Religious Observances

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. Friday, 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. Saturday, January 7.

The complete listing of services taking place during this special time of the year is listed below.

The Spiritual Meaning of the Badnjak

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.

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES  –   РАСПОРЕД  БОГОСЛУЖЕЊА

FRIDAY, January 6th

• CHRISTMAS EVE: Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM. Great Vespers at 6:00PM. Blessing and burning of Badnjak.
• БАДЊИ ДАН: Света Литургија у 9:00 ујутру. Празнично вечерње у 6:00 увече. Освећење и паљење Бадњака.

SATURDAY, January 7th

• CHRISTMAS: Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM
• БОЖИЋ: Света Литургија у 10:00 ујутру

SUNDAY, January 8th

• ALL HOLY MOTHER OF GOD FEAST: Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM
• САБОР ПРЕСВЕТЕ БОГОРОДИЦЕ: Света Литургија у 10:00 ујутру

MONDAY, January 9th

• ST. STEPHEN THE ARCHDEACON: Divine Liturgy 9:00AM
• СВЕТИ АРХИЂАКОН СТЕФАН: Света Литургија у 9:00 ујутру

SATURDAY, January 14th

• ST. BASIL (SERBIAN NEW YEAR’S DAY): Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
• СВ. ВАСИЛИЈЕ  (СРПСКА НОВА ГОДИНА): Св. Литургија у 9:00 ујутру

SUNDAY, January 15th

• SUNDAY 30th   AFTER PENTECOST: Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM
• НЕДЕЉА 30. ПО ДУХОВИМА: Света Литургија у 10:00 ујутру

THURSDAY, January 19th

• HOLY THEOPHANY: Div. Liturgy and Great Blessing of Water at 9:00AM.
• БОГОЈАВЉЕЊЕ: Св. Литургија и Велико освећење воде у 9:00 ујутру.

FRIDAY, January 20th

• ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST: Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
• СВЕТИ ЈОВАН КРСТИТЕЉ: Света Литургија у 9:00 ујутру
• Cutting of Slava Kolach after Holy Liturgy

SUNDAY, January 22nd

• SUNDAY 31th   AFTER PENTECOST: Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM
• НЕДЕЉА 31. ПО ДУХОВИМА: Света Литургија у 10:00 ујутру

FRIDAY, January 27th

• ST. SAVA DAY: Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
• СВЕТИ САВА: Света Литургија у 9:00 ујутру

SUNDAY, January 29th

• SUNDAY 32nd  AFTER PENTECOST: Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM. Saint Sava Celebration. Blessing and cutting of Slava Kolach; Dinner and Program.
• НЕДЕЉА 32. ПО ДУХОВИМА: Света Литургија у 10:00 ујутру. Светосавска Прослава. Сечење Славског колача, ручак и програм.

The remaining 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.

• Click here to download the schedule of Holy Week and Easter Services for printing in Adobe PDF format

Holy Week and Easter Service Schedule

Holy Saturday – April 30, 2016

• Resurrection Matins at 11:30 p.m.

Pascha – May 1, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

Easter Monday – May 2, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

Easter Tuesday – May 3, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

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.

• Click here to download the schedule of Holy Week and Easter Services for printing in Adobe PDF format
• Click here to see the Versper Services schedule throughout the Chicagoland area

Holy Week and Easter Service Schedule

Holy Wednesday – April 27, 2016

• Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• The Sacrament of Holy Unction will take place at St. George Serbian Church, Schererville, IN at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Thursday – April 28, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• The Great Vigil: Reading of 12 