Monthly Archives

May 2016

May 11
0

Register now for Summer Day Camp at St. Sava Merrillville

By | General Information/News, Sunday School | No Comments

Summer Camp 2016 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana will take place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning the week of June 13, 2016.

Children may come for all three days of the camp or only for specific days as noted at time of registration.

The camp is open to ALL children throughout the greater Northwest Indiana and Chicago area communities regardless of religious background. Whether you go to church every Sunday or have never seen the inside of a church, all children are welcome at the St. Sava Summer Camp in Merrillville, Indiana.

Registration is required before June 1 and the form will be available for download from the church website along with news updates about the camp that will be available at www.saintsava.net/blog through the registration deadline.

There is no charge for this camp, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Each Day of camp will be hosted by different organizations of the church with special activities planned for each day.

  • Monday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – hosted by Karageorge Choir and Historical Society
  • Wednesday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – hosted by Sunday School and Kolo
  • Friday, June 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – hosted by Srbadija Folklore Group

The camp drop-off and pick-up Monday and Wednesday will take place at St. Sava Church in Merrillville, IN. Friday will be a field trip with the day extended to 4 p.m. and the location to-be-determined.

The camp is looking for high school and college students to work as chaperones. Please e-mail karen.knezic@saintsava.net to volunteer or request more information.

Visit the St. Sava Merrillville Summer Camp 2016 Facebook Event Page for more information.

May 08
0

Fundraising Banquet for Sisterhood of the Nativity of the Mother of God – Sunday, Jun. 5

By | General Information/News | No Comments

With the Blessing of His Grace Bishop Longin you are cordially invited to attend a fundraising banquet Sunday, June 5, 2016 at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Schererville, Indiana.

All proceeds from the banquet will benefit ongoing reconstruction projects for The Sisterhood of the Nativity of the Mother of God Serbian Orthodox Monastery of New Carlisle, Indiana. Please attend to give support for this spiritual oasis.

The banquet will take place at Halls of St. George, Schererville, Indiana beginning at noon.

May 07
0

Pick-up Serb Fest Cash Raffle Tickets at Intercultural Dance Festival – Saturday, May 7

By | Folklore Groups, Fundraising, General Information/News | No Comments

Looking for a convenient time to pick up your Serb Fest Annual Cash Raffle tickets? Visit the Intercultural Dance Festival taking place in the Pavilion at St. Sava beginning at 6:00 p.m., Saturday, May 7 and look for Mike Jaksich so you can get your raffle ticket to be included in the first “Early Bird Drawing” quickly approaching in June.

The first of two “Early Bird Drawings” for the Serb Fest Annual Cash Raffle will take place June 5, 2016 with the winner taking home $1,000. This first “Early Bird Drawing” will take place at 1:00 p.m. in the South Wing of St. Sava Church.

This “Early Bird Drawing” is one of 18 total prizes in the annual raffle where a grand prize winner, chosen the last day of the Serb Fest,  takes home $25,000.

Early Bird Winners are still eligible for the final drawing which will take place the last day of the Serb Fest, Sunday, August 7, 2015 at 8:00 p.m.

There are only 1,000 tickets sold for the entire raffle. Tickets are a $100 donation and the winner need not be present.

A second Early Bird Winner will be selected July 17, 2016 where another lucky “Early Bird” will take home $1,000 as well.

To secure your ticket, contact Mike Jaksich at 219-880-6307, David Gerbick at 219-588-3604, or the Church Office at 219-736-9191.

The St. Sava Serb Fest will take place Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 7 at the St. Sava Church and Pavilion, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, IN 46410.

Learn more about Serb Fest 2016 by visiting www.serbfest.org and join us to celebrate at St. Sava in Merrillville, Indiana!

