American Serb History 101

All these famous Serbs knew "Oce Nas" (The Lord's Prayer: OUR FATHER, and about the Battle of Kosovo.

Click the lower right hand corner to expand photo

How many can you name?

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

The Lord's Prayer- 

"Оче наш"

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil.  Amen.

Otce nas, ize jesi na nebesjeh.  Da svjatitsja imja Tvoje, da pridet carstvije Tvoje, da budet volja Tvoja, jako na nebesi i na zemlji.  Hljeb nas nasushnij, dazd nam dnes i ostavi nam dolgi nasja, jakoze i mi ostavljajem dolznikom nasim. I ne vovedi nas vo iskushenije, no izbavi nas ot lukavago.

Отце нас, изе јеси на небесјех. Да свјатитсја имја Твоје, да придет царствије Твоје, да будет воља Твоја, јако на небеси и на земљи. Хљеб нас насусхниј, дазд нам днес и остави нам долги насја, јакозе и ми остављај долзником насим. И не воведе нас во искусхеније, но избави нас от лукаваго.

Amin. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

  Prayer to the Most-Holy Mother of God

Rejoice o Mother of God and Virgin Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

Bogorodice Djevo, radujsja blagodatnaja Marije, Gospod s toboju! Blagoslovena ti v zenah i blagosloven plod chreva tvojego, jako Spasa rodila jesi dusam nashim.

Богородице Дјево, радујсја благодатнаја Марије, Господ с тобој! Благословена ти в зенах и благословен плод цхрева твојега, јако Спаса родила јеси дусама насхим. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

Each time the Nicene Creed is recited, Orthodox Christians proclaim their belief that the Risen Lord has returned to His heavenly kingdom, reunited with the Father. The writers of the Holy Gospels tell us that this blessed event took place 40 days after our Lord's Resurrection.  In the presence of His faithful followers, Christ ascended from the Mount of Olives, disapperaring from their sight as He rose into the clouds above them.  (St. Elijah S.O. Church Bulletin, June 1, 2008, Aliquippa, PA) 

The Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisble.  AND in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages.  Light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made.  Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.  And, He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried.  And the third day, He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father;  And he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.  AND in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and gloried.  who spoke by the prophets.  And in ONE Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.  I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.  I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.  Amen. 

++++++++++

Icon of Habukkuk painted by Steve Kozobarich of Cleveland, Ohio

 

Verujem u jednoga Boga, Oca, Svedrzitelja, Tvorca neba i zemlje i svega vidljivog i nevidljivog.

I u jednoga Gospoda Isusa Hrista, Sina Bozijeg, Jedinorodnog, rodjenog od Oca pre svih vekova, Svetlost od Svetlosti, Boga istinitog od Boga istinitog, rodjenog ne stvorenog, jednosusnog Ocu, kroz koga je sve postalo;

Koji je radi  nas  ljudi i radi nasega spasenja sisao s nebesa, i ovaplotio se od Duha Svetoga i Marije Djeve i postao covek;

I Koji je raspet za nas u vreme Pontija Pilata i stradao i pogreben;

I Koji je vaskrsao u treci dan kao sto je pisano;

I Koji se uzneo na nebesa i sedi s desne strane Oca;

I Koji ce opet doci sa slavom da sudi zivima i mrtvima, i Njegovom Carstvu nece biti kraja.

I u Duha SVetoga, Gospoda, Zivotvornoga, Koji od Oca ishodi, Koji se zajedno sa Ocem i Sinom  obozava i slavi, Koji je govorio kroz propoke.

U jednu, svetu, sabornu i apostolsku Crkvu, Ispovedam jedno krstenje za otpustenje grehova.

Cekam vaskrsenje mrtvih, I zivot buducega veka.   Amin.

In Cyrillic:  

Верујем у једнога Бога, Оца, Сведржитељ, Творца неба и земље и свега видљивог и невидљивог. 

