Serbian History 101

There are beautiful photos of St. Sava’s Day being celebrated by our Serbian children in Kosovo on the KIM website.  Even more unbelievable, is seeing the children in Johannsburg, South Africa, ALSO celebrating St. Sava’s Day.
 Thanks be to God!

I’m sure my favorite holiday is St. Sava’s Day.  I eagerly look forward to the January 27 celebration as much as any young child waiting to open gifts on Christmas Day.  My heart pumps doubly fast when I hear the first notes of “U--s--klik-ni-mo s’ljubavu….”and by the time of the last verse that talks about “and we children on this side of the Ocean, of Serbian name and blood,” I’m just somewhere else in my own universe.

I revel in hearing the children say their declamaticas (Serbian recitations) to calls of “Bravo!  Bravo!” perhaps coupled with shrill whistles, and hard and fast clapping.  Of course, this all follows the last line of poetry said, when nervous parents and grandparents can finally breathe again and join the rest of us in the congregational celebration to Saint Sava.

The thirty-two children who took the stage at St. Elijah’s Center in Aliquippa gave an inspiring, flawless performance, thanks to the persistent efforts of Protinica Ana, Fr. Stevan Stepanov, the Sunday School teachers, the children and their parents and grandparents.  Good-natured hoots of approval revealed the listeners’awe after long poems were recited in perfect Serbian diction.

 John Buffalini, an eleventh grade junior student at Center High School, served as Master of Ceremonies, his confidence immediately putting everyone at ease.  He was warmly welcoming, reminding me of a young Serbian Bert Parks conducting the world famous “Miss America” contest.  (He sings the epistle equally as well many Sundays.  Metropolitan Christopher, you must remember this name for the School of Theology, as Fr. Stepanov has said many times that John would make an excellent priest from the time he was in second grade!!!  Let’s face it.  John is going to do well with whatever profession he chooses.  We just hope he remains with us!)

Although the St. Sava’s Day performance was after church on Sunday, January 29, the practicing started in November, right after Thanksgiving.  Those extra practices on the weekdays were worth it.  No more last minute stuttering over declamaticas or saying one or two lines in English.  These great-grandchildren of St. Sava were absolutely wonderful! 

Smiles came readily to the audience as each young angel looked like a symphony orchestra conductor minus a baton after a brilliant performance as he/she bowed this way, then that in acknowledged appreciation, followed by even more enthused clapping on the final bow to the middle.  One after another these youngsters came, bringing gifts that no-money-in-the-world could buy to all.  “Bravo, brav-o!”

 “Sta volim?  Volim rijeka kad je cista, volim zvezdu kad se blistra….” Hearts were made young again as people nodded to one another…”that’s the poem I said when I was young,” or “I remember my mother reciting that one to me!  Dva desetog ovo veka, Sveti Sava na nas ceka.”

Although all students did a fine job it was such an incredible joy to hear John Buffali and 8th grader Natasa Cvetkovic take turns, alternating every paragraph between English and Serbian in the poem about St. Sava.  “Ko to lupa?”

Paragraph after paragraph this old poem went on, audience eyes darting from the poised young man on the right to the equally confident young lady to our left.  Three paragraphs, four.  So far so good.  Flawless, flawless so far.  Then you could almost see the audience’s breathing almost stop half way through, probably every mind thinking, “It’s so good, I hope they don’t forget now.”  Six, seven, eight paragraphs and still they went on.  Now by this time you could hear a pin drop.  Hearts stopped like dead battery clocks.  “Keep going, keep going” I heard my mind whisper pathetically.  Then finally the end, where the two teenagers said the poem’s last stanzas so dramatically together that heartfelt bursts of appreciative cheers rocked St. Elijah’s Center.  I couldn’t help but think how proud St. Sava must have been, witnessing this heavenly joy brought home to the people here on Earth!

Afterwards, I thought people would head for home in droves, but almost everyone stayed for beautiful fellowship dinner afterwards, even with threats of snow.

What could be better than the above?  How about St. Sava’s Day celebrations two weeks in a row, and with a visit from Bishop Artemije from Kosovo thrown into the mix!

In deference to Fr. Malich’s personal Slava of St. Peter in Chains on Sunday, January 29, and the possibility of an unexpected but most-welcomed guest, the Monroeville congregation celebrated the following Sunday, February 5. 

While I’m very partial to Aliquippa’s St. Elijah’s heavenly choir, I couldn’t help but be delighted with Monroeville’s St. Nicholas Choir too as they sang with such gusto under the direction of the master, Milutin Lazich.  Um-umm! What fantastic voices answered the prayers of the many participants in the altar, led by Bishop Artemije!