Annual Serb Fest Cash Raffle Prize Listing

  • Grand Prize – $25,000
  • 2nd Prize – $10,000
  • 3rd Prize – $5,000
  • 4th – 6th Prize – $1,000
  • 7th-16th Prize – $500
  • 17th Prize – $1,000 – Early Bird Drawing July 17th
  • 18th Prize – $1,000 – Early Bird Drawing June 5th

The Serb Fest Cash Raffle is organized by St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Indiana Gaming Commission license number 140666. The license is on file with the Church Office.

May 06
0

Donate to Folklore through new online bookstore and payment options at St. Sava

By | Folklore Groups, Fundraising, General Information/News | No Comments

There are two unique donation options now available for you to donate to help Srbadija Folklore offset some of the costs associated with hosting their upcoming “Intercultural Dance Festival” event and you may now make your donation online though the new St. Sava Church Online Bookstore using debit or credit card.

Srbadija Donation Options

  1. Donate a Table Sponsorship – $25 – Click to see the item and checkout now online
  2. Donate a Box of Cevaps – $65 – Click to see the item and checkout now online

You may make your donation for the items listed above paying online with credit or debit card through the new, secure online bookstore (www.saintsava.net/store). You may also continue to donate to Srbadija Folklore by check with option to mail or deliver the check in person to the Church Office.

In addition to the two donation options for Srbadija Folklore available in the online bookstore, there are a few other general items in the bookstore that are available for sale in this initial launch of the new online bookstore. More books and other religious items will be added to the new online bookstore in the coming weeks to expand the selection of items available for shipping directly to your door or available for pick-up in the Church Office during regular business hours.

If you have questions about Srbadija Folklore or would like more information about making a donation to the group in some other way, please contact Karen Knezic at karen.knezic@saintsava.net.

If you have questions about the new online bookstore shopping process, please send e-mail to store@saintsava.net.

 

May 06
0

Srbadija Folklore of St. Sava Merrillville hosts, performs at Intercultural Dance Festival – Saturday, May 7

By | Folklore Groups, General Information/News | No Comments

They youth dance group Srbadija Folklore of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Merrillville, Indiana will be one of many groups celebrating culture through dance at the Second Annual Intercultural Dance Festival taking place Saturday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Pavilion at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, Indiana.

Srbadija Folklore, host of the event that is becoming an annual tradition, will also have Serbian cuisine, beverages, and famous bake sale items available for purchase throughout the evening. General admission tickets are open to the public and available at the door for $10. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

For those desiring a more complete cultural experience, a Serbian “Zabava” (open dance party) will be available for all participants and audience members with music provided by DJ Vinko at the conclusion of all the official performances in the program by the featured dance groups.

Scandinavian, Irish, West African, and Serbian are among the cultures to be represented through dance during the official program portion of the festival.

Participating dance groups include (in alphabetical order):

  • Bozur Folklore Ensemble, Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Frula Folklore Ensemble of St. Elijah Serbian Church, Merrillville, IL – Facebook Page
  • Gavrilo Princip Folklore Ensemble of St. Simeon Serbian Church, 114th South Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Kolo Folklore Ensemble of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Church, Lansing, IL – Facebook Page
  • Mayer School of Irish Dance, Chesterton, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Nordikids, Munster, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Hoosier Strings Jr. Tamburitza, Merrillville, IN
  • South Shore Dance Alliance, Griffith, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Srbadija Folklore of St. Sava Serbian Church, Merrillville, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Tromedja Folklore Ensemble of St. George Serbian Church, Schererville, IN

This year there will be some familiar dance groups from the inaugural festival and some new additions to the lineup. More information about the performers, new additions to the program, and what you can expect to experience at the festival will be available as the event draws near.

The inaugural Intercultural Festival hosted in May 2015 took place in the new Pavilion at St. Sava and drew more than 400 people.

Last year groups represented different regions of Serbia, Mexico, Greece, Ireland, and India in the performance. Several of the Serbian troupes traveled from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Canada.

Please save-the-date Saturday, May 7 for the Second Annual Intercultural Festival, hosted by Srbadija Folklore at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, IN 46410. For more information, visit the www.saintsava.net/folklore website.

