojic, Dobrinka

• Miljkovic, Milan and Diane

• Alemany, Linda and Family

• Jojic, Julijana and Vesko

• Miljkovic, Vecki and Miodrag and family

• Allen, Mike and Markay

• Jorling, Joe and Nina

• Milovancev, Miroslav, Mira and Family

• Amanovic, Diana

• Jovanovic, Marko and Dijana

• Mitrovich, Desanka

• Aud, Matthew, Laurie and Family

• Jovanovic, Misha and Marsha

• Mitrovich, Jelena

• Aud, Joanna

• Jovanovic, Ratko and Koka

• Mitrovich, Predrag and Family

• Banjac, Dario & Karen Rubio

• Jovanovic, Slavko and Tanja

• Mitrovich, Risto and Linda

• Basic, Stevo and Stana

• Jovanovic, Slavica

• Mrja, Millie

• Begovich, Michael and Samantha

• Jovanovic, Toma and Vesna

• Naughton, Pamela

• Belcevich, Milos and Lepa

• Jovanovic, Velimir and Mira

• Nedel, Naden

• Borojevich, Mildred and Wally

• Jovanovic, Verica

• Nedic, Sava and Spomenka

• Borovic, Radovan and Family

• Kalfas, Peter

• Nikolic, Dragan and Gordana

• Bradic, Aleksandar and Jelena

• Kasic, Rade and Radmila

• Orlich, Petar

• Brucker, Mitch and Lidija

• Kezic, Vladimir and Ivana

• Pantich, Tom and Helen

• Caldes, James and Ljiljana

• Kinach, Alex and Seka

• Pantovic, Snezana and Dole

• Caric, Brigitte and Family

• Klacar, Neven

• Papac, Wayne and Sandie

• Connor, Evelyn

• Kostic, Tordis

• Perisic, Milan

• Copic, Miro, Laura and Family

• Kovacevic, Biljana

• Petakovich, Deyan and Natasa

• Cronemeyer, Jamie and Zorica

• Krsic, Proto Bratso and Protinica Lisa

• Dentn, Natalie

• Kukich, Branislav

• Petakovich, Proto Velimir and Protinica Ljubinka

• Dimich, Marlene

• Kunac, Maria and Dusan

• Drakulich, Persida

• Kurkjian, Robert and Ann

• Draskovic, Proto Bozidar and Protinica Bozana

• Lazovic, Alexander and Carole

• Ducich, Nick and Tia

• Lukic, James-Ljuban and Petka

• Dukovich, Mitch and Marie

• Lukic, Milos

• Elez, Sladjana and Family

• Masic, Milenko

• Freeman, Lillian

• Markley, Scott and Nada

• Fulton, Jeff and Radmila

• Marin, Mike, Tina and Family

• Galashty, Natalia

• McCarthy, Svetlana

• Gavrilov, Gleb

• McKienzie, Sally-Ann

• Germain, Deacon Paul, Natalija and Family

• Medigovich, Samuel

• Glusac, Milena • Grijakovic, Vladimir • Groza, Horia and Joanna • Hyduke, David • Ilic, Boris • Ilic, Petar and Rosa • Irick, Olga • Ivanovic, Mirko and Sylvia • Janich, Thomas and Marcia

• Lopez-Anthofer, Alex and Kira

• Markovic, Predrag and Maja • Melnick, Stanley and Pauline • Mihailovic, Gordon • Mikler, Zora • Miladinovic, Radmila • Miladinovic, Miroslav • Milanovich, Jennifer • Milasinovich, Zeljko and Marija • Miller, Mallory M. • Milicevic, James and Melanie

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 22

• Petric, Alex, Shari and Aci • Petric, Milovan and Jelena • Petrovic, Djordje and Marija • Plavsic, Ljubinka • Plavsic, Milan and Ljubica • Plavsic, Mara-Seja • Plavsic, D. Dee • Popa, Cornelia • Popovic, Darko and Family • Popovich, Dolly • Popovich, Vojkan and Nada • Potkonjak, Michael, Sheila and Joseph • Pugh, Zachary and Milica • Purlia, Gloria • Radojevic, Slobodan and Dr. Vesna • Radojevic, Protinica Nadezda • Radomirovic, Vladimir • Radovanovic, Dragoslav and Ljiljana • Raicevic, Vladimir and Silvana and Family • Radomirovic, Vladimir and Family • Radosavljevic, Mika

