Badnje Vece

HRISTOS SE RODI!

CHRIST IS BORN!

A wonderful crowd of parishioners came for the evening Badnje Vece Services at St. George Church.  After the beautiful Christmas Eve service everyone went outside for the blessing and burning of the Badnjak ( Yule Log ).  The Kolo Sisters prepared a wonderful Lenten Supper for everyone to enjoy with friends, family and Kumovi.

In commemoration of the Nativity of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, Serbian people have a variety of significant and moving customs.

The Badnjak - The Yule Log: The Badnjak is a young oak tree which reminds us of the tree with which the righteous Joseph started the fire in the manger when the Son of God was born.  The Badnjak is brought home, placed on the fire and burned on Christmas Eve.  At the same time, straw is spread on the floor and after prayers, a Lenten supper is served.

The Badnjak is a symbol of the tree of happiness.  The New-Born Son of God is the true tree of happiness.  Therefore, bringing the Badnjak into the house represents Christ's entry into the world, into our homes, and into our hearts and souls.

Years ago, on Christmas Eve morning (badnji dan) in Serbia, fathers would take their eldest son to the forest to chop down an oak tree branch, which would become their badnjak or Yule Log.  Straw is placed throughout the home to signify Christ's humble birth. Walnuts and wheat are strewn in the four corners of the dining room with a prayer for health and prosperity.

Photos by Jelena Mulin; e-mail: wwwjelena@yahoo.com

George Celebrates 90 years

Our beloved George celebrated his birthday with friends and Kumovi Sunday after singing during the Divine Liturgy at St. George Church.

This is George in Paris in 19444 when he was 23 years old.

Photos and story provided by Rada Spiric

e-mail:  wwwjelena@yahoo.com

St. George has Divine Liturgy with visiting Bishops

Sunday December 25, 2011, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan and His Grace Bishop Longin were visiting Florida and served Divine Liturgy together at St. George Church in Clearwater.

Photos by Peter Mulin; e-mail: www.jelena@yahoo.com

Visiting Bishops in Florida

His Grace Bishop Mitrophan and His Grace Bishop Longin are in Florida.  They will be serving Divine Liturgy together this Sunday December 25, 2011.  Divine Liturgy will start at 10 am. Let us all plan on attending and filling our church to capacity.

Srpski Dan - Serbian Day

The annual Serbian Day Festival  at St. George Church was a perfect day and well attended.  Friends, family and Kumovi enjoyed bocce tournaments, soccer tournaments, folklore performances and watching soccer on the big screen TV inside the church hall.

There were two bocce lanes going on for most of the day.  The bocce players were having a good time playing in the tournament throughout the day.  The soccer players also had two fields where players were competing in the tournament to the enjoyment of the spectators.  There was also youth soccer that played later on in the evening.

We had two folklore groups performing to the delight of the audience ,Srpska Kruna (Serbian Crown) from Orlando and Srpski Biser (Serbian Pearl) from St. Petersburg.  There was a display in the hall about Serbia, its people and the history.  Kolo Sisters were selling a lot of their delicious kolace (Serbian cookies). How could anyone resist those tempting sweets the Kolo Sisters make every year.

The grill was busy hopping and the grill masters could barely keep up with the demand of the cevapi and mixed grill.  The cepavi are those wonderful sausage-shaped Serbian delicacy the size of a fat pinky finger served piled on lepinja (Serbian bread).

There was dancing to the wee hours of the morning for everyone to enjoy.   Everyone enjoyed pulling up their "CARAPE" (socks) and putting on there "OPANKE" (Serbian shoes) to "KOLO" dance the night away to Serbian music.

A Big Thank you to the Church Board, Kolo Sisters and all the volunteers who all worked hard to keep everyone happy with food, drinks and of course the Kolo Sisters famous kolaci (Serbian cookies).  We would also like to thank everyone who came to spend the day at St. George Church's Serbian Day.  See you all next year.

Photos by Peter and Jelena Mulin; email: wwwjelena@yahoo.com