May 05
0

Tromedja Folklore of St. George to perform in Merrillville at St. Sava Intercultural Dance Festival – Saturday, May 7

By | Folklore Groups, General Information/News | No Comments

Tromedja Folklore Ensemble of St. George Serbian Church, Lansing, IL will be one of many groups celebrating culture through dance at the Second Annual Intercultural Dance Festival taking place Saturday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Pavilion at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, Indiana.

Performances by Tromedja Folklore Ensemble and other dance groups on the program from throughout the Chicagoland area will showcase various cultures from around the globe at the Second Annual Intercultural Dance Festival at St. Sava Church. General admission tickets are open to the public and available at the door for $10. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

Srbadija Folklore, the youth folklore dance group of St. Sava Church, will be playing host of the event. Serbian cuisine, beverages, and famous bake sale items will also be available for purchase throughout the evening.

For those desiring a more complete cultural experience, a Serbian “Zabava” (open dance party) will be available for all participants and audience members with music provided by DJ Vinko at the conclusion of all the official performances in the program by the featured dance groups.

Scandinavian, Irish, West African, and Serbian are among the cultures to be represented through dance during the official program portion of the festival.

Participating dance groups include (in alphabetical order):

  • Bozur Folklore Ensemble, Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Frula Folklore Ensemble of St. Elijah Serbian Church, Merrillville, IL – Facebook Page
  • Gavrilo Princip Folklore Ensemble of St. Simeon Serbian Church, 114th South Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Kolo Folklore Ensemble of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Church, Lansing, IL – Facebook Page
  • Mayer School of Irish Dance, Chesterton, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Nordikids, Munster, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Hoosier Strings Jr. Tamburitza, Merrillville, IN
  • South Shore Dance Alliance, Griffith, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Srbadija Folklore of St. Sava Serbian Church, Merrillville, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Tromedja Folklore Ensemble of St. George Serbian Church, Schererville, IN

This year there will be some familiar dance groups from the inaugural festival and some new additions to the lineup. More information about the performers, new additions to the program, and what you can expect to experience at the festival will be available as the event draws near.

The inaugural Intercultural Festival hosted in May 2015 took place in the new Pavilion at St. Sava and drew more than 400 people.

Last year groups represented different regions of Serbia, Mexico, Greece, Ireland, and India in the performance. Several of the Serbian troupes traveled from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Canada.

Please save-the-date Saturday, May 7 for the Second Annual Intercultural Festival, hosted by Srbadija Folklore at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, IN 46410. For more information, visit the www.saintsava.net/folklore website.

May 04
0

Kolo Folklore of St. Archangel Michael to perform in Merrillville at St. Sava Intercultural Dance Festival – Saturday, May 7

By | Folklore Groups, General Information/News | No Comments

Kolo Folklore Ensemble of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Church, Lansing, IL will be one of many groups celebrating culture through dance at the Second Annual Intercultural Dance Festival taking place Saturday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Pavilion at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, Indiana.

Performances by Kolo Folklore Ensemble and other dance groups on the program from throughout the Chicagoland area will showcase various cultures from around the globe at the Second Annual Intercultural Dance Festival at St. Sava Church. General admission tickets are open to the public and available at the door for $10. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

Srbadija Folklore, the youth folklore dance group of St. Sava Church, will be playing host of the event. Serbian cuisine, beverages, and famous bake sale items will also be available for purchase throughout the evening.

For those desiring a more complete cultural experience, a Serbian “Zabava” (open dance party) will be available for all participants and audience members with music provided by DJ Vinko at the conclusion of all the official performances in the program by the featured dance groups.

Scandinavian, Irish, West African, and Serbian are among the cultures to be represented through dance during the official program portion of the festival.