• Radovanovic, Dragoslav and Ljiljana

• Suliman, George and Dorina

• Rajkovic, Nesha and Bojana

• Thickstun, Kathryn

Children’s Stewardship List

• Rakich, Danielle

• Topalovic, Vojkan, Maja and Family

• Krsic, Anastasija

• Rakic, Marko, Vera and Family

• Trifunovic, Alexandra

• Krsic, Luka

• Rhoads, Howard and Lydia

• Trifunovic, Dr. Robert, Simona and Family

• Krsic, Nikolaj

• Rutherford, Kathleen

• Trifunovic, Vladan and Milica and Family

• Leff, Dylan

• Ruzic, Stevan and Marija

• Tully, George

• Saathoff, Stephanie

• Tvrdisic, Misa, Jovana and Family

• Sacchetti, Cynthia

• Undheim, Robert and Dobrila

• Savchuk, Nikolaj and Olga and Family

• Urosevic, Branislav and Elaine

• Schrandt Jeff and Natalija V.

• Valliu, Becky

• Sedy-Miletic, John and Ana and Family

• Vasiliu, Laurentiu and Daniela

• Selezan, Dusan

• Vasich, Branko and Family

• Selezan, Nemanja and Jelena

• Vasic, Milica

• Serdar, Sophie

• Vlasovich, Milanka

• Serebryakova, Elena

• Vladic, Milan

• Skaljac, George and Bernadette

• Vucelic, Inge

• Smith, Justin, Zorana and Family

• Vukotich, Dorothy

• Smolan, Tom

• Vukotich, May and Stefan

• Srbich, Eva and Jeanette

• Vukotich, John and Jean

• Starr, Tatyana

• Vuksanovic, Dusan

• Stojadinovic, Djordje and Julijana

• Yancey, Peter

• Stojanovic, Robert and Sandra

• Zivkovic, Miodrag and Sarah

• Stoyanoff, Jordan and Beatriz

• Zivkovic, Tina and Jovan

The Soldier and the Saint, magical realism and science fiction, colored with our local Point Loma San Diego community It takes considerable energy and endurance to write a book (I know from experience!) plus considerable imagination and artistry to create a novel. And a novel is what friend of St George parish, Vladislav “Vlada” Celik, has been putting together the past few years.

When, that is, he is not doing quality assurance testing for CareFusion, a big biotech company in Mira Mesa.

But there’s more, Vlada is also an accomplished musician (he’s played piano several times at St George), and he has awards and graduate degrees in music. His specialty is saxophone. He has been the principal sax player for the local Portuguese band for several years, which is how he became inspired to write The Soldier and the Saint.

In a nutshell, the story goes: A soldier is pronounced dead by a roadside bomb, but when his remains arrive at the military hospital, his vital signs show activity. After extensive resuscitation and rehabilitation, he returns to his home in California (San Diego), to recuperate from the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Going back in time to his

enlistment in the military, he remembers walking into a pawn shop and buying a broken porcelain figurine of the ancient Roman Goddess Golondrina, who, according to legend, is still revered by the Portuguese in the Azore islands, where she is known as Santa Golondrina. Soldier glues the figurine’s broken wings and keeps her as his own “Patron Saint.” After the road-side bomb incident earns him the trip home, he joins the local Portuguese holy procession, in which the Azoreans walk a human-sized statue of Santa Golondrina. When the Saint is displayed in the church, the heavily medicated soldier starts a conversation with her and admits that he would like to have a wife who looks like the Saint. Touched by his sincere “confession,” Santa Golodrina promises to turn herself into a woman to become his wife. However, when the soldier attempts to sneak the statute out of the church, he gets arrested for stealing church property. Then he is in such big trouble that only a Saint can bail him out.

According to Vlada that is where the miracle begins. In my opinion, “miracles” occur throughout the story. Miracles that require you suspend ordinary beliefs and just sit back and observe what a curious amulet can do

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 23

If your names are not on this list, the Stewardship Chairman did not receive your pledge card. So please fill it out and return to the church office as soon as possible. It is important for the church to have your pledge for budget and planning.

Otherwise, if you’re sure you returned your card, and you are not on this list, it is possible we have lost your card, in which case, you should also inform the Stewardship Chairman immediately.

And if we have misspelled your name, also inform the church office (619-2765827), and we will immediately make the necessary corrections.

