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St. Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Cathedral

“Ravanica”

GLAS RAVANICE NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER, 2018

KRSTOVDAN SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBERSEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 22227777, 201, 201, 201, 2018 8 8 8 ---- Divine Liturgy 9 A.M.Divine Liturgy 9 A.M.Divine Liturgy 9 A.M.Divine Liturgy 9 A.M.

CHURCH SCHOOL BEGINS: SEPTEMBER 16th!CHURCH SCHOOL BEGINS: SEPTEMBER 16th!CHURCH SCHOOL BEGINS: SEPTEMBER 16th!CHURCH SCHOOL BEGINS: SEPTEMBER 16th!

Church Executive Board

Cathedral Dean. V. Rev. Zivan Urosev

President Boban Trajcevski- [email protected]

1st Vice President Michael [email protected]

2nd Vice President Donna Rajkovic- [email protected]

Treasurer Kathleen Goich

Recording Secretary Donna K. [email protected]

Financial Secretary Steve Nesovski-

Audit Chair Snezana Milutinovic- [email protected]

Members at Large

Member at Large Michael Balow - [email protected]

Member at Large Tom Djuric-

Member at Large Zdravko Dobrasevic

Member at Large Roy Downie- [email protected]

Member at Large Bosko Vulinovic- [email protected]

Parish Secretary Sheryl Zatezalo

Affiliated Organizations

St. Lazarus Church-School Superintendent- Mary Nickson

Donna Simmons

St. Lazarus Church-School/ Youth Program Chairman- Zlatko Erdeljan

Serbian Sisters Ravanica President – Donna Rajkovic

Ravanica Pensioner’s Club President – Tom Djuric

Ravanica Choir President – Dr. Richard Goich

St. Lazarus Sports Club David Willman

SNF Lodge #98 Alex Bogoevich

CHURCH SERVICES

Divine Liturgy – Sundays 10 A.M.

Weekday and Feast Days 9 A.M. (See Church Calendar)

Church Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wed., & Friday: 9:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M

Parish Office Phone: (313) 893-6025

Parish Office Fax: (313) 892-6944

The “Glas “ Newsletter Editors and Church Ex. Board assumes responsibility and the right to reject, delete and rewrite, any

part or all of the club articles submitted for publication. Any news or social interest should be submitted to the Editors.

“Glas” Editors: Donna and Paul Bielich

From the Church’s RecordsFrom the Church’s RecordsFrom the Church’s RecordsFrom the Church’s Records…………

BAPTISMS: Augustus Polovina-June 10, 2018

Parents: Dusan & Judi Polovina

Indigo Knezevic-June 24, 2018

Parents: Aleksandar Knezevic & Megan Conway

Noah Hamameh-July 1, 2018

Dominick Hamameh-July 1, 2018

Parents: Nidal & Kathy Hamameh Aleksandar Gojcaj-July 29, 2018 Parents: Djerdj & Mileva Gojcaj

Lukas Gojcaj-July 29, 2018 Parents: Djerdj & Mileva Gojcaj

Lidia Vidale-July 22, 2018 Parents: Mathew & Robin Vidale

Jayson Johnson-August 5, 2018 Parents: James & Snezana Johnson

Talia Djuric-August 19, 2018

Parents: Christopher & Vanesa Djuric

Tatyana Boroja-August 26, 2018

Parents: Dragan & Kristina Boroja

Our most sincere congratulations are extended to the parents, grandparents, kumovi and all relatives of the newly

baptized babies. May God bless all of them. Mnogaja Ljeta!

MARRIAGES: Michael Bennett & Olga Bratic-July 14, 2018

Duncan Taylor & Jessica Suvak-July 22, 2018

Jasmin Giuricici & Olivia Lackajewski-August 11, 2018

Congratulations to the newly married couples, families and kumovi.

May God grant you many blessed years of joy united in love. Mnogaja Ljeta!

DEATHS: +Atanasije Stevanovic-July 27, 2018

Grant rest eternal in blessed falling asleep, O Lord, to the soul of Thy Departed Servants, and make their

Memory to be Eternal! Vjecnaja Pamjat!

CONVERSIONS: Olivia Lackajewski-July 20, 2018

Marcella Alu-August 26, 2018

ST. LAZARUS SERBIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL “RAVANICA”ST. LAZARUS SERBIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL “RAVANICA”ST. LAZARUS SERBIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL “RAVANICA”ST. LAZARUS SERBIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL “RAVANICA” SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBERSEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 2012012012018888

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 13th Sunday

after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy

9 A.M.

3

4

5

FAST

6 7

FAST

8

9 14th Sunday

after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy

10 A.M.

Church-

School

Begins!

10

11

STRICT FAST

Beheading ofSt. John the Baptist Usekovanije Divine Liturgy 9 A.M.

12 FAST

13 14

FAST

15

16 15th Sunday

after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy

10 A.M.

17

18 19 FAST

20

21

FAST NATIVITY OF

THE BLESSED

THEOTOKOS

MALA

GOSPOJINA

DIVINE LITURGY

9 A.M.

22

23 16th Sunday

after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy

10 A.M.

C.S.

24

25

26 FAST

27 FAST ELEVATION OF

THE HOLY

CROSS

KRSTOVDAN

DIVINE LITURGY

9 A.M.

28 FAST

29

30 17th Sunday

after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy

10 A.M.

C.S.