И у једнога Господа Исуса Христа, Сина Бозијег, јединородног, родјеног од Оца пре свих векова, Светлост од Светлости, Бога истинитог од Бога истинитог, родјеног не створеног, једносусног Оцу, кроз кога је све постало; 

Који је ради нас људи и ради насега спасења сисао с небеса, и оваплотио се од Духа Светога и Марије Дјеве и постао цовек; 

И Који је распет за нас у време Понтија Пилата и страдао и погребен; 

И Који је васкрсао у треци дан као сто је писано; 

И Који се узне на небеса и седи са десне стране Оца; 

И Који це опет доци са славом да суди зивима и мртвима, и Његовом Царству неце бити краја. 

И у Духа Светога, Господа, животворног, Који од Оца исходи, Који се заједно са Оцем и Сином обозава и слави, Који је говорио кроз пропоке. 

У једну, свету, саборну и апостолску Цркву, исповеда једно крстење за отпуштење грехова. 

Цекам васкрсење мртвих, И зивот будуцег века. Амин.

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Prayer to the Guardian Angel:

O angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from heaven, safeguard my life in the fear of Christ God, set my mind on the right path, and strengthen my soul in the love of God; so that guided by You, I may receive a great mercy from Christ the God.  Amen.

Andjele Bozji, Cuvaru moj sveti, sacuvay moj zivot u shtrahu prema Hristu Bogu; utvrdi moj um na pravome putu i ucvrsti moju dusu u Bozjoj ljubavi; da tobom vodjen dobijem od Hrista Boga veliku milost.  Amen. 

Андјеле Бозји, Цуварy мој свети, сацуваы мој зивот у схтраху према Христу Богу; утврди мој ум на правоме путу и уцврсти моју дусу у Бозјој љубави; да тобом вођен добијем од Христа Бога велику милост. Амин. 

Some people say this another way in song:

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here.  Ever this day, be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.  Amen. 

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

Andja & Nikola Mamula were always reading religious material, and led by example.  Photo by Milan Karlo. 

Prayer before lessons:  

O Most merciful Lord, send us the grace of your Holy Spirit, who enlightens and strengthens our spiritual powers.  Help us be attentive to the teachings presented, so that we may grwo up for the glory of Thee, our Creator, for the joy of our parents, and for the benefit of our Church and our Country.  Amen.

Molitva pre ucenja:

Premilostivi Gospode, posalji nam blagodat tvoga Svetog Duha, koja nas prosvecuje i ojacava nase duhovne snage.  Pomozi nam da pazimo na ucenje koje nam se predaje kako bi porasli tebi, nasem Tvorcu, na slavu, roditeljima nasim na radost, a Crkvi i otadzbini nasoj na korist.  Amin. 

Молитва пре уцења: 

Премилостиви Господе, посаљи нам благодат Твог Светог Духа, која нас просвећује и ојачава насе духовне снаге. Помози нам да пазимо на уцење које нам се предаје како би порасли теби, насем Творцу, на славу, родитељима насим на радост, а цркви и отадзбини насој на корист. Амин.

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

Remember to pray to your favorite saints too!

Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost 2008

                                           Luke 8:5-15

           Individuals going to church on a regular basis hear the word of God. The word of God takes root in the hearts and minds of individuals interested in God. The word of God takes root in the hearts and minds open to God. 

Fr. Rodney Torbic,

St.George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. St.Nestor, Martyr. 11/9/08

You can hear the St.George radio broadcast at www.stgeorgeserbian.us

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

Orthodox Chants and Liturgical Services

Click above for a fantastic listening experience! 

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

When a radio interviewer asked Nikola Manojlovich about the experience of singing with the 56 voice St. Sava Choir choir they have in Missasauga, Ontario (near Toronto) at the Serbian All Saints Church on Dixie Road north of the QEW, he answered thusly:

"It’s so rewarding because you’re at once transported, you are facilitating a conversation with God. The priest begins the Liturgy: 'Blessed is the Kingdom of the Lord," and the choir will answer with 'Amen,' and then starts this dialogue, where the choir facilitates the responses of the people. So the priests and the community follow through a Divine Liturgy that will run two hours. Which is souly an offering of praise to God . At the end of it you’ve sung this together, you’ve prayed together , you’ve struggled through difficult musical pieces, you walk out of church and you just feel like a million bucks. That’s what the reward is I think. " 

Click here to see more:

http://www.stsavachoir.com/eng/choir/soundslikecanada.html 

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At the end of each service, our priests say this beautiful prayer:

"O Lord, who blesses those who bless You and sanctifies those who put their trust in you, save Your people and bless Your inheritance.