Thank you!

Toma Jovanovic, Stewardship Chairman, tomasjovanovic@hotmail.com

even when the owner has no clue of its power.

The Soldier and the Saint is available on Amazon.com. Vlada would love for you to read it and send him your comments. Being a native Serbian speaker, you will be amazed at his skill turning English prose into a fascinating story with local color as well.

Marsha Jovanovic, editor

making direct donations. Remember that as part of St. George Church, your donation to St. George Morava is tax deductible.

MORAVA! Dear Friends and Supporters, Morava is coming off its busy season, and it went off with a bang! Kolobration at St. Stevens, Bacon and Wine, Kolofest at St. Petka, Artwalk San Diego in Little Italy, Fresno Serb Fest, Morava Graduations, and Morava’s 28th Annual Summer Folkfest! Always busy in the pursuit of perpetuating our beautiful Serbian culture through song

October 2015 is always a crunch. First we perform and help at our own St. George Serbian Festival on October 3 and then our annual trek to Opolo Vineyards the weekend of October 16— 18! Opolo! An unexpected treat was being invited to St. Peter the Apostle Serbian Orthodox Church in Fresno to dance for their SerbFest on June 6, 2015. They do not have a folklore group and expressed that a Serbian Festival is just not the same without folklore dancing. The generosity and support shown to Morava by their parish was truly appreciated. It serves as a reminder that churches without folklore are missing an integral part of the Serbian cultural experience.

and dance.

The latter begets the question of what would the landscape of St. George parish look like without Morava? Although Morava Senior Ensemble is a vibrant and dynamic force at St. George, it can crumble in a nano second without the support of the parish and without parents bringing their children to the pee wee and junior groups. There are always excuses of not the right night for practice or too much homework or my child doesn’t like who else is in the group. Then in the same breath one hears lamentations of why one’s children are losing their Serbian identity. Morava Seniors has provided the pee wee and junior groups with instructors and directors. They are ready, willing, and able to instruct your children in Serbian song and dance. They cannot do so without you bringing them to practice and making it a priority in your household. Please bring your children to practices on a regular basis. Ability is the key factor to move into the senior group. If your children are not in Morava, enroll them.

Friendships and memories forged through kolo dance are irreplaceable. As we blend into the American way of life through time, mixed marriages, and the evolution of diminishing Serbian identity, it is even more important to be determined to keep alive our Serbian heritage. Serbian cultural identity can be perpetuated in the many ways—one of which is through song and dance with Morava.

Mark your calendars for Trio Balkan Strings (Trio Balkanske Zice) August 15, 6pm—11pm

Morava is excited to host TRIO BALKAN STRINGS on August 15, 2015 at St. George Church. Dinner will be available at 6pm, and the Concert will begin promptly at 8pm—World fusion jazz with a Balkan flair at the master level.

Don’t miss this, and bring your friends who are guitar enthusiasts. Dinner and Concert will be by reservation. Limited seating will be available, and this one will be SOLD OUT! Please look for information coming soon for reservation details.

On August 28—30, 2015, Morava Seniors will hold Kolo Kamp with Vladimir Spasojevic. This will be a 3-day intensive learning a new dance, Vojvodina, choreographed specially for Morava. Vladimir is the Artistic Director of Oplenac from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Some of you may remember when they were out here a few years ago and treated us to a spectacular concert at the Joan Kroc Theater. Vladimir choreographed one of Morava’s favorite dances, Bosilegradske Krajiste. We are ready for a long weekend of learning, aching feet, shin splints, dance, and fun! We are looking for Red Boot sponsors!

If you are interested in sponsoring a pair of red boots, which are part of the costume for this dance, please write a check payable to St. George Morava for $105, and mail to Dobrila Undheim, 639 Matagual Dr., Vista, CA 92081.

Dance season 2015/2016 begins on September 10, 2015, and we will hit the ground running. The last weekend in September, Morava will have a booth at the Viking Festival in Vista, www.vikingfestivalvista.com. Morava has done this for the past 3 years and sells shaved ice at the Nordic Ice booth. This serves as a fundraising event to build the treasury. Come and visit us!

We are there all weekend as Nordic Ice.

Have a great summer and hope to see you all at the Trio Balkan Strings Concert on August 15, 2015!