Znak

za post

- Sign

for fasting

SAVE THE DATE

SEPT 22, 2018

St. Lazarus Ravanica

Annual Golf

Outing!

VISIT YOUR CHURCH LIBRARY!

Join us Sundays at St. Lazarus for our Youth Programs!

September 16-June 2

Bring your kids to be a part of the faith and church family that we share and to have fun with friends!

In a bind for time? Ask Baba, Deda, Teta, Cika to bring them or ride share with

someone already attending.

Mark Your Calendar! Opening Day Church School/Culture Classes Sunday, September 16, 2018

10:00 AM – Tour the library and new classrooms. 10:15 AM – All classes start at the same time for opening day and parents may stay in the classroom to hear about plans for the coming year. 11:00 AM – All kids will go to church for the blessing and group photo. 11:45 AM – Lunch 12:15 PM – Junior Choir, Serbian Language and Dance 1:45 PM – End!

Check out what we have to offer for 2018-19:

• A renovated facility with two new dedicated rooms for language, choir and dance

• New church school curriculum from the Orthodox Christian Education Commission

• Half-day retreat & waterpark outing; trips to the Apple Orchard and Michigan Adventure; Camp;

St. Nicholas, St. Sava and Vidovdan programs; Bozic pageant, Folkfest, Kumovi Day and more!

• Basketball teams for biddy, junior and intermediate levels ages 7-18.

OYAA basketball registration requires players: (1) are baptized as an

Eastern Orthodox Christian (2) attend St. Lazarus or other OYAA member church!

Register Your Kids Today!

Forms are available in church or register online at www.Ravanica.org

St.Lazarus Youth Programs Directors:

Zlatko Erdeljan, Donna Simmons, Mary Nickson

Program Hours Church School *New Hours* 10:20-11 a.m. Pre-k-2nd Grade 11-11:45 a.m. 3rd-12th Grade Language, Choir, Dance 12:15-1:45 p.m. Pre-K-2nd Grade; 3rd-6th Grade; 7th-12th Grade

Convert & Become Like Children

Christ Blessing the Children

By: St. Nicholas Velimirovic

“Amen, I say to you, unless you convert and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Thus speaks the Lord and His word is holy and true. What kind of advantage do children have over adults? They have three advantages: in faith, in obedience and in forgiveness. The child asks the parent about everything and whatever the parent replies, the child believes its parent. The child is obedient to its parent and easily subordinates its will to the will of the parent. The child is forgiving even though he provokes easily, but the child forgives quickly. Our Lord requires these three from all men i.e., Faith, Obedience and Forgiveness. He seeks that men believe in Him unconditionally, as a child believes in its parent. To be unconditionally obedient to Him as a child is to its parent and to be forgiving in relation to one another, not to remember evil and not to render evil for evil.

Faith, Obedience and Forgiveness are the three main characteristics of a child’s soul. In addition to that, comes purity and joy. A child is not greedy; a child is not lustful; and a child is not vain glorious. The child has an eye unspoiled by vices and a joy unspoiled by worries.

O brethren, who can make us over again into children? No one, except the one Christ. He can make us over into children and help us to be born again and, that by His example, by His teaching and by the power of His Holy Spirit.

O Lord Jesus, perfect in obedience and meekness, Eternal Child of the Heavenly Father, help us to become as infants by faith in You, by obedience toward You and by forgiveness one toward the other. Amen.

Excerpt taken from the book- Prologue of Ohrid, by: St. Nicholas Velimirovic.

pbielich

Sticky Note

2018-St. Lazarus Ravanica Youth Calendar

Sat. 8/25 Welcome Back Picnic & Youth Programs Registration!

Boulan Park, 3693 Crooks Rd, Troy; 12-3 pm

Lunch & beverages provided. Join us!

Sept. 9 Divine Liturgy

Sept. 16 Church School Classes/Culture Dance & Language

Today’s schedule: 10 a.m. Open House; 10:20 a.m. ALL Classes Start; 11 a.m. Church

service, blessing of all kids and photo

(Nativity of Theotokos 9/21)

Sept. 23 Church School/Culture

Sept. 30 Church School/Culture

Oct. 7 Church School/Culture (Basketball Reg. Closes Mid-Oct. Ages 7-18)

Oct. 14 Church School/Culture

Oct. 21 Church School/Culture (Sat. Oct. 20 Apple Orchard Outing)

(Food Drive Kick-off)

Oct. 28 Church School/Culture

Nov. 4 Church School/Culture (St. Demetrius 11/8)

Nov. 11 No School/Culture

Sat., Nov. 10 Ravanica Folkfest

Nov. 18 Church School/Culture (St. Archangel Michael 11/21)

Thanksgiving Lunch/Food Drive Collection

Nov. 25 No School/Culture (Thanksgiving Weekend)

(Beginning of the Nativity Fast 11/28)

Dec. 2 Church School/Culture

Dec. 9 Church School/Culture

Dec. 16 Church School/Culture (St. Nicholas 12/19)

Nativity Communion & St. Nicholas Program

Dec. 23 Church School/Culture (Last class before holiday break)

Dec. 30 No School/Culture (New Year’s Eve 12/31)

Dec. 26-30 New Gracanica Winter High school Retreat $100 / 100 student spots

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHURCH SCHOOL

“Let the children come to me, so not to hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of

God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall

not enter it”. Mark 10: 14-15

Christian education is a permanent challenge to the work of the church. Not only did our Lord and

Savior continuously teach the word of God during His early mission, but the Church as well from the

earliest times looked upon Christian education as one of its essential ministries. As the first

Christians joined the Church “they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers”. Acts 2:42

The greatest gift, the most precious inheritance that we have to give to our children is our Orthodox

Faith. Jesus makes it clear that He wants children to come to know Him, and that He considers it a

grave offence for an adult to hinder this process or lead a child astray:

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for

him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the

sea”. Matt 18:6

Our St Lazarus “Ravanica” Church School classes are held every Sunday starting at 10:00 am for grades Pre-K to 2nd grade, and at 11:00 am for 3rd grade through High School.