"Preserve the fullness of Your Church.  Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house; glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who put our hope in you.  Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the priests, to our civil authorities, to the armed forces, and to all Your people.

"For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from You, the Father of Lights, and to You we exalt glory, thanksgiving, and worship to You, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto Ages of Ages, Amen."

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

Lighting Candles in Sts. Constantine & Helen Serbian Orthodox Church in Galveston, Texas 9/27/10

Only a week ago I was in Houston, Texas, visiting with my family.  I was anxious to attend the Galveston Sts. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church because I truly wanted to teach young Jocelyn about the joys of lighting candles before church, where we silently pray for all the members of our family living and dead, near or far, and also members of our extended family, never failing to mention our beleaguered Serbian Orthodox people living in Kosovo and elsewhere where life is so difficult for them.  At this time, we also pray for the wise guidance of the President of America, the welfare of our Armed Forces, and also the wisdom and well-being of other leaders around the world. 

Jocelyn was delighted to light the candles, although I’m sure at her young age, she was just happy with her new-found power to light the flames, and have the candles sink deep into the sand base placed at her level of reach.  But she did repeat after me, invoking prayers for the health and wellbeing of our relatives, especially Teti Donna, Uncle Pete, Cousin Jules, and Aunt Mimi, and a safe journey home for her Mom attending a wedding in Cleveland. 

Kids’ eyes, minds and hearts light up, as they learn well by example.  Concurrently, parents or grandparents standing close by see the sparks in their children’s/ grandchildren’s eyes and feel the heat from God’s flame igniting their hearts in thankfulness to Him for giving them such precious progeny to teach, to stand next to in worship to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

The fire couldn’t have burned brighter than when in the middle of the service so ably conducted by Fr. Serge Veselinovich,  little Jocelyn reached out her left hand to me, and simultaneously, her right hand to her father, my son. 

May the precious memory of that special “Holy Trinity” forever be embedded in my shifting dendrite strands/sands.

Lighting Candles

“Words of a Shepherd: The Life and Writings of the +Very Reverend Protostavrophor Vojislav Dosenovich,” Compiled and Edited by Nicolae Roddy

(I purchased this book on the way out of the Galveston Church ($20 and well worth the donation!) and was thrilled to find this story on lighting candles as we drove home.   Surely it was just meant to be!)

Why do we light candles and votive lights in our church and in our homes?  Many people ask this question, continuing the practice without ever really knowing why.  Bishop Nikolai, one of the most renowned authorities in our Church, explains this practice on the basis of the word of God revealed in Scripture, as well as through the Fathers in the Tradition of the Church.

            First, Bishop Nikolai states that we light the candles as symbols of the light of our faith, for Christ is the Light to the World.

            Second, we are reminded of the character of the Saints, especially the Saints before whose icons our votive candles burn.

            Third, the light of our candles serve to symbolize the dispelling of our dark deeds and mean thoughts.  It is also our invitation to walk the road of the Gospel’s light, thus bringing out the Savior’s commandment to let our light shine before people, allowing them to see our good deeds.

            Fourth, the candle is a small token of our sacrifice to God, Who sacrificed Himself for us.  It is an expression of our gratitude and love for the one we petition in prayer for life, health salvation, and the rest of the limitless bounty His heavenly love provides.

             Fifth, the candle drives away the apparitions and dark powers that sometimes interfere with our prayers and draw our thoughts away from our Maker.  These dark powers like the darkness and cringe whenever light assails them, especially when it is the light emanating from God through His Saints.

            Sixth, candles remind us of courage and self-sacrifice.  As the oil and wick burn inside the votive light, so to do our souls burn with the flame of love in all sufferings, ever obedient to the word of God.

            Finally, seventh, the lighting of the candle instructs us that, just as it cannot be lighted without fire, so too, must the holy fire of God ignite our hearts.  The virtues are our fuel, but it is the fire of God that lights them.  Our life is a candle light at our birth, which is called upon to give off virtue until the end of its earthly life.  So let us continue this beautiful practice, ever mindful of its rich meaning.

