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St. Sava School of Theology 20th Anniversary

On October 28^th, 2006 Saint Sava School of Theology, the first and only Theological school of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada celebrated its Twentieth Anniversary.

 The whole event started with Hierarchical Holy Liturgy at St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church in Lansing, Illinois. The magnificent Liturgy was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of Midwest and Their Graces Bishop Mitrophan of East and Bishop Maxim of West. Sixteen Priests and five Deacons both professors and graduates of Saint Sava School of Theology served together with the Hierarchs. Many guests were participating in the Liturgy, clergy, laity, and monastic. 

The Anniversary banquet with the Festive Academia at the St. Michael’s Social Center followed the Liturgy. Program was opened with the Lord’s Prayer by Student-Alumni Choir, directed by Fr. Milos Vesin from Lansing, IL. After the prayer V. Rev. Stavrophor Professor Dr. Nedeljko Grgurevic, as the First Dean of School, addressed the audience and brought up some very interesting information. Namely, in 20 years of this school’s existence 71 students graduated, and 51 of them are serving as priests or deacons in the Serbian Orthodox Church here in the North America, or elsewhere in the world. 

Students-Alumni choir sung another song – “It is Truly Meet” by P. Dinev, and then bishops gave their Hierarchical greetings to the people present: His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan and the guest, Greek bishop Jakovos from Chicago, all of them bringing up some interesting events from the history of the School, and financial troubles they went through to keep the School running. 

After Student Quartet sung “This is the Day” from S. Reckunov, Protodeacon Professor Dr. Stanimir Spasovic, as a keynote speaker, gave his insight in School’s work, since he is one of the people, who were with the School since the opening in 1986. He reminded that this year is very special for Serbian People. Beside our School’s anniversary, this year we celebrate 150 years of the birth of Stevan Mokranjac, man who is responsible for gathering and composing beautiful Serbian Spiritual Music. We celebrate 175 years of Kornelije Stankovic, who worked in the same field as Stevan Mokranjac. And we celebrate also 800 years of the Monastery Zhicha, made by Stefan Nemanja, and his brother St. Sava, place of the crowning of 7 Serbian Kings. 

Another composition - “God is with us” was presented by Student-Alumni Choir. 

Mr. Dmitar Rakich from Lansing, IL and Fr. Aleksandar Vlajkovic from Boston, MA as members of laity and clergy involved in the life of this School, also greeted the audience and explained the importance and value of the St. Sava School of Theology in the life of the Serbian Church yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

Student-Alumni Choir wished Many years to all the people who participated in the 20^th Anniversary of the Serbian Orthodox School of Theology in Libertyville, IL. 

Deacon Ivan Gasic

SAINT SAVA SUMMER CAMP 2006

Libertyville, IL

             Each year in July, St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois opens its doors for a special event, St. Sava Summer Camp. Children age 7-18 from all over our Metropolitanate, which means from as far as Texas in West, to Michigan in East, come to Libertyville for a week of education, fellowship, and spiritual growth.

            Our church has also, like many others in Midwest sent their representatives to Libertyville for Summer Camp: clergy, camp workers, and off course, children.

            Children divided by ages come to Libertyville in three groups:

1. week: ages 7-10
2. week: ages 11-14
3. week: ages 15-18

Every week of Camp is filled with variety of activities: spiritual, educational, and fun. Every day starts with Matins (Morning service in Monastery Church), which is followed with Raising of flags, breakfast, and Room cleaning. On Thursdays there is Divine Liturgy when children take Communion.

From 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 a.m. children attend different classes: Religion, Culture, Music, and Folklore Dance. There are two priests and a deacon for every week of Camp. They teach children Religion and Serbian Culture and customs. There is also a teacher for Music, and a teacher for Kolo. After Lunch there is usually a field trip. It could be Water Park, Great America Amusement park, or Bowling if weather is bad.

At 5:00 p.m. children come to Church for Vespers, and after Vespers there is a dinner.

On different days following dinner there are: Arts and Crafts classes, Talent Show practice, Sports Night, Bonfire, and/or Limbo Contest.

On the last day of the week, in the afternoon there are Olympic Games, where children divided in groups compete in various sports and quizzes in Serbian culture and Orthodox faith.

The whole week ends on Friday night with Talent Show called Oscars, where children with help of their counselors perform on stage presenting their various talents.