Important Message from Father Zivan:

“Parents, bring your children to Church School. Your personal example and involvement

in the religious education of your children are extremely important. The priest and teachers

cannot do the job alone. Here is how you can help develop the spiritual life and moral

upbringing of your children.

Register your child in our Sunday Church School Program.

�Bring them to Church on time.

�Stay and worship at the Divine Liturgy in the Church.

�Be positive about Church.

�Discuss with them what they learned each Sunday.

�Teach them to bring their weekly stewardship offering. �Give your personal example of Christian living.

�Emphasize regular repentance and Holy Communion.

�Put Church before every other activity on Sunday. �Avoid criticism of others. �Let your love for Our Lord Jesus Christ radiate.

Yours in Christ, Father Zivan”

We go to church to get closer to God. The church is God's house and we are all part of His family. God wants us to go tq church on Sunday and worship

together. At church, we do many things to help show God that we love Him.

We light candles to show that God is the Way,

the Light and Life.

We turn our prayers into music and sing to show We bow as the priest God that we love Him. blesses us with the censer.

The smoke goes to Heaven like our prayers.

We make the sign of the cross to remind us that

Jesus died on the cross to save us.

We receive Holy Communion and other Sacraments and feel

God 's love, peace and joy. We kiss the icons to remind us of Jesus' life and that of the saints.

God tells us to go to church in the Bible For where two or three come together in My name, there I am with them.

Mat 18:20.

The Priest reads the Gospel.

The Priest asks the Holy Spirit to bless the bread

and wine.

PRAYER

Date:, ___________

Number the following pictures in the order

they happen.

The Priest comes out with the

Gospel.

We receive Holy Communion

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!

Children’s PageChildren’s PageChildren’s PageChildren’s Page

Serbian by Song – If you’re happy and you know it

Aleks Palanac, who helps run Leicester’s Bubamare play-group, has researched and translated

the popular nursery rhymes in both Serbian and English. These are a fun way of engaging

younger children in language through song and dance actions too.

This week we feature the Serbian version of the English-language classic “If you’re happy and

you know it”. As in the English version, after each instruction, don’t forget to do the action

twice.

Kad si srećan If you’re happy and you know it

Kad si srećan lupni tada dlan o’ dlan

Kad si srećan lupni tada dlan o’ dlan

Kad si srećan i kad želiš s drugim sreću tu da deliš

Kad si srećan lupni tada dlan od dlan!

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it

And you really want to show it

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!

Kad si srećan prstima pucketaj ti

Kad si srećan prstima pucketaj ti


Kad si srećan prstima pucketaj ti!

If you’re happy and you know it, click your fingers

If you’re happy and you know it, click your fingers



If you’re happy and you know it, click your fingers!

Kad si srećan kolena potapšaj ti

Kad si srećan kolena potapšaj ti


Kad si srećan kolena potapšaj ti!

If you’re happy and you know it, tap your knees

If you’re happy and you know it, tap your knees



If you’re happy and you know it, tap your knees!

Kad si srećan lupi nogama o’ pod

Kad si srećan lupi nogama o’ pod


Kad si srećan lupi nogama o’ pod!

If you’re happy and you know it, stamp your feet

If you’re happy and you know it, stamp your feet



If you’re happy and you know it, stamp your feet!

Kad si srećan vikni glasno tad’ “ura”


Kad si srećan i kad želis s drugim sreću tu da deliš

Kad si srećan vikni glasno tad “ura”!

If you’re happy and you know it, shout “hurrah”

If you’re happy and you know it, shout “hurrah”



If you’re happy and you know it, shout “hurrah”!



Kad si srećan i kad želis s drugim sreću tu da deliš

Kad si srećan vikni glasno tad “ura”!

If you’re happy and you know it, do all five

If you’re happy and you know it, do all five



If you’re happy and you know it, do all five!

THE BEHEADING OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST [ST. MATTHEW 14:1-12]

“According to Tradition, the mouth of the dead preacher of repentance once more opened and proclaimed: “Herod, you should not have the wife of your brother Philip.” Salome took the platter with the head of St John and gave it to her mother. The frenzied Herodias repeatedly stabbed the tongue of the prophet with a needle and buried his holy head in a unclean place. But the pious Joanna, wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, buried the head of John the Baptist in an earthen vessel on the Mount of Olives, where Herod had a parcel of land. (The Uncovering of the Venerable Head is celebrated (February 24). The holy body of John the Baptist was taken that night by his disciples and buried at Sebastia, there where the wicked deed had been done.

After the murder of St John the Baptist, Herod continued to govern for a certain time. Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, later sent Jesus Christ to him, Whom he mocked (Luke 23:7-12).