Dobrila Undheim Director, Morava Senior Ensemble 760-212-5891, Dobrila@cox.net

Please help Morava get to Spain and France in June 2016.

Morava will be representing St. George at an international dance festival in Costa Brava, Spain, at the end of June and then off to Paris for a joint concert with Mladost Pariz. You can support Morava in two ways: by attending fundraising events or VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 24

Selling shaved ice at the Nordic Ice booth

Dobrila photo bombing a symmetrical arrangement of MORAVA dancers

Practice, practice, practice!

Have a Great Summer See You In September!

Morava Moms—what would we do without them?

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 25

2015 St George Graduates High School

College

Nikola Nikolic

Lazar Alemany

Sammy Pantovic

Haley Saathoff

Nikola Zivkovic

Aleksandra Trifunovic

Professional school Elizabeth Kasic Zdralo Graduate School Sandra Skendzic

Stefan Zivkovic

Nikola Nikolic

Nikola & Stefan Zivkovic

I am Nikola Nikolic, the son of Gordana and Dragan Nikolic. This year I am graduating from La Jolla High School with a 4.85 GPA and the title of Salutatorian. During the past four years I have assumed many responsibilities beyond the classroom, expanding my scope of knowledge. I joined the Investment Club and UNICEF club my freshman year, reaching the title of President in both by my sophomore year. I have also played on the varsity tennis team for 4 consecutive years. During two of those years our team was the CIF Champion, thus reinforcing our teams dominance with the most CIF wins out of any high school in California.

We are pleased to announce the 2015 San Marcos High School Graduates, Stefan and Nikola Zivkovic. The exact College they will be attending is still under consideration as their concentration is to go to school together, play college basketball, and major in Kinesiology. It is not easy to find all three of these in the Southern California area.

They have received basketball offers on the East Coast; but these twins still want to be involved with Morava and stay local. Offers are still coming in so they will have to wait and see. What we know for sure, and that is most important, is that Stefan and Nikola have grown into intelligent, respectful, and hardworking young men whom their sister, parents, and grandparents are extremely proud of. We know they will be successful in all that they do. We all love you very much - Ziveli!

Tina Zivkovic for the family

One of the greatest opportunities I have had at my school was the ability to take college level math courses. I have completed calculus, linear algebra, and discrete structures. However, the most vital part of my educational career was getting an internship over the summer at UCSD to study new treatments for cholera and anthrax on flies. This three-month internship really shaped my expectations of how scientific research is done on the undergraduate level. Furthermore, my study of protein deficiencies has sparked my interest in medicine and pharmaceutical venture capital, both of which I plan to pursue after college.

After visiting many colleges this spring, I have decided to study molecular biology and cellular development at Cornell University.

Nikola Nikolic

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 26

Aleksandra Trifunovic

Sandra Skendzic Alexandra Trifunovic, daughter of Dr. Robert and Simona Trifunovic, sister of Stefan, Katarina, and Natalia, and granddaughter of Father Velimir and Protinica Ljubinka Petakovich and Danica Trifunovic and the late Alexander Trifunovic, graduated in May with a Bachelor’s degree in Television, Radio and Film as well as a minor in Music Performance from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, at Syracuse University.

Sandra Skendzic graduated in June with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. During her graduate studies, she performed research on campus, interned at a company, and worked on her thesis.

Now, she plans to join a company in the fiber optic communications industry and get back to some of her most-missed hobbies, such as Serbian Folklore.

Since the young age of three when Milena Draskovic brought me out on stage for my first folklore performance, I have foreseen myself working and loving the world of entertainment.

Thereafter, I performed with Morava Folklore, in school plays, sang around the world with my high school choir and have thoroughly enjoyed making my audience laugh, smile, and even cry.

It was not until college, however, that I transitioned from dancing and performing to finding my passion behind the camera and on the set to collaborate with others in creating the inconceivable beauty that is film and television.

Although I have found a passion for editing scripted television and film, this past year I was eager to act as I had in previous years, so I took on the lead role at my university’s Senior Capstone project where my classmates and I learned the foundation of true teamwork and developed and produced a six-episode drama-series that we premiered at the end of the semester to peers, professors, and my dear family who flew all the way to New York!

I strive for distinction in everything I do. I find it is my duty to myself and others to provide the enthusiasm, energy, and vision that brings everyone that much closer to the common goal of efficiency and beauty that the entertainment industry so desires and thrives from.

