The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Jeka Kolundzija. Memory eternal.
Jeka Kolundzija, age 87 of Hobart, passed away Friday, January 7, 2022.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 930am, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, IN. Funeral Service will begin at 10am, V Rev Marko Matic officiating. Interment Memory Lane Cemetery, Schererville.
For further information please call Mileva or Dave at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel 219-736-5840
Peace of God! Christ is Born!
Truly He is Born!
“Our Savior, the dayspring from the East, has visited us from on high, and we, who were in darkness and shadow, have found the Truth, for the Lord is born from the Virgin”.
(Exapostellarion of the Nativity of Christ)
The Lord has once again visited us this year, dear brothers and sisters, bringing to us His peace and fulfilling His promise of returning us from death to life. In the economy of our salvation, the Lord planned to come to this world out of love for His creation—mankind—to save us from the world; to save us from eternal death and suffering. He comes to us in order to grant us life in abundance.
The life that comes from Life Himself is what lifts us up to the heavens, making our connection with God direct and strong, with no place for a weak bond. With His coming, the only place for disturbance in that connection is when our weaknesses and sinfulness are what divide us from Him. He has poured out all of His mercy on to us, and is only asking that we receive Him, give Him a place, and give Him a roof to be under, as the place He received through the manger. If we are willing, then our hearts become a temple with the entrance of His Divine Body and Blood at the Holy Mystery of Communion.
Let us take the opportunity of this season to prepare ourselves for the coming of the God-Child. Let us cleanse our hearts and souls of evil! Let us sweep away the sins and passions staining the floor of our hearts! Let us prepare a cradle out of good deeds so that He may have place to lay His head! This is the purpose of this time of year, which is God-inspired, preserved by our holy customs throughout the centuries and past down to us from our forefathers.
I greet all of you, my spiritual children in Christ, asking God to bless your families, homes, work and efforts for our Holy Church and your salvation. May the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, protect us from all evil, sickness and distress, both now as we approach the Nativity, in the New Year and always.
Christ is Born!
Happy and Blessed New Year 2022!
His Grace Bishop
Longin
Мир Божији, Христос се роди!
Ваистину се роди!
“Спаситељ наш, извор са истока, нас је посетио с висине, а ми који седисмо у тами и
сенци смрти нађосмо Истину, јер се Господ оваплоти од Дјеве”.
(Свјетилен Рождества Христовог)
Господ нас опет и ове године посећује, драга браћо и сестре, доносећи нам Његов мир и испуњавајући Његово обећање о нашем повратку из смрти у живот. Господ долази у овај свет из љубави према Својој творевини – људском роду – да нас спасе од света, од вечне смрти и страдања, испуњавајући домострој спасења и дарујући нам живот у изобиљу. Живот који долази од Самог Живота ја оно што нас уздиже на небо, успоставњајући и учвршћујући нашу везу с Богом.
Након Христовог доласка, једино што може ослабити или пореметити ту везу је наша слабост и грешност. Он је Своју милост излио на нас а од нас очекује да је примимо, да му припремимо место и примимо под свој кров као што га ономад витлејемска пећина примила. Само ако желимо, наше срце може постати храм уласком Његовог Светог Тела и Крви кроз Свету Тајну Причешћа. Искористимо прилику овог предпразничног периода да се припремимо за долазак Богомладенца. Очистимо срца и душе од зла, страсти и греха који га прљају.
Припремимо те јаслице добрим делима да би Господ имао где да се у нама настани! Ово је сврха овог Богомданог поста који су и вековима држали наши преци и до данас очували.
Поздрављам вас све, драга духовна децо у Христу, молећи Господа да благослови ваше породице, домове, рад и труд у Светој Цркви и на вашем спасењу. Нека нас Богочовек, Господ наш Исус Христос заштити од сваког зла, болести и муке док прилазимо Рождеству Његовом, у новој години и у векове векова.
Христос се роди!
Срећна и благословена нова 2022 година!
Његово Преосвештенство Епископ
Лонгин
View the video from Christmas Eve services at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana.
Click the link below to watch now:
https://business.facebook.com/saintsavachurch/videos/4719974491427616/
Father Marko Matic blessing the Badnjak inside the Pavilion at St. Sava Church, Merrillville, Indiana.
Join us for the celebration of Orthodox Christmas beginning with Divine Liturgy taking place at 9:00 a.m. and Great Vespers taking place at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 6 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church at 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, Indiana.
The Blessing and burning of the Badnjak will take place immediately following the Great Vespers.