The judgment of God came upon Herod, Herodias and Salome, even during their earthly life. Salome, crossing the River Sikoris in winter, fell through the ice. The ice gave way in such a way that her body was in the water, but her head was trapped above the ice. It was similar to how she once had danced with her feet upon the ground, but now she flailed helplessly in the icy water. Thus she was trapped until that time when the sharp ice cut through her neck.

Her corpse was not found, but they brought the head to Herod and Herodias, as once they had brought them the head of St John the Baptist. The Arab king Aretas, in revenge for the disrespect shown his daughter, made war against Herod. The defeated Herod suffered the wrath of the Roman emperor Caius Caligua (37-41) and was exiled with Herodias first to Gaul, and then to Spain.

The Beheading of St John the Baptist, a Feast day established by the Church, is also a strict fast day because of the grief of Christians at the violent death of the saint. In some Orthodox cultures pious people will not eat food from a flat plate, use a knife, or eat food that is round in shape on this day.

Today the Church makes remembrance of Orthodox soldiers killed on the field of battle, as established in 1769 at the time of Russia’s war with the Turks and the Poles.”-From OCA.org

“The death of St. John occurred before the Pascha [Passover] but its celebration on September 11 was established because, on that day, a church which had been built over his grave in Sebastia by Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena was consecrated. In this church the relics of John’s disciples, Eliseus and Audius, were also placed.” -The Prologue of Ohrid

Nativity of the Theotokos The Nativity of the Theotokos is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on September 21

The Holy Virgin and Theotokos Mary was born to elderly and previously barren parents by the names of Joachim and Anna, in answer to their prayers. Orthodox Christians do not hold to the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, in which it is supposed that Mary was preserved from the ancestral sin that befalls us all as descendents of Adam and Eve, in anticipation of her giving birth to the sinless Christ. The Orthodox believe that Mary indeed received the ancestral sin, having been conceived in the normal way of humanity, and thus needed salvation like all mankind. Orthodox thought does vary on whether Mary actually ever sinned, though there is general agreement that she was cleansed from sin at the Annunciation.

Celebration of the feast

On the eve of the feast, Vespers are served and contains three Old Testament readings that have New Testament meaning. In Genesis 28:10-17, Jacob's Ladder which unites heaven and earth points to the union of God with men which is realized most fully and perfectly in Mary the bearer of God. "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" In Ezekiel 43:27-44:4, the vision of the temple with the door to the East perpetually closed and filled with the glory of the Lord, symbolizes Mary. And in Proverbs 9:1-11, Mary is also identified with the "house" which the Divine Wisdom has built for herself.

Sometimes Matins is served on the morning of the feast. The Gospel reading is from Luke 1:39-49, 56. It is read on all feasts of the Theotokos and includes the Theotokos' saying: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed."

Divine Liturgy is served on the day on the feast. The epistle reading is from Philippians 2:5-11, and speaks of "Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." The gospel reading is taken from Luke 10:38-42 and 11:27-28 together; this reading is also always read on all feasts of the Theotokos. In it, the Lord says, "blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Our Greatest Weapon

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE

HOLY CROSS (KRSTOVDAN)

SEPTEMBER 27th!

This September, for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, I share with you

this image of the largest fragment of the True Cross of Christ in existence. It is a

special treasure of the Xeropotamou Monastery on Mount Athos, in Greece.*

In honor of the feast, let's ask our kids, why the Cross is so very

important to us as Christians?Why do the enemies of Christ, the

demons, cringe at this sign?

After reading a bit from Elder Cleopa, I am reminded of an event in the Old

Testament...Read out loud together Numbers chapter 21. "The LORD said

to Moses, 'Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at

it and live.' So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when

anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived." Numbers

21:8-9

The faithful of that generation were offered a sign of hope, and for us today as

Christians, we too are given a means for our salvation. For the New Testament

fulfillment of this event, read John 3:14-15 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever

believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Imagine a real, tangible sign, sanctified by God for us who are in the world amidst

so many visuals that tempt our eyes. Ask your kids how they feel when they

see the sign of the Cross in public somewhere?

If you are a Christian, you are strengthened, you rejoice, and think of God who

offers us the ultimate gift of eternal life. But if you are against Christ, you cringe.

To give you a few examples, in the country of Turkey, the Red Cross must be

called the "Red Crescent" to avoid any relation to Christianity. Elder Paisios, if

I'm not mistaken, said that other countries have banned planes from flying over

their lands because of the shadow they cast on the earth below: a cross.

Why? Because this sign is the symbol of the power and the victory of

Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:18

For Orthodox Christians, the Cross brings forth joyfulnes and regeneration to all

who carry it, wear it, or exalt it. May you and your families be filled with

encouragement this September as the Cross is processed and we chant, "O Lord

Save Your People through the Power of Your Cross."

*A smaller fragment of the True Cross of Christ can also be found at the Greek

Orthodox Seminary Holy Cross in Boston, MA.

oly Communion

Fasting Technically, when we say "fast from foods;' we mean that we consume nothing at all, not even water. We can assume that in the early

Church, when the faithful were told to fast for a few days, they would eat

nothing at all. On the days we do plan to receive Communion, we should

not eat or drink anything from midnight before until Holy Communion.

In the Church today, we usually use the word "fast"

to mean abstaining from certain foods. When we fast, we eliminate from our diets meat, milk, eggs, wine, and oil - and any foods containing or made from them. The Church instructs us to abstain from these foods on Wednesdays and Fridays, during certain seasons (like Great Lent), and on specific days (such as September 14

for the Feast of the Holy Cross).