Elizabeth Kasic graduated from a vocational nurses program in February. She will be seeking employment after she returns from her European honeymoon. Parents are Rade & Radmila Kasic and new husband is Nemanja Zdralo.

Thank you, Mama and Tata, for putting me through college and consistently reminding me that educating yourself will take you far in life!

This next chapter of my life is dedicated to you!

Aleksandra Trifunovic

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 27

Christian Monks, Students Refuse to Flee 4th-Century Monastery Near ISIS-Controlled Mosul; 'God Protects Us' 15. June 2015 Three monks and six students have taken refuge in the ancient monastery of Mar Mattai in northern Iraq, just 12 miles from the Islamic State-occupied Mosul City, not willing to flee, and expressing "their faith that this is a secure place."

Erbil's Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda said a small unit of the Kurdish military is protecting the nine Christians but that's not why they believe they are safe in the shrine, also known as St. Matthew's Monastery.

"There is a kind of feeling that they cannot express but they at least feel relaxed in a way that even if, God forbid, something would happen, they are in safe hands," Warda told Catholic News Agency.

Many people in nearby villages have fled as the Islamic State terror group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, now maintains control over much of the region.

ISIS, an offshoot of al-Qaeda, is seeking to establish a caliphate in the Levant region and beyond, and is fast expanding its control in Syria and Iraq. The Christian minority is one of its main targets.

An international coalition led by the United State has been launching airstrikes on ISIS targets. "We can see the battles and the airstrikes from here in front of us, especially at night. The sky lights up at night, but we of course are not scared. God protects us," Yousif Ibrahim, one of three monks, told USA Today.

Situated atop Mount Alfaf in Nineveh Plains, it is recognized as one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence.

Currently maintained by the Syriac Orthodox Church, the monastery has a magnificent library with considerable

collection of Syriac Christian manuscripts.

Sahar Karaikos, one of six students at the monastery, believes in the wisdom of his teachers. "We are not scared, because our teachers give us a feeling of peace here, but we know we are on the front lines, and in seconds the Islamic State could be here," he was quoted as saying. "I don't even want to think or speak about the destruction the Islamic State would cause if they took our monastery."

Last June, ISIS seized the nation's second-largest city of Mosul in an offensive.

Two months later, the Sunni terror group also captured surrounding areas.

ISIS is destroying the Christian heritage in areas under its control, but Archbishop Warda said the terrorists have not been able to destroy the people's faith.

"They've destroyed walls and historical sites, but they were unable to destroy the faith of the community. And that's the good news. That our people are strong enough to leave everything behind and just stay Christians."

ISIS has executed 2,618 people, including 1,511 civilians, since last June, when it declared its "Caliphate," according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which documented at least 464 executions over the last two months alone.

The overall executions included those of 23 children and 32 women. The execuVOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 28

tions were carried out mostly by beheading, shooting or stoning. ISIS has also executed 139 of its own members for "exceeding the limits in religion and spying for foreign countries," mostly after they were trying to go back to their homes.

Source: Pravoslavie.ru Christian world News |

ISIS Kidnap 88 Eritrean Christians in Libya 11. June 2015 Several international human right’s groups and media have reported that the terror group ISIS have captured around eighty eight Eritrean Christians in Libya.

This has been confirmed by some U.S. officials as well. ISIS captured one of a smugglers Caravan. Later they separated Christians from Muslims.Some of the attempted to flee where three of them escaped. Fate of the rest of the Christians remain unknown.

Source: OCP Christian world News | Serbian

The Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija This book on Serbia’s Christian Heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, its heartland in medieval times and through Ottoman domination, is intended to introduce to a wide reading public the oldest and richest treasury of Serbian medieval history and culture. Its authors are leading specialists in the fields in which they write, so readers may place complete reliance on the factual accuracy of the material.

The editor and publisher have the fervent hope that today’s peoples in Kosovo and Metohija will be able to begin their discussions not from what divides them but from what unites them, emphasizing in positive and constructive ways the areas in which a Serbo-Albanian ethnic symbiosis has existed. This book invites all to consider their differences in the light of history and of the future.

