In this section we will post parishioners' fond memories of going to Church or an event at the Serbian Hall. The submittals will be rotated and archived on the site. You may write to the Webmaster with a few paragraphs and pictures (optional) of your own memories. If space permits, a Church life story of some of our Pillar Parishioners would be welcome. The stories can be of a serious or humorous nature. What a way to remember the days gone by and pass on these memories to our future generations.
Circa 1939 - 1940 Clairepointe Hall
Circa 1954 Clairepointe Hall
Due to space the photos have been condensed if you would like to check out who is who which we have named quite a number I can send you a full size version.
Thanks to Dusanka Drvenica Graves from Hawaii for the photos
Aloha!I grew up in Ravanica from the old church on Russell to The Cathedral on Van Dyke. I was baptized, went to Sunday school, church camp, danced in the dance group, married, and baptized my children there in Detroit. I continue to carry on my Tata's Slava of Sveti Nikola. Father Mijatovich and Paulina were an inspiration to all of us at Ravanica. Kosa their daughter and her husband were our Kumovi when we got married. Milan Zec was one of my fathers best friends. My father and mother were Branka and Pero Drvenica. My sister is Bosiljka Drvenica Pazevic married to Anastas Pazevic. They both sang in the choir starting on Russell St. I cannot tell you the wonderful memories I have of MY Church that I keep and bring back to share with my family. I'll never forget saying my declamatsija on the stage upstairs for Sveti Sava. I still have many of the gifts I received at Christmas from Sunday School as a child. My favorite is a medal of Christ and on the back side it says "I am a Serbian Orthodox". Because of all these wonderful memories I had to make sure my children could have them too. Unfortunately, in the middle of the ocean there was no Serbian Orthodox church. But, there is a Greek Orthodox Church so I taught Sunday School for 16 years for my children. My children danced in the dance group and went to church camp as I did. My husband found this website. I miss Ravanica and we hope to visit soon.
- Dusanka Drvenica Graves
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