Divine Liturgy will take place Christmas morning beginning at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 7.
The complete listing of services taking place during this special time of the year is listed below.
Burning of the Badnjak outside the Pavilion at St. Sava Church, Merrillville, Indiana.
Have you ever brought a Badnjak into your home? Do you know that the Badnjak is the finest and foremost custom of all the many traditions by which our people enhance the Christmas celebration?
Click here to read an article explaining the Spiritual Meaning of the Badnjak.
THURSDAY, January 6th
FRIDAY, January 7th
SATURDAY, January 8th
SUNDAY, January 9th
FRIDAY, January 14th
SUNDAY, January 16th
WEDNESDAY, January 19th
THURSDAY, January 20th
SUNDAY, January 23rd
THURSDAY, January 27th
SUNDAY, January 30th
Join us for a special fundraiser Sunday, Dec. 12 to watch and cheer for our very own Sasha Stefanovic from St. Sava Chuch as the black and gold men’s basketball team play on the giant screens in the Pavilion at St. Sava!
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the game will tip-off at 1:00 p.m.
We’ll be serving a buffet with lenten options as well as with italian beef sandwiches, fries, and more for $20 adults, $10 children 12 and under.
Cash bar will be available and there will be raffles for an autographed basketball and shirts with Sasha Stefanovic’s signature!
If you’re not hungry and just want to join us for the excitement of the game and fellowship, $5 donation at the door for adults, children free.
If you’re definitely going to join us for this big game, please call 219-736-9191 to RSVP. All proceeds from this event will benefit St. Sava Church – Merrillville, Indiana.
The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Julio Cesar Velazquez. Memory eternal.
Julio Cesar Velazquez, age 73 of Portage IN, passed away on Thursday October 14, 2021. He lived the life he loved and loved the life he lived. He retired with over 30 years of service as a licensed clinical social worker.
He was a member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, and a former coach/board member of the Portage Soccer Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents Rose and Julio Velazquez Sr. and sister Rosemary Cothran. Survived by wife Olga (nee Galic) of 43 years; sons: Adam (Christine) and Daniel (Kelly) Velazquez; grandchildren: Mara, Charlie, and Nick Velazquez; Brothers, Bob (Mary) and Jim (Julie) Velazquez; aunts: Maria Miller and Libia Pabon.
Also survived by many nieces, nephews, sister and brothers-in-law, cousins, dear Kumovi, and CLOSE friends.
Julio was gentle, kindhearted, and full of life. He brought humor to any gathering and prided himself on his ability to bring joy/laughter to others. The “Sugar Bear” was always there when you needed him, never met a stranger, and LOVED his family. In the end, Julio fought his health battles with tenacity and immense courage. He will be missed by all who knew him. May his Memory be Eternal.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 11am St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, IN with V. Rev Marko Matic Officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service, 11:00 a.m. Interment St Sava Holy Cross Cemetery, Merrillville. May his Memory be Eternal. For further information please call Mileva or David at CALUMET PARK FUNERAL CHAPEL, 219-736-5840.
The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Radmilo “Rade” Radojcic. Memory eternal.
Age 83, of Crown Point, Indiana. Born on the 23rd of September, 1938 in Kragujevac, Serbia. Loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home with family by his side on Friday October 8th. Radmilo emigrated to the U.S. in 1965, became a U.S. citizen, and established roots in Northwest Indiana. He was a retired steelworker with 37 years of service at U.S. Steel, Gary Works.
Radmilo was a member of St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana and was well-known in the community. A lifelong soccer enthusiast, he was also a member of Avala Soccer Club for many years and enjoyed playing in his youth, as well as coaching and staying active. After retirement, Radmilo stayed busy by gardening and tending to his large fruit orchards with his wife Mimi. When he wasn’t busy with his horticultural interests, he would care for his honey bees and enjoyed his retirement hobby of beekeeping. Being a life-long learner and doer, there wasn’t much he couldn’t do.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paun and Borika Radojicic. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Milovanka “Mimi” Radojicic, his sons Milan, Nenad (Tami) and Tomislav as well as his grandchildren Stevan (18) and Tijana (15). Radmilo also had an extensive network of family and friends in Serbia and here in the U.S. He was well loved and will be dearly missed by many.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, October 13, 2021 directly at 9:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, with V Rev Marko Matic officiating. Interment New Gracanica Cemetery, Third Lake, Illinois. For further information please call Mileva or David at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 219-736-5840.