The Sunday School children sang “Uskliknimo,” and “O Boze Nas” and “Krst je sila i za mene, krst je spasenje…” as the congregation went up for nafora before the choir continued singing….what else?  “Uskliknimo” all the way to the end!

Even though it was Super Bowl Sunday, the church hall was packed for a wonderful dinner.  Bishop Artemije told of watching the children in Kosovo give their speeches for St. Sava’s Day, and never dreaming he would be lucky enough to be halfway across the world, to hear recitations to St. Sava again in America.  Then he spoke of the extremely hard times faced by the Serbian people of Kosovo and Fr. Malich as always, urged the people present to give as much as they could to help our suffering Serbian brethren. 

Sitting right next to Georgeann Klipa, I couldn’t help but see that she, not a wealthy woman by any means, lovingly answered Fr. Malich’s call, emptying her checkbook, but filling her heart.  And this wasn’t the first time.  If all of us could follow examples like the Klipas and the Silianoffs and others, our poor Serbian people wouldn’t be in such dire straits.  Who else do they have to help them but us? 

Congratulations, Monroeville.  You are very generous givers!

Bishop Artemije stayed to watch most of the 62 young children recite poems, sing Bible songs, act in plays and do a Question and Answer session about the Life of St. Sava.  This time, the Master of Ceremonies was none other than George Klipa, following in the footsteps of his late father, +Steve Klipa, who was posthumously awarded the medal of St. Sava for all of the good deeds he did for his people by V.Rev. Dr. Bishop Mitrofan of the Eastern American Diocese.  George was absolutely perfect, sometimes bending down on his knees and congratulating every participant so each thought of himself worthy of a star in a Hollywood sidewalk.  As they walked down the stairs, they received gifts from the honored Kumovi Robert and Diane Ray and their children.

While ALL the children were again delightful, special mention must be made of (1) Judy and Ivan Obrknez’s two youngsters, Evdokia & Vaso, singing (belting out with all their hearts!) about Serbia:  “Bices si ti, sto si bila!” to the delight of the crowd, (2) the handsome young Karas boy, four year old Dushan, son of Paul and Tracy Karas, when he said without missing a word, and delivering it as if he were in TV Broadcasting school at college, the entire NICENE CREED.  Joi, joi, joi!  The joy that day in Monroeville.  The future is assured!

That’s right, St. Sava.  Your children on this side of the ocean, of Serbian name and blood, will, Daj Boze, continue to sing to you with joyful hearts.  They’ll do their best for you and for themselves, making us all proud.  Just like their parents, grandparents, and great-great grandparents, they’re wonderful Serbs.  And in being good Serbs, they’re even better Americans! 

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Serbian kids EVERYWHERE know the Hymn to St. Sava:

 

These children from Serbia were on a field trip with their teachers to this Lazarica Monastery.  Fr. Zivojin (from Cleveland) and I purchased candles for them to light for all the martyrs who died throughout the centuries. Then we all sang "Vjecnaja Pamjat" and  "Uskliknimo" together.

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Here are some other Serbian teen-agers who are just like you, and their teachers at another Serbian monument.

 

 It seemed everywhere we visited, school children were out learning more about their country's historical sites!  We made sure we told the students how very much we loved them all... each one of them! 

 

These children BLESSED themselves before singing "Uskliknimo" for us!

 

Wherever our St. Sava is, there are wreaths of glory!  We loved them!

 

Look at  THESE children singing "Uskliknimo"  in the St. Sava VRACAR Cathedral in Belgrade.  They were on a field trip from Voyvodina schools, 2006.

 

 

(Above) St. Sava's Cathedral in Belgrade

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St. Sava’s Day in Aliquippa
by Milana Karlo Bizic  2-8-08

    “Ko to lupa?” Who knocks on our heart on St. Sava’s Day each year the way Prince Rastko (our beloved St. Sava) knocked on monastery doors centuries ago?

    In Aliquippa, PA, one could say it started this year watching ever reliable Bisa Kovachevich and her daughters Stephanie and Nada proudly bringing the Kolach and Koljivo up the steps of St. Elijah as the bells were joyfully pealing, calling the faithful to service. 

     Peering down from the choir loft, admiring honored Kumovi, Natalie Suder and Alex Osman, standing so upright, wearing their red/blue/white trobojnicas, holding aloft their special candles throughout the service with a pride not unlike that found in the finest of Serbian soldier flag bearers, counted as another joy.