Participating dance groups include (in alphabetical order):

  • Bozur Folklore Ensemble, Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Frula Folklore Ensemble of St. Elijah Serbian Church, Merrillville, IL – Facebook Page
  • Gavrilo Princip Folklore Ensemble of St. Simeon Serbian Church, 114th South Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Kolo Folklore Ensemble of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Church, Lansing, IL – Facebook Page
  • Mayer School of Irish Dance, Chesterton, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Nordikids, Munster, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Hoosier Strings Jr. Tamburitza, Merrillville, IN
  • South Shore Dance Alliance, Griffith, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Srbadija Folklore of St. Sava Serbian Church, Merrillville, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Tromedja Folklore Ensemble of St. George Serbian Church, Schererville, IN

This year there will be some familiar dance groups from the inaugural festival and some new additions to the lineup. More information about the performers, new additions to the program, and what you can expect to experience at the festival will be available as the event draws near.

The inaugural Intercultural Festival hosted in May 2015 took place in the new Pavilion at St. Sava and drew more than 400 people.

Last year groups represented different regions of Serbia, Mexico, Greece, Ireland, and India in the performance. Several of the Serbian troupes traveled from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Canada.

Please save-the-date Saturday, May 7 for the Second Annual Intercultural Festival, hosted by Srbadija Folklore at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, IN 46410. For more information, visit the www.saintsava.net/folklore website.

May 04
0

Sofia (nee Jensen) Drca – Memory Eternal ✝ Vjecnaja Pamjat

By | General Information/News, Obituaries & Memorials | No Comments

The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Sofia Drca. Memory eternal.

Sofia (nee Jensen) Drca, age 83, of St John, formerly of Merrillville and Gary, passed away peacefully May 2, 2016 with her family by her side.

Sofia came to America in 1955 where she met her husband Dusan. She was a member of St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and it’s Circle of Serbian Sisters-Kolo Sestara. She was a retired employee of Joyce Sportswear of Gary with several years of service.

She is preceded in death by her parents Nikola and Lenka Solevic, husband Dusan Drca and grandson Steve Djuric.

Sofia is survived by her loving daughters: Millie (Tom Kus) Djuric, Donna (Steven) Winarski; beloved granddaughter Donna (Adam) Bruner; grandsons: Mike, Nikolas and Steven Winarski; and cherished great grandaughter Cassandra Bruner; sister Vasa Hristovski and many nieces, nephews. kumovi and many other relatives. She will be dearly missed, may her memory eternal.

Funeral Services will take place Thursday, May 5, 2016 at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church at 12:00 noon with V. Rev Marko Matic officiating. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery.

Visitation will take place one hour before the funeral service from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For further information please call Calumet Park Funeral Chapel at (219) 736-5840.

May 04
0

Traditional Djurdjevdanski Uranak takes place at St. Sava Merrillville – Saturday, May 7

By | General Information/News | No Comments

Traditional Djurdjevdanski Uranak will take place Saturday, May 7 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana with official activities including services by Father Marko Matic, featuring blessing and cutting of the Slava Kolach, along with a traditional Djurdjevdan Banquet open to everyone.

The event host will be the Organization Serbian Chetniks / Ravna Gora of Merrillville and the day signifies the slava of the Chetniks for the local chapter.

Danny Danilovic will be playing music throughout the festivities from 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Services by Father Marko Matic with blessing and cutting of the Slava Kolach will begin at 9:00 a.m.

The traditional Djurdjevdan Banquet will begin at 9:30 a.m. The banquet can be attended by everyone and donations are collected. Traditional banquet dinner lamb/pork, sausage & sauerkraut, potato salad, coleslaw will be available.

Pre-orders for lamb/pig by the pound will be available, but orders must be placed before May 4, 2016. Call Dusan Pejnovic at 219-741-1670 to place a pre-order. Pick-ups for pre-orders may begin at 10:00 a.m. Lamb/pig may also available for purchase by the pound after the banquet while supplies last beginning at 10:00 a.m.

About Djurdjevdan and Uranak

This special event at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana is called “Uranak” because the start of the day begins as early as 4:00 a.m. with the preparation of meats for the barbeque.

