April 2026

Father John of the Greek Orthodox Church, visiting from Greece will be present to bless and cross all who wish to come and venerate the Cross of Christ during special hours Friday, May 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Merrillville, Indiana.

• St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church
  9191 Mississippi Street
  Merrillville, Indiana 46410

Fr. John has been granted the high honor of carrying a fragment of the True Cross of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, which has worked and continues to work miracles amongst the faithful, and through God’s Providence even those who are found lacking of such faith.

During the period of Greek captivity under the Ottoman Turks, and prior, many monasteries, Churches, and places of worship were desecrated and destroyed, resulting in the destruction and loss of many priceless spiritual relics and treasures from amongst the glory of Christendom.  This reality encouraged the priests, hierarchies, and Holy Fathers of the Great Church of Christ, that is the Orthodox Church, to distribute these holy artifacts amongst the faithful, entrusting to them the safeguarding of such spiritual gifts until the time was fulfilled and they were instructed on how to act with regards to these articles, icons, relics, and even pieces and fragments of the True Cross of Christ.

One fragment of the True Cross, embedded also with the sacrificial blood of our Lord, was found to be with a pious woman in Greece.  The Mother of God appeared to her instructing her to deliver the Cross to Fr John when he was still a young priest, which this pious soul was faithful to do, according to our Lady’s instructions.  Surrendering the Cross, it is until this day under the care of Father John.

The gift of the Lord’s Salvation has come to grace St. Sava’s Church.  This Friday the Cross will be present for all those who are able and willing to come to the Lord and turn to Him that they should be healed.  All who are able and all who ail are encouraged to come.

Traditional Djurdjevdanski Uranak will take place Saturday, May 2 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana with 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.

Services by Father Marko Matic with blessing and cutting of the Slava Kolach will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Traditional Slava banquet to follow services. BBQ Lamb, Pig, and cevaps will be on the menu for
your enjoyment.

Music will be provided by Danny Danilovic and Srecko Suvajac.

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.

The schedule of Holy Week and Easter Services taking place at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana is now available online and for download.

• Download 2026 Easter schedule at St. Sava Merrvillle in Serbain and English languages

Holy Week and Easter Schedule of Services

• LAZARUS SATURDAY – APRIL 4th 2026
  • Confession at 9:00 a.m.; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.– VRBICA
  • Cutting of Slava Kolach after Holy Liturgy
• PALM SUNDAY – APRIL 5th 2026
  • Confession at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
• HOLY TUESDAY – The Annunciation – APRIL 7th 2026
  • Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• HOLY WEDNESDAY – APRIL 8th 2026
  • Presanctified Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
  • Holy Unction: St. Elijah, Merrillville – 6:00 p.m.
• HOLY THURSDAY – APRIL 9th 2026
  • Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
  • The Great Vigil: Reading of 12 Passion Gospels at 6:00 p.m.
• HOLY FRIDAY – APRIL 10th 2026
  • Morning Service / Royal Hours at 10:00 a.m.
  • Vespers with laying of Holy Shroud and Funeral Service at 6:00 p.m.
• HOLY SATURDAY – APRIL 11th 2026
  • Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
  • Resurrection Matins at 11:30 p.m.
• PASCHA – APRIL 12th 2026
  • Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
• EASTER MONDAY – APRIL 13th 2026
  • Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• EASTER TUESDAY – APRIL 14th 2026
  • Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.