    Capturing with your eyes the Click! Click! Click! mental snapshots of a dozen gold-clad altar boys in absolute synch doing formations in front of the altar or left altar door with their silver and gold crosses, fans, and candle holders, better than any star football players making X’s and O’s moves on a chalkboard made it 3-0.

    It’s your inside alertness alarm going off, with the promise of “coming soon!” ---the hustle, bustling preparation of the distinguished tutors huddling around the small altar table, bringing the wine, kolach, koljivo, then giving the hand wave signal to the waiting Sunday School class representatives; the Kumovi passing their candles to the back so their hands are free to turn the kolach with Father.

    Ko to lupa?  (Who's knocking?)  It’s St. Elijah’s balanced and strong 35 member choir singing “Slava tebi Hriste Boze” (we celebrate You, Lord God), as the kolach is turned, and after all is said and done, a chorus of joyous “Mnogaja Ljeta” (“Many Years!”) and singing verse after verse of “Uskliknimo” as the well-pleased parishioners go up for nafora.

    All this even before the first Declamatcia (Recitation) is said! 

Ko to lupa?

    The Sunday School Class of 2008 did a magnificent job of reciting their poems to St. Sava.  Proto Stevan and Protinica Ana were as proud as peacocks as the children said their poems in perfect Serbian diction.  Father said:  “I want to congratulate our dear Sunday School Children for a job extremely well done.  They were all so well dressed, so well behaved, so well prepared and so proud to say the poems they had worked so hard to prepare.  This brings me to the dedicated parents and grandparents who brought these children to practices, and more importantly, who worked with them and practiced with them daily so that they would shine on stage.  Afterwards, as I watched them run and play after the program, I was so proud and happy to see yet another generation learning and growing together in their Serbian Orthodox faith.”

    Not only the parents and grandparents got kudos, but also the dedicated Sunday School Teachers and Program Coordinators, Georgette Osman and Brian Hayden.  The Mother’s Club with Seya Mabee and Lynn Popovich at the head had everyone thanking them for a wonderful dinner afterwards. 

    From Juliana Mistovich’s flawless recitation of “Dobrodoslica” (Welcome) to endearing Elijah Kosanovich’s “Eto Dragi Gosti Mili” (Here we are, Dear Guests!), a big “thank you!” for a job very well done!  St. Sava himself would have been so proud!

    Special mention should be made of “Ostajte Ovdje!” (Stay Here in Serbia) a poem by Aleksa Santic performed flawlessly by Natasha Cvjetkovic.

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 Vojislav Ilic[1] RASTKO

 

 Who is knocking at this hour
of the night so dark and scary
on the gates of silent, sleepy
Holy Mount monastery?

Peaceful dreams of monks at midnight
a cry pierced, and they awoke.
“Grey-haired Fathers, open the gates!”-
a voice begged. The silence broke…

“Lo! My soul seeks enlightenment,
and my body needs repose.
I am sleepy and exhausted,
I am weak, so weak… God knows

But strong is my will which made me
come to you and leave my kingdom
to dedicate life to people,
to my country and its freedom.

I abandoned Court and crown,
throne and scepter made me weary;
I came here to seek enlightenment
in this humble monastery.

Open the gates, honored Fathers!”
(This voice filed the hearts with shudder.)
“Accept me, a prince and ruler,
as your modest, younger brother.”

Heavy gates were slowly opened.
Hinges squeaked. A frightened owl
spread its wings and flew in darkness
like a lost and lonely soul.

At the threshold of the temple,
where God’s name is highly rated,
with a lighted  torch uplifted
the guardian-Father waited.

When he lifted his torch higher
the light formed a radiant bow;
a boy barefooted and innocent
stood outside in the snow.

His face was pale like an icon.
Unkempt hair his head protected.
Yet a wisdom divine, holy,
on his forehead was reflected.



The old monk embraced the youngster,
on his forehead a kiss implanted.
“We accept you, dear child,” – he said,
“Your wish and plea have been granted.”

Many ages have since gone by,
( All this happened long ago),,
many ages have since flown
and   many more will yet flow.

But that boy lives even now,
deathless, as it is his story.
He was RASTKO,  son  Nemanja’s,
SAINT SAVA, clad in glory.

Translated from Serbian and versified by
Fr.  Mateja Matejic

[1]  Mateja Matejic, Glorifying Saint Sava,  Kosovo Publishing  Co, Columbus Ohio, 1977, 8-9

 

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And how about the St. Sava Church in Indiana's Web Blog?  Read about it here!

 

 

 

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