“Djurdjevdan” means “George’s Day” and it is a feast of spring, of new life, of joy, of renewal in nature, of awakening of new forces and of new life energies. In the Christian understanding, St. George is the knight on a horse, a Christian hero, who is a martyr for his faith and for Christ’s truth. He is iconed on a horse as the knight who slays the dragon. The dragon symbolizes the enemies of Christ’s faith, the godless ones against whom he is struggling, and through martyrdom and heroic death he is defeating.

In the national understanding, St. George is God’s beloved saint who is fighting for the captive and the downtrodden, for the freedom of slaves and the freedom of Christ’s faith. Because of that, Djurdjevdan (George’s Day) is among the most endeared religious and national feast.

Djurdjevdan has traditionally been a major celebration for ancestors in captivity, heroes and leaders, and the Chetniks. “Djurdjevdan Heroes Gather Together,” says a national song. They wanted to start uprisings and insurrections against the tyrants and conquerors. In the spring, in the warmer days “when the forest is draped in leaves and the dormant grass becomes green again” was their time to do so. Therefore Djurdjevdan throughout the history for the struggle of freedom the day has played a great role in national tradition, customs, folk songs, and religious traditions for the Serbian people. It has and continues as a day of hope, of sunlit joy and awakening national energies to resist the enemies of the Serbian people.

Djurdjevdan means celebrations. Serbian Chetniks took this celebration Slava (Patron Saint’s Day) as their legacy for the struggle for freedom.

May 03
0

Frula Folklore of St. Elijah to perform in Merrillville at St. Sava Intercultural Dance Festival – Saturday, May 7

By | Folklore Groups, General Information/News | No Comments

Frula Folklore Ensemble of St. Elijah church will be one of many groups celebrating culture through dance at the Second Annual Intercultural Dance Festival taking place Saturday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Pavilion at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, Indiana.

Performances by Frula Folklore Ensemble and other dance groups on the program from throughout the Chicagoland area will showcase various cultures from around the globe at the Second Annual Intercultural Dance Festival at St. Sava Church. General admission tickets are open to the public and available at the door for $10. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

Srbadija Folklore, the youth folklore dance group of St. Sava Church, will be playing host of the event. Serbian cuisine, beverages, and famous bake sale items will also be available for purchase throughout the evening.

For those desiring a more complete cultural experience, a Serbian “Zabava” (open dance party) will be available for all participants and audience members with music provided by DJ Vinko at the conclusion of all the official performances in the program by the featured dance groups.

Scandinavian, Irish, West African, and Serbian are among the cultures to be represented through dance during the official program portion of the festival.

Participating dance groups include (in alphabetical order):

  • Bozur Folklore Ensemble, Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Frula Folklore Ensemble of St. Elijah Serbian Church, Merrillville, IL – Facebook Page
  • Gavrilo Princip Folklore Ensemble of St. Simeon Serbian Church, 114th South Chicago, IL – Facebook Page
  • Kolo Folklore Ensemble of St. Michael Serbian Church, Lansing, IL – Facebook Page
  • Mayer School of Irish Dance, Chesterton, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Nordikids, Munster, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Hoosier Strings Jr. Tamburitza, Merrillville, IN
  • South Shore Dance Alliance, Griffith, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Srbadija Folklore of St. Sava Serbian Church, Merrillville, IN – Website | Facebook Page
  • Tromedja Folklore Ensemble of St. George Serbian Church, Schererville, IN

This year there will be some familiar dance groups from the inaugural festival and some new additions to the lineup. More information about the performers, new additions to the program, and what you can expect to experience at the festival will be available as the event draws near.

The inaugural Intercultural Festival hosted in May 2015 took place in the new Pavilion at St. Sava and drew more than 400 people.

Last year groups represented different regions of Serbia, Mexico, Greece, Ireland, and India in the performance. Several of the Serbian troupes traveled from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Canada.

Please save-the-date Saturday, May 7 for the Second Annual Intercultural Festival, hosted by Srbadija Folklore at St. Sava Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, IN 46410. For more information, visit the www.saintsava.net/folklore website.