                                                                                       February, 1979  (From Fr. Dosenovich)

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Morning Prayers:

O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, present in all places and filling all things, the treasury of blessings and the Giver of life: Come and abide in us and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One!

You have raised me from bed and sleep, oh Lord; enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips that I may praise You, O Holy Trinity:  Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God.  for the sake of the Mother of God, have mercy on me.

Grant unto me, my Lord, that with peace in mind I may face all that this new day is to bring.  Grant unto me grace to surrender myself completely toYour holy will.  Instruct and prepare me in all things for every hour of this day.  Gobern my thoughts and feelings in all that I do and say.  Teach me to behave sincerely and reasonably toward every member of my family and all other human beings, that I may not cause confusion and sorrow to anyone.  Bestow upon me, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day and to bear my share in all its passing events.  Guide my life, O Lord, and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to forgibe, and to love.  Through the prayers of the holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

 +++++++++++++++++

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us.

 ++++++++++++++++

It is truly meet to bless you, O Birth-giver of God, ever-blessed and most pure and the Mother of God.  More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the World: true Birth-giver of God, we magnify you. 

Dostojno jest, jako voistinu blaziti tja, Bogorodicu, prsnoblazenuju i preneporocnuju i Mater Boga nasego.  Cesnjejsuju heruvin i slavnjejsuju bezsravjenija seafin, bez istljenia, Boga Slova rozdsuju, suscuju Bogorodicu, tra velicajem. 

Достојно јест, јако воистину блазити тја, Богородицу, прсноблазенују и пренепороцнују и Матер Бога нашега. Цесњејсују херувин и славњејсују безсравјенија сеафин, без истљениа, Бога Слова роздсују, сусцују Богородицу, тра велицај. 

+++++++++++++++++ 

Do you want to learn more about the TEN COMMANDMENTS and other  wonderful things about Orthodoxy?  Then be sure to click here on the Serbian Eastern Diocese's website!

http://www.easterndiocese.org/about_orthodoxy.html 

 +++++++++++++++++++

The Sunday church bulletin of July 7, 2008 says we are lucky as we have 3 invaluable tools to help us enhance our worship experience every time we come to church and learn more about our faith.

Holy Trinity Icon

Icons- and sometimes called "The Windows of Heaven," "The Scripture in Colors" or "Bible for the Illiterate."

Icons reveal the presence of God, made man thought art and color.

We are surrounded in church by a "cloud of witnesses" that have already achieved salvation and lead the way. (Apostle Paul wrote about this in his Letter to the Hebrews.)

Living Icons:  Sunday Bulletin, First Sunday of the Great Lent:  "We too, are called to be "Living Icons"-for we have been created in the likeness of God.  As "living icons," each of us is called upon to be a reflection of Christ, the "Perfect Icon."  Just as we gaze upon an icon of a saint and see solemnity, others should be able to look at us and see the Lord brought to life in our actions, a challenging task."

Viewers are welcomed to partake in "a mystical journey." Click below to see a fantastic display of icons/frescos at 360 degrees!

Butte, MO Icons<---click here

Hymns-The Orthodox Church as a rich reposistory of hymns that offer a great contribution to the worship experience. The melodies inspire us, but the words serve to explaine some of the most complex doctrines of our Theology.  Our hymns have been handed down for centuries, composed and written by saintly monks and Holy Fathers of the Church.

Click here to hear the Kosovo Men's Choir from Eastern Ohio sing "Oce Nas" at the Mala Gracanica Church in Trebinje.

Scriptures-The prophets wrote the Old Testament while Christ's disciples wrote the New Testament.  We hear two readings at every Divine Liturgy, and the service iteself is filled with scriptural references in its various prayers.

 These 3 elements, writes the Orthodox Weekly Bulletin from Vestal, New Jersey, combine in perfect harmony, for us to experience the richness of our service.

++++++++++++++++++ 

 One of the greatest old hymns is Kol Slaven or "How Great Is Our God.  Click the link below to not only have the music and words, but also click to HEAR the song from centuries ago.  it's one of my all-time favorites!