When it comes to fasting, the "we" is important to remember. We fast together as

a community of faith. We also celebrate together as a Church by not fasting on

certain days connected to a Great Feast, such as Christmas or Easter.

People think offasting and othE? disciplines as requirements for Holy Communion,

but they are really a means to help us prepare our hearts to receive God's grace. Fasting can draw us closer to G·od: when we choose to fast, we willingly focus our

hearts and minds on God. Saying no to food makes it easier to resist the temptations that lead us away from God. This discipline is meant to help us, not hurt us or make us feel uncomfortable. We say no to food so we can say yes to God.

In "Pirates of the Caribbean;' a running joke involves the so-called Pirate Code. Na

"lve or desperate characters invoke the code to get themselves out of sticky situations, only to be told that the code is "more like guidelines, really:'

This typifies the spirit of Orthodox fasting. Some people must eat specific foods

or take medications that require a special diet. Others begin fasting by abstaining only from meat and work their way up to dairy. The point is that people adjust

the basic rules to meet their physical needs as well as to develop in the discipline. The issue isn't the food we eat-it's

the rule that we follow. Fasting as best we can with a sincere heart is what is important. Our parish priests can give us guidelines for fasting and help us grow in the practice.

Source: Of Your Mystical Supper: The Eucarist. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

/

Almsgiving

Philanthropy is also imponant and it '-fleets our relationship With Jesus, the ultimate philanthropist. We can give of our time, our treasure and our talents. Prayer

Prayer, fasting, and giving are all pan of what St. Paul meant when he wmte in 1 Thessalonians s,17 to "pray without ceasing:• /t doesn't mean endlessly muttering pray.,,, /t means living in a constant prayerful state, which includes what we think of as prayer but much more.

The Church off.,, us daily Epistle and Gospel readings. Reading the Bible is imponant, too. If we choose, the Church "feeds us" a little Snipture each day to nourish us and help us prepare for Holy Communion.

Confession

Finally, the Church offe" the Sacrament of Holy Confession as a way of restoring our relationship to God, to the community, and to ou"elves by expressing to Christ, through the priest, those deeds that have taken us off the Path of living as God has intended us to live .

... grow in the lord

These disciplines are all things we can do to live for God. The more we practice them, the more they become natura/ to us. As we do these things and grow in the lord, we

don't have to force ourselves to see God in all situations. The thoughts, feelings, and understanding will unfold in us because we are living a life in the Holy Spirit. This is what prepares us to fully experience the Eucharist.

Ravanica Church Slava in Detroit

On the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Sunday, June 24, 2018, the St. Lazarus the Great Martyr Church in De-

troit celebrated their temple Feast with the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.Officiating was His Grace Bishop

Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, concelebrated by the parish priest V. Rev. Stavrophor Zivan

Urosev, the dean of the Detroit Deanery, V. Rev. Stavrophor Miosav Djindjilov, retired priest from St. George in

Monroe and Protodeacon Milovan Gogic.

Following the Divine Liturgy the agape meal began with Bishop Longin blessing the Slava kolach and wheat,

prepared by this year’s kumovi Michael and Pamela Reshetar.

During the liturgy and the Slava ritual the church choir, Ravanica, beautifully sang the responses. Taking part in

the banquet, besides the mentioned clergy, were V. Rev. Stavrophor Srboljub Jockovich, V. Rev. Stavrophor Radisa

Ninkovic and Fr. Jeromy Neskvick.

His Grace, in his remarks during the banquet, spoke about the feast of Vidovdan connecting it theologically with all

those who suffered martyrdom, giving their lives for their country and people, from the time of the Battle of Kosovo

to this day. Wishing everyone a happy feast day and Krsna Slava, the bishop noted that St. Lazar is a central figure

in our history shining to this day as an example to us all of one who choose that which is eternal, the Heavenly

Kingdom. St. Tsar Lazar visits Kosovo even to this day, defending those who live there as well as those who go

there to celebrate his name….

The bishop congratulated Fr. Zivan who is celebrating his thirtieth church Slava in Ravanica, praising him for his

love for his parishioners. The church school children also congratulated Fr. Zivan on his anniversary. Afterwards, all

the parish organizations expressed their congratulations on the occasion of this year’s Slava celebration.

Fr. Zivan called upon Martin and Karen Todorov as kumovi for next year’s Slava celebration, giving them a part of

the Slava kolach thereby symbolically transmitting this role to them. He especially thanked Bishop Longin for this

pastoral care and blessing.

A portion of the relics of the Great Martyr St. Tzar Lazar are found in this church which is considered the third

Ravanica.

V. Rev. Srboljub Jockovich

The Friends of the Ravanica Library believe the Library is the basis of a healthy and literate

parish community. Each and every contribution to “The Friends of Ravanica Library” helps us to

achieve our goals of providing the facilities, services and programs required for a lifetime of

learning about our Holy Orthodox Faith and Serbian culture and traditions.

Membership as a “friend” will help to provide not only books and materials for the Church

Library, but will allow us to offer programs, lecture series, and events throughout the year.

All are welcomed and encouraged to become “Friends of the Ravanica Library.” To join, simply

stop by the Church Library or see Paul Bielich Yearly membership is $20.00.

Join Today !

