American Serb History 101

What Makes a Serb?

"No one can be a good Serbian unless he is a good man to start with."

"May you never have a fool for a guide nor a godless Serbian for a partner."

This particular information from St. Bishop Nikolai appeared in the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church Bulletin of Easter, 2014.

What makes a Serb?

You are a good Serbian if you have

the sweet soul of King Vladimir,

the forebearance of Nemanja,

Sava's love of Christ,

Milutin's faithfulness,

Decanski's meekness,

Urosh's modesty,

Lazar's readiness to sacrifice,

Strahinja's valiancy,

Marko's sense of justice,

the heart of Mother Jugovic,

the undoubting heart of Milica,

the blessedness of mother Jevrosima,

the mercy of the Kosovo Maiden,

the resilience of the enslaved Serbians,

the vision of the blind guslars,

he wisdom of the Serbian clergy and monks,

the artistry of the folk handcrafts,

the elegegancy of the creators of folk dress,

the clear logic of the folk wisdoms,

the nobility and good taste of the Serbian peasant,

the bliss of the Krsna Slava of all baptized Serbs.

Truly, the very foundation of everything mentioned above is FAITH IN CHRIST.

If you have not in you any of the virtues mentioned above and you still call yourself a Serbian,

then you are only wearing a name of a famous firm on an empty shop.

This is something I do not wish for you nor would you wish it on yourself.

To say-be a good Serbian but your faith is unimportant, it is the same as if to say to a sheep--be well fed and fattened, the pasture is not important!

NO ONE can be a good Serbian unless he is a good man to start with.

In the world there has never existed a power which could make a man perfectly good except the power of the faith in Christ.

Therefore, don't wish to be a Serb without substance.

May you neer have a fool for a guide nor a godless Serbian for a partner.

This is my wish for you.

******************************

Bishop Nikolai on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the "St. Sava Lodge #1" of the former society "SLOGA" which merged with the Serb National Federation in 1929:

 +++++++++++++++++++

While most Serbs also speak English very well, along with several other European languages besides Serbian, their original alphabet is CYRILLIC.

They can read Cyrillic and Latinica.

(Click on the lower right hand bottom to enlarge this for your use!) 

I am indebted to very talented artist,  Milan Kecman of Ohio, for this beautifully executed copy of the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet.

++++++++++++++++++

Faith,

Family, Future: 

 (Photo by Milan Karlo, 1948, American SERB LIFE magazine)

St. Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich speaking about a mystery in Ohrid Monastery in 1934:

*How has the belief in the Resurrection of Christ been preserved through so many centuries?

 "O Serbia, beloved mother!

May you always have good fortune,

 Your children love you, 

And for you they pray to God.

                                           Land of our forefathers, Knights, and saints. 

For the honor of the cross, martyrs, 

For freedom, defenders.

 

Grave to grave -- holy cemetery,  There rest Serbian slaves. 

And all altars to altars,  The legacy of Serbian kings.

                                 On Kosovo, Gracanica,  On the mountain, Studenica, 

                                 By the Morava, Ravanica, 

In Krusevac, Lazarica.



From every battle to battle, 

Before and after VidovDan.

You are everywhere poured out in blood, 

Everywhere awash in tears.



There Kosovo sadly stands, 

Counting five centuries of slavery,

Memorial of glory and heroism, 

And discord and betrayal.



Fear not, beloved mother, 

God WILL give to you good fortune. 

And you will be most happy, 

And of all, most praised and glorious."

St. Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich

++++++++++++++++++

And from Mim:

“Puna Srece, Ljubavi, Mira i Sloge za Sve, od srca Vam zelim!”

++++++++++++++++++