Authors: Gojko Subotić • Alex Dragnich • Slavko Todorovich • Thomas A. Emmert • Sima M. Ćirković • Arthur Evans • G. K. Chesterton • Boško Bojović • Atanasije Jevtić • Alexander F. Hilferding • Rebecca West • Rebecca West • Stamatis Skliris • Dušan T. Bataković • Radovan Samardžić • Dimitrije Djordjević • Dimitrije Bogdanović • Sava Janjić • Andrew Wermuth • F. W. Harvey and others This book is a vibrant testimony to the incredible efforts made by the Serbian Orthodox Church to create a spiritual culture, maintain its monuments, and preserve its inheritance in Kosovo and Metohija.

King's College London Welcomes “The Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija” On May 10, at King’s College London, one of the top 20 universities in the world (2013-4 QS international world rankings), a rare history and fine art book, published by Sebastian Press, was presented to a wider public interested to study or expand their knowledge about the cultural heritage of Kosovo and Metohija (Serbia).

Bishop Maxim and Fr. Sava of Decani in New York On the Feast of Mid-Pentecost and the Holy Great-Martyr George, in the Church of St. Sava in the New York, on May 6, 2015, it was very festive. His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America served the Liturgy with concelebrating priests: Archimandrite Sava, abbot of Decani Monastery in Kosovo and Metohija, Hieromonk Dimitrije from Decani monastery, Hieromonk Mark Kerr and and Fr. Djokan Majstorovic, Cathedral Dean....

Bishop Maxim of Western America and Abbott Sava of Decani Monastery spoke about the book at the College Chapel at the Strand. This chapel is seen by many as the spiritual heart of the College. Vocal quartet led by Bozidar Smiljanic sung during the presentation.

Bishop Maksim conveyed to the faithful the greetings and blessings of their Bishop Mitrofan and welcomed fathers from Decani. He pointed out that through sharing the Eucharistic Bread and the Communion we become the guardians of the ancient tradition that has kept our ancestors through the ages.

This Monograph is addressed to both scholarly and wider public interesting in cultural heritage of Kosovo and Metohija, covering late Roman, Byzantine and Serbian medieval and post-medieval cultural heritage. It isl an important reference book for academics, archeologists, art historians, historians, various groups of researchers, students as well for artists, politicians, international agencies, NGO’s, decisions makers, etc.

The previous evening, in the hall of the Orthodox Cathedral, Fr. Sava spoke about the life of our Orthodox people in Kosovo and Metohija and the challenges that they are facing in everyday life.

A copy of the book was presented to the Library of this College.

Western American Diocese

This 1,000-page book is hardbound and in full color, illustrated with over 750 color reproductions of all of our most significant historical figures, monasteries, churches, frescoes, icons, and other artifacts.

Sebastian Press

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2015 29

After a visit to New York, follows a visit to Boston, where Bishop Maksim and Archimandrite Sava participate in the International Colloquium dedicated to the philanthropic activities of the Church.

Western American Diocese

In the Green: St George Recycling Program In an effort to gain much needed revenue and to help the environment, we are actively recycling at St. George.

Did you know that every time you throw a water bottle, aluminum can, or glass beer bottle into the garbage instead of recycling it, you are throwing money away?

Each can or bottle that is not recycled equals five cents gone forever. While five cents may not seem like much, every can and bottle quickly adds up.

Insuring your life helps protect their future.

Vladan Trifunovic, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0G31333

1635 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd San Marcos CA 92078 tel: 760 290 3533 Govorimo srpski

It can also provide for today.

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Please remember to put all plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans into the blue recycling containers that are located both inside the hall as well as outside.

In 2012, over 17.2 billion containers were recycled in California, saving natural resources, conserving energy, extending the life of our landfills, and helping to reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse

Voice of St George $XWXPQ ,VVXH Please submit all articles reports, events, news, photos, announcements, ads, etc.,

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Send your copy or information to the Voice Editor at marsha@marshaj.com or contact Father Bratso.

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VOICE OF ST. GEORGE â&#x20AC;˘ SUMMER 2015 30

The wedding of Nemanja Zdralo and Elizabeth Kasic at St George Church in Clearwater, Florida, was a traditional Serbian wedding filled with lots of good food, music, friends, and most of all many memories. The two families thank all the San Diegans who made it out to Florida, to all family from Australia and Denmark who came, the Vegas crew, and friends from many other places!

Misha Tours / Firstworld Travel

619-588-5811 / 619-588-4644 VOICE OF ST. GEORGE â&#x20AC;˘ SUMMER 2015 31

Congratulations & Best Wishes from the Misha Jovanovic family