In Memoriam: Protopresbyter-Stavrophor

Dr. Mateja Matejic

Monday, July 30, 2018

NEWS AND EVENTS - Monday, July 30, 2018

IN MEMORIAM: PROTOPRESBYTER-STAVROPHOR DR. MATEJA MATEJIC

Protopresbyter-stavrophor Dr. Mateja Matejic fell asleep in the Lord on 27 July 2018. WWII refugee seminarian at Bitolj, Yugoslavia, he completed his seminary education in a displaced persons camp in Eboli, Italy. In 1949, at another camp in W. Germany, he married Ljubica Nebrigic of Srem, his helpmate, brilliant partner, and gentle conscience, who preceded him in death on April 17, 2016. The life of Father Matejic may best be summarized by his almost constant activity, a passion to work, to produce, to add something to the history, culture, memory, faith of others. In addition, with his words and deeds, he inspired others to believe, to build, to create. He was ordained as a Serbian Orthodox priest in a camp in 1951. He and his young family immigrated in 1956. As a priest, he founded two parishes and encouraged and physically contributed to the building of two places of worship, the Church of St. George in Monroe, Michigan (served 1956-1967), and the Church of St. Stevan of Decani in Columbus, Ohio (served 1967-

1990). After his retirement in 1990, he voluntarily served as a temporary priest in Naples, Florida, Kansas City, Kansas, Akron, Norton, Barberton(Ohio), Hermitage, Midland, Youngwood (Pennsylvania), and Seattle, Washington, where he is given credit for helping inspire them to have their first St. Sava parish church.

He continued to regularly volunteer as long as he was able. He also taught and served as Dean of the Serbian Orthodox School of Theology at the St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois. Dr. Matejic published original works on theology, translations of early Christian texts, discovered and published unknown works of the medieval Serbian Church, wrote on the history of Orthodoxy. He was especially committed to children's education and wrote religious poems as well as plays and poems about Serbian saints, suitable for younger children. In addition to his seminary education, he attained a BA in 1963 (Wayne State University) and a Ph.D. in 1967 (University of Michigan). He taught at Case Western Reserve 1967-1968, and then in the Slavic Department at Ohio State until his retirement as a full professor in 1989. His areas of specialization were diverse, but he was especially known for his lectures on Dostoevsky and Old Russian and medieval South Slavic literature and paleography. Father Matejic was the co-founder and first editor (1967-1974) of The Path of Orthodoxy / Staza Pravoslavlja, which began as a dual-language newspaper of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of the Eastern U.S. and Canada, and is now an official publication of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America.

In 1976, he established and for 20 years ran a small publishing company, "Kosovo," which published books of interest to the Serbian and Eastern Orthodox communities in North America. As a professor at OSU, in 1969, he helped found and became the first director of the Hilandar Research Project, which microfilmed the medieval Slavic manuscripts of the Serbian monastery, Hilandar, on Mount Athos (Greece), thereby making their content more widely accessible and encouraging research in medieval Slavic studies. Under his direction, in time he helped found and establish at OSU both a special collection, the Hilandar Research Library, and a small research center, the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies with its "Hilandar" Endowment. Dr. Matejic had a gift for languages and was fluent in five, conversant in another three, and read six others. He was prolific as a lecturer and author. Well known as a theologian and scholar, he travelled frequently and made presentations in 23 different countries. He was the author of 49 monographs and reference works, and over 500 articles and literary reviews, many of them for World Literature Today (1976-1981). His scholarly publications, especially descriptions of Slavic medieval manuscripts, are consulted and cited regularly. His creativity also extended to poetry and literature. In fact, his first works were published at age 18 in 1942. Many of his published works are books of poems, short stories, and memoirs, in Serbian and/or English. Several poems were published in the camps. His poems, especially those inspired by Hilandar Monastery and its monks, have been published with and without attribution in several countries, especially Serbia. Some of his poems have been set to original music and performed in concerts. Father Matejic received recognition and numerous awards, beginning with prestigious academic fellowships, including the Woodrow Wilson. Later, his research and scholarship were instrumental and led to receiving grants from the U.S. Information

Agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities, American Council for Learned Societies, and several research awards of The Ohio State University.

For his dedication to the Serbian Orthodox Church, he was recognized as a "cross-bearer," with the right to wear a pectoral cross, similar to those worn by bishops. In 2001 he received both a Commendation and the highest award of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Order of St. Sava. For his original poetry and literature in Serbian, the Union of Serbian Writers acknowledged him to be among the three best Serbian emigre authors of all-time. In 1988, he was accepted into the Union of Serbian Writers, and in 1996, 2000, and 2005, he received 3 separate literary awards. The city of Smederevo, which he left as a political refugee in 1944, acknowledged his many contributions by a lengthy entry in the "Smederevo Encyclopedia." In 2001, he was awarded the key to the city of Smederevo. For his contributions to scholarship and medieval studies, he was also recognized by Bulgaria. In 1978, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church awarded him the Order of St. Kliment. In 1984, he was inducted as a member of the Union of Bulgarian Writers. In 1988, he received the highest recognition of the University of Sofia, the "Blue Ribbon with Medal of St. Kliment." The Very Rev. Dr. Mateja Matejic was a classic example of a Renaissance man, "a person with many talents or areas of knowledge." His breadth and depth of interests, knowledge, and creativity was remarkable. Yet, without the steadfast support, patience, understanding, and sacrifice of his wife, Protopresbytera Ljubica, many of his travels, lectures, opportunities and accomplishments would not have been possible.

