10:00 a.m.

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Parastos - Laying of Wreaths at Memorial Monuments

12:30 p.m.

Consecration of New Pavilion • Anniversary Banquet and Program • South Wing

Guest Speaker: His Grace Bishop Longin of New Gracanica Diocese

All festivities will take place at St. Sava Church Grounds, 99191 Mississippi St.

Musical highlights from this year's St. Sava Day program are presented in the videos below. Under the direction of Joanne Samardzija, the students worked hard to learn several new songs. Thank you to Fr. Marko, parents, and teachers for all their help, and to Deena Galich, whose handmade props have become a part of every St. Sava Day program. Along with the many poems recited in Serbian and English, Olga Micic gave a wonderful rendition of "Rastko". Teens Rebekah Gerbick, Sasa Labovic, and Chris and Alexis Orlich read "Life of St. Sava". Maya Radjenovich, Savka Popovic, and Rachel Gerbick sang "Vesela Je Srbadija" - what beautiful young voices! There were many proud parents, grandparents, Kumovi, and friends in the audience to cheer them on.

St. Sava's Sunday School students presented a fabulous program celebrating the Patron Saint of all Serbian children. The program included several musical numbers as well as individual poems recited in Serbian and English. Program video coming soon - check back in a couple days!

Fr. Marko blessed the Slava Kolach with the Sunday School children on Sunday, January 29 following Divine Liturgy. Each year we celebrate the Patron Saint of all Serbian children, St. Sava, and we are treated to a wonderful program of music and poetry.

Fr. Marko celebrated Great Vespers on Christmas Eve with a church full of parishioners. At the end of the service, we were all anointed with Holy Oil from Christ's Tomb in Jerusalem. The special oil was a gift from Sister Serafima, Fr. Marko's dear friend who lived in Jerusalem for 15 years before returning to California. This year's balmy 45 degree weather was truly appreciated by those who remained for the blessing of the Badnjak outdoors. Lenten sandwiches, relish trays, and assorted fruit trays were served in the south wing,  as well as the traditional hot tea and sljivo. Children of all ages had a great time with "Serbian Santa".

Our St. Sava Sunday school children presented a wonderful Christmas Nativity pageant after Great Vespers on Christmas Eve. A procession of angels lead the way to Bethlehem followed by shepherds. The bright star guided three Kings as they presented gifts to the Christ Child. Christmas hymns were sung by Karageorge choir. Thank you to Sunday school teachers, parents, and Joanne Samardzija for all your hard work.

Friday, January 6 - Christmas Eve, Badnje Vece

Divine liturgy at 9:00 a.m., Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m.

Children's Christmas Play and blessing & burning of badnjak will follow with traditional light refreshments in the south wing. Santa will be there!

Saturday, January 7 - Christmas, Nativity of Our Lord

Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

Confession at 9:00 a.m.

St. Sava Church celebrated it's 97th Anniversary on Sunday, November 13, 2011. After Divine Liturgy, the procession of the faithful proceeded to the south lawn, where Father Marko held a memorial service for all departed church members and members of the military.  Executive Board President Dennis Svilar and guest speaker Ljubisa Milicich laid wreaths at both memorial monuments. Once again, we dealt with the cold wind and gray skies.

Soloist and choir director Kathy Baroevich sings "Kol Slaven".

On Sunday, October 9, His Grace Bishop Longin presided Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Church, along with guest clergy Diocesan Dean Nikolaj Kostur, Very Rev. Lazar Kostur, Very Rev. Bogdan Zjalic from Chisholm, Minnesota, and our Rev. Marko Matic. This was a remarkable day for new altar boy Ilija Roknich. It was his first church service in the altar, and he had the honor of serving with His Grace Bishop Longin.

As is our tradition, Serbian Day celebrates the memory of General Draza Mihajlovich and all others who lost their lives in wars of many generations. We gather at the new Legacy Tree and present a remnant of the tree used at the 49th Avenue picnic grounds. The excessive heat was a bit unbearable for most, but those who were able to attend enjoyed a special meal of traditional Serbian food. Special Thanks to the Ajder family for sharing these photos.

Remembering the Good Old Days.......Thank you to Darlene Sever for these priceless photos from Serbian Days past.

SERBIAN DAY  CELEBRATION   SRPSKI DAN

THIS SUNDAY, JULY 17th

10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Following church services, proceed outdoors for the traditional procession and Parastos for Gen. Draza Mihajlovich at the Legacy tree and monument area. A special menu of traditional Serbian food will be served in the South Wing Social Center. Fr. Marko will return from Gracanica camp for the service and celebration. Come spend the day with us as we gather together as a parish family.

Lamb and pig will be available and sold by the pound at the north kitchen roasting area.

Celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

The doors of the Iconostasis and Church are left open during the entire Liturgy on Easter Sunday, proclaiming the "Light and Joy of the Resurrection". At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy the priest proclaims "Christ is Risen!" and the people respond "Indeed, He is Risen!". Also sung throughout the service is The Paschal Troparion, the Great Hymn of the Resurrection of Christ. This Great Hymn of Pascha will be sung repeatedly in the weeks to come.  (Info from www.babamim.com and www.lasvegasorthodox.com)

Videos below are from the January 7 Divine Liturgy Christmas Service. Singing with our own Karageorge choir was Diana Henery (Danica Chirich), who grew up in Gary and enjoyed a long professional career as a leading soprano with the Volksoper in Vienna, Austria.

PART ONE

PART TWO

Hundreds of Serbs, young and old, braved the cold weather and threat of a snow storm to participate in evening Vespers and burning of the Badnjak. A large heated tent was set up to accomodate the huge crowd and made a  cozy place to visit with friends and relatives. Our Kolo Sisters served up lenten sandwiches and fruit trays for refreshments. The traditional "vruca rakija" helped keep everyone warm as holiday greetings and gifts were exchanged. (Click small photos to enlarge)

Old Country customs and traditions are still celebrated each Christmas Eve and Christmas Day by Serbian Orthodox Christians. Once again, our Sunday School children treated us to a wonderful performance of a Serbian family's observance of Christmas. Thanks to all the teachers and Joanne Samardzija for their hard work preparing the play and rehearsing songs. Most of all, we Thank the children for this special gift.

Mir Bozi, Hristos Se Rodi! May the birth of Our Lord bring blessings, peace, and happiness to you and your families today and always. Christ Is Born! Indeed He Is Born!

This year once again, we gathered at Calumet Park Cemetery for a solemn Memorial Day Service Monday morning. Father Marko also blessed individual graves.

All the children were dressed in their Easter finery as they received brightly colored eggs from "Beba" Milena Rudman, Dennis, and Lynn Svilar. Thank you to everyone who brought dozens of colored eggs to pass out. Enjoy the photos and be sure to click on the small thumbnail photos to renlarge, and once again on Photobucket for an even larger image.

The Church was beautifully decorated Sunday for Divine Liturgy. Icon frames were adorned with daisies and carnations, and pots of lillies and azaleas were spread throughout. Fresh flowers added a festive backdrop to the Altar as well.