The benefit both educational and spiritual that children take with them form Libertyville cannot be measured. It is enough just to see their smiles and happiness during this week, and the sadness on their faces on the night before they have to part from each other and from Libertyville.

It is of great importance for all our parents not just to see these pictures to believe, but to take their children for Summer Camp next year. Parents could even be there with their children during Camp week, as Camp workers.

All the information regarding Summer Camp is usually available at our Church School Office two or three months ahead, together with applications for Campers, Workers, and Counselors.

We hope to see you in Libertyville in July 2007.

                                                                                                             -Deacon Ivan Gasic

Photo gallery will be posted soon

Cedar Point 2006

At the end of every Church School & Cultural program year our Church together with Dance Group and Mothers Club takes our children to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio. This one-day outing is wonderful....Read More and see photo gallery

Past Articles

Annual Assembly of Midwestern Metropolitanate

From March 31 to April 1, 2006 The Annual Assembly of our Metropolitanate was held at St. Sava Cathedral in Milwaukee. Our representatives were joining priests and delegates from 28 parishes in Midwest for prayer and meetings. Whole event started on Friday morning with the confession of clergy and the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts. Following Liturgy there was a workshop for priests on the Stewardship presented by Committee for Religious Education. Later in the afternoon clergy and delegates met at church for The service of Invocation of Holy Spirit Assembly. After service annual meeting started, where all reports from our Mitropolitanate were presented. Meeting continued on Saturday till noon, when all committees came up with their resolutions on different topics. Most interesting fact is that 80% of clergy and delegates showed interest and participated in committee for Stewardship. Decision was made that all parishes and congregations start local committees for educating parishioners on Stewardship. One of the most interesting facts from Metropolitan's report was that there was 7 ordinations in previous year. In fact, approximately one third of clergy in our Diocese is under 30 years of age.

Lenten Services at St. Lazarus and St. Petka

Every Wednesday and Friday since the beginning of The Great Lent we are having special services in Church. These services are called The Liturgies of Presanctified Gifts and they are held every Wednesday at St. Petka Church and every Friday at St. Lazarus Cathedral at both locations services start at 6.00pm. These are complete Liturgies and everybody who is prepared for Communion may come thirty minutes prior to service for Confession (Do not eat or drink anything after 12.00pm). Also there is special Sunday Vespers during Lent (see pictures below from St. Petka, Sunday March 26). Schedule for these is posted in Church Bulletin section.
This coming week April 2-8, we are having Presanctified Liturgy at St. Petka, at 6.00pm, following with Great Canon of St. Andrew from Crete. On Friday April 7, at St. Lazarus Cathedral we will celebrate The Annunciation to Most Holy Mother of God with Divine Liturgy starting at 9.00am, and in the evening we will have another service - Akatist to Mother of God at 6.00pm. Everybody is welcome.

 Church School Teachers' Seminar in Detroit a Success

On Saturday, February 18, 2006, our St. Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Detroit, Michigan, hosted a workshop/seminar for clergy and church school teachers for the Detroit Deanery. Our guest speaker, Rev. Father Radovan Jakovljevic, Director of Christian Education of the Midwestern Metropolitanate, conducted a Power Point presentation on the topic "Teaching Teachers to Teach." We were delighted to welcome over twenty teachers and educators, along with six local clergymen, who eagerly and joyfully took part in this seminar.

The presentation was based on a "How To" method which covered long-standing issues in teaching, such as - the role of a teacher, curriculum decisions teachers must make, teaching activities, educational resources, teaching strategies, lesson planning, the system/guidance of asking questions, objectives and goals, creative use of the media, and many other topics were covered. Father Radovan explained the different methods and techniques that teachers can use in preparing and conducting effective lesson plans and educational programs. After the presentation, many teachers participated in discussions concerning current situations in our church schools, such as the weaknesses and strengths of our educational programs, and the various methods used in teaching children about our Orthodox faith.

Later that evening the teachers attended the Vespers service in our Cathedral, followed by a "Teen Retreat" in our Social Center. The following day after liturgy, Fr. Radovan visited with our church school children. He also met with teachers to discuss various educational needs, and to answer some of the interesting questions posed by students about our Orthodox Faith.
Overall, the seminar was educational, informational and beneficial to our teachers who expressed their desire and willingness to organize more seminars of this kind.
 

-Deacon Ivan Gasic
St. Lazarus Cathedral, Detroit, MI

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