The Very Rev. Dr. Mateja Matejic is survived by: five children—Predrag (Tatyana), Milica (Frederick), Vida (Thomas), Nenad, Dragana (Milan); 12 grandchildren—Nenad (Tina), Svetoslav (Sarah), Angela (Matt), Anjalyn (Patrick), Zachary, Emily (Doug), Konstantin, Kara, Alex (Lauren), Thomas, Milan, Aleksi; and nine great grandchildren—Ethan, Sam, Eli, Sophia, Dimitur, Stella, Elisaveta, Violet, Finn. He is also survived by his dear sister-in-law and friend Gordana Miric, nephew Borislav Miric, and many nieces and nephews in Serbia. In lieu of flowers and in accordance with his wishes, donations may be made to support children and orphans in Serbia (lifeline—canada.org or http://www.lifelineny.org), Hilandar Monastery (athosfriends.org), or The Ohio State University's Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies (rcmss.osu.edu and "Giving").

SAVE THE DATE

St. Lazarus “Ravanica”

Annual Golf Outing

SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 – 8:30 A.M.

FIELDSTONE GOLF CLUB (AUBURN HILLS)

Anyone interested in helping organize, volunteer, sponsor or

participate can contact:

Lou (Ljubo) Suvak – (248) 761-9796

Or

[email protected]

MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW!

HAVE YOU HEARD?

Parishioners in the News

• The Sarkissian Family has had several reasons to celebrate this year: In April, their daughter Christina

Sarkissian Milner graduated with her Master’s Degree in the field of Microbiology and Immunology from

the University of Michigan. In July, their daughter Lisa became engaged to Ryan Milner, and on August 3rd

Philip and Florence celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary! Thanks be to God for His many blessings!

• We have very happy news to share. Nicole and Eric Gerbens welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Beau

Christian Gerbens on June 21, 2018. The healthy baby boy weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 19 ½ inches.

Congratulations to Nicole and Eric, Baba and Deda, Kathy and Richard Goich and Pradeda, Nick Goich!

• Congratulations to Dr. Desa Petrovic who was recently interviewed on the Detroit Orthodox Radio

program. The topic of her interview was suicide. Desa was interviewed by DOOR Host, Karen Todorov.

Way to go ladies! We are proud of you!

Dear Readers: If you have any news that requires “our special attention” or if we have missed your news please send us an

email so that it can be included in our next issue. We would love to hear from you. Please email us at:

[email protected] or [email protected].

Ecclesiastical New Year – September 1 (September 14) marks the beginning of New Church Year in the Orthodox Church

September 1/ (September 14)

The First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 325) decreed that the Church year should begin on

September 1. The month of September was, for the Hebrews, the beginning of the civil year

(Exodus 23:16), the month of gathering the harvest and of the offering of thanks to God. It

was on this feast that the Lord Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21),

opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read the words: The Spirit of the Lord God is

upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He

hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the

opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). For a long

time, the civil year in the Christian world followed the Church year, with its beginning on

September 1. The civil year was later changed, and its beginning transferred to January 1.

This occurred first in Western Europe, and later in Russia, under Peter the Great.

Source: St. Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue of Ohrid – Volume Two.

New Book Release !

THE SERBIAN CHRISTIAN HERITAGE OF AMERICA: The Historical, Spiritual and Cultural Presence of the Serbian Diaspora in North America (1814-2019)

Edited by: Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic)

Published by: Sebastian Press

Place your order before October 1st and get a discount of 60%. Price with discount $60.00

Please note all the books will be shipped by Jan 2019!!!

THE SERBIAN CHRISTIAN HERITAGE OF AMERICA: The Historical, Spiritual and Cultural presence of the

Serbian Diaspora in North America (1814-2019) in English.

The Serbian Christian heritage of America is a 1,000 page, full color, hardback book with over 799 color

reproductions of our most significant historical figures, monasteries, churches, frescoes, icons and

other artifacts. It contains texts from our noted historians, theologians, journalists and artists.

The book is a living testimony to the phenomenal efforts of the Serbian Orthodox Church to create an

exceptional spiritual and material culture, preserving its monuments and the Christian heritage of the

Americas.

This book belongs to every Christian home to serve as a reminder and symbol to us and others, and

especially to future generations.

http://www.sebastianpress.org/product-p/sp-bk-nh-1...

SMEDEREVO – THE LAST MEDIEVAL CAPITAL OF SERBIA

Although Smederevo is an attractive and strategically important spot at the right bank of the Danube,

populated ever since the 1st ct. BC, the city of Smederevo as we know it today originates in the Middle

Ages. It was fortified by Despot Djuradj (George) Brankovic, the grandson of Knez Lazar Hrebeljanovic

who led the Serbian army to the Kosovo battle (1389). After the death of Lazar’s son, despot Stefan

Lazarevic, Belgrade had to be handed over to the Hungarians. Serbia needed a new capital and

Djuradj, as Stefan’s successor chose to locate it 45 kilometers down the Danube. He wanted to keep

close to the Hungarians to ally with them in the case of the Ottoman attack.

The inner city of the Smederevo fortress was built between 1427 and 1430 and it consisted of Despot

Djuradj’s court, mint and library. He moved in with his wife, a Byzantine princess Irene Kantakouzene,

whose brother Thomas supervised the fortification. It continued until the outer city was finished in

1439. According to the legend, Irene pushed the builders so hard that they called her “Irene the

Cursed” (Prokleta Jerina). This name survived until the present day in the popular culture. Irene’s

participation in construction works is not impossible, since one of the towers is entitled “Irene’s tower”.

The inner and outer city together occupy around 11 hectares, making the Smederevo fortress one of

the largest lowland fortresses in Europe.

Twenty five towers of this fortress form a triangular

layout with one side touching the river Danube, the other on its tributary Jezava and the third one

opening towards the contemporary city. Building the thick walls around 20 meters high quickly

exhausted all the available stone in the area, so the material had to be dragged from distant places.

It caused the usage of many spolia – fragments of older buildings – including some antique reliefs

from the Roman period. The outer city hosted a medieval town with a small church,

wooden housing facilities and a market. The inner city is still secured by a trench and one has to cross

a small bridge in order to enter. It is where the most attractive architectural elements are situated –

the donjon tower, the Cross tower and remains of what once was the despot’s court. Djuradj had

important diplomatic connections in the neighboring countries as well as in Venice and he frequently

received important guests. For this purpose he built the magnificent audience room, whose windows

are saved to the present day. Three Romanesque arched windows (biforas) and one built in the Gothic

style represent very distinctive features of the fortress, frequently depicted on Smederevo souvenirs.

The Cross tower bears the inscription about the despot and the time of construction surmounted by

a huge cross which gave it a popular name. Donjon tower was intended as the last “keep in case of

invasion.” Its walls, being five meters thick, are the strongest of all towers and stocks of food were

deposited there. However, it did not help against the Ottoman invasion in 1439. They kept the fortress

besieged for three months in 1439, after which Smederevo surrendered due to the shortage of

supplies. Nevertheless, it was given back to Despot Djuradj in 1444 and the Serbian Despotate

endured for a while more. In 1453 sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror launched two other terrible sieges

in 1453 and 1456 but the city endured both of them. The final blow came in 1459, when Smederevo

finally fell, thus putting an end to existence of the independent medieval Serbian state.

The spatial fortress of Smederevo located by the

Danube represents a favorite place for strolling, biking, fishing, and other leisure time activities of this

city’s inhabitants. It also inspires love for art, archaeology and history among the youngsters who grew

up by its magnificent sight. Concerts, theatre plays and other cultural events often take place in the

inner city. Together with the outer city it was a shooting location for several movies and TV series.

Smederevo fortress represents the main tourist attraction for the foreign visitors, but one more

important medieval monument deserves to be mentioned here.

The Church of The Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary is ten minutes walk from the city center. It

was built in the 15thcentury and belongs to the Morava architectural school. This style follows the

layout of Mount Athos churches, with lateral apses forming the sign of the cross. It is distinctive for its

elaborate decoration made of brick, which probably reflects Armenian and Venetian influences. The

Smederevo church is small and not among the leading examples of the Morava school. However, it is

still attractive especially in its present day ambient. It is surrounded by the Old Cemetery where all

the distinguished figures of Smederevo history are buried. Just beside the church lays Dimitrije

Davidovic, a founder of Serbian journalism and the author of the first modern Serbian constitution

(1835). There is also a chapel constructed by the famous Serbian architect, Alexander Bugarski and

the spot offers a nice view over the city. Both, the fortress and the church are a must see for any

Smederevo visitor, and their number is increasing in recent years.

Church of The Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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ST. BISHOP NIKOLAJ:

CONCERNING TSAR NICHOLAS II

ur conscience forces us to weep when Russians weep, and to re-

joice when Russians rejoice. Great is our debt to Russia. Man can

be in debt to another man, and nation to nation. But the debt,

that Russia committed to the Serbian people in 1914, is so enormous that

it cannot be repaid by either the passing of ages nor generations. It is the

debt of love that goes blindly to death to save one's neighbor. There is no

greater love than to lay one's life down for his friends - those are the

words of Christ. The Russian Tsar and Russian people, who unpreparedly

entered into war to defend Serbia, could not have been unaware that they

were going to their death; however, the love of Russians toward their broth-

ers did not waver before death, neither were they frightened by death...

July 15/28, 1932.

St. Great Prince Vladimir Equal to the Apostles

МАРИЈО СЛАВНА

Источниче Живоносни, Маријо славна

ми смо Тобом сви поносни, Маријо славна.

Тебе славе ангели,

и ми грешни на земљи,

Света Мајко, Бога Христа,

Дјево Пречиста.

Богодана, Богозвана, Маријо славна,

заштита си поуздана, Маријо славна.





Помоћ Твоју не ускрати, Маријо славна,

лицем Твојим Ти нас прати,Маријо славна.





Ти притеци у невољи, Маријо Славна

Не дај злу да нам одоли, Маријо Славна

Life-giving source, O glorious Mary,

You are the boast of us all, O glorious Mary.

The angels glorify you, as well as we sinners on

earth,

Holy Mother of Christ our God, O Pure Virgin.

Do not take from us your help, O glorious Mary,

Follow us with your face, O glorious Mary.


earth,


Come to us in the time of need, O glorious Mary,

Do not let evil overcome us, O glorious Mary.


earth,


Glory to you O Mother of God, O glorious Mary,

For you are full of grace, O glorious Mary.


earth,








Слава Теби, Богомати, Маријо славна,

јер си пуна благодати, Маријо славна.



Text taken from Duhovna Lira, Spiritual Songs of

St. Nikolai Velimirovic.

Listen for this hymn sung by our Ravanica Choir

during the Offertory.

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Also known as DOOR !

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