How Great is Our God 

Hear it here! Click below.

Kol Slaven 

Words in English:

The glory of our Lord in Zion    

No mortal language can declare; His Throne in Heav'n on earth each blossom,

Reveals Him great beyond compare.  In all is God to glory unwaning, By night, by day, in splendor reigning.

John Buffalini singing<----

In Heav'n, O God, Thy Habitation

Unto our voice of prayer attend

And let our humble adoration

Like morning dew to Thee ascend.

Our hearts we raise as Altars before Thee o Lord

And offer praise and glory.

++++++++++++++++++ 

More prayers from the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Butte, Montana, and another section which also explains the meaning of the Creed's "one Holy, CATHOLIC, and Apostolic church."

http://www.holytrinitybutte.org/prayers.html

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

 BOG CUVA SRBE 

MORAS ZNATI KO TE CUVA 

KO TO TAKO CUVA NAS 

TO JE GOSPOD NA VISINI 

TO JE HRISTOS SVIMA SPAS 

Mim's best translation 

You have to know who watches over you

Who staunchly guards you and me

That is God from up on Heaven high 

That is Christ our Savior, He. 

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

Archpriest Victor Potapov wrote:

"True repentance is when, standing before the face of God, Who, as the Apostle Peter says “hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” (I Peter 2: 9), we understand that life was given to us so that we might become children of God, so that we might commune of the Divine Light.  True repentance is reflected not so much in words as in deeds: in readiness to come to one the aid of others, to be open with our neighbors, and not become involuted onto oneself.  True repentance is understanding that, while we do not possess the power to become true Christians, God is capable of making us so.  As it says in the Great Canon “wheresoever God wishes, the order of nature is overcome.”  That is to say, where God so wishes, supernatural events occur: Saul becomes Paul, Jonah is brought out of the belly of the whale, Moses crosses the sea on dry land, the dead Lazarus is resurrected, Mary of Egypt is turned from a harlot into a great righteous one.  For, according to the Savior “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Мatt. 19:  26).

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

St.Ephraim of Syria Prayer

O Lord and Master of my life, cast from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk.

But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

O God, cleanse Thou me a sinner

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

Thanks to Lana Balach for the above two links and this link to The Great Compline.

Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Blessed Great Lent.

_______________________

Here's a delightful poem called "Stvorio je Bog" or "God Created"  -Створио је Бог-

Here it is in Cyrillic first:

Створио је Bog

Слона великог,

Миша маленог,

Створио је Бог!

Створио је Бог

Небо Високо

Море дубоко

Створио је Бог!

Створио је Бог

Маму и Тату

Мене и брату

Створио је Бог

Створио је Бог

Сунашце да сја

Све што волим ја

Створио је Бог!

Створио је Бог

И душу малу

Да пјева хвалу

Створио је Бог!

+++++++++++

In English:

 God created

The great elephant,

The tiny mouse,

God created!

God created

The sky so high

The sea so deep

God created!

God created

Mom and Dad

Me and my brother

God created

God created

Sunshine to shine

Everything I love

God has created!

God created

A small soul

To sing His praises

It was God who created!

++++++++++

Here it is in Latinica:

Stvorio je Bog!

Stvorio je Bog
Slona velikog,
Miša malenog,
Stvorio je Bog!

Stvorio je Bog
nebo visoko
more duboko
Stvorio je Bog!

Stvorio je Bog
Mamu i Tatu
Mene i bratu
Stvorio je Bog

Stvorio je Bog
Sunašce da sja
Sve što volim ja
Stvorio je Bog!

Stvorio je Bog

I dušu malu

Da pjeva hvalu

Stvorio je Bog

From a book called HVALA BOZE, Pesmice za decu by M. Atanacija at Rukumija Monastery, 2002.

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

11/6/11

Ja sam Srpsko dete

Od glave do pete

Srpsku slavu volim

I Bogu se molim!

I'm a Serbian child

From my head to my toes

I love my Serbian Slava

And I pray to God!

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

6/30/12: from the Internet and Facebook:  "Запамти-Бог ти никада неће одузети нешто, а да га не замени"  нечим бољим."  which means, "God will never take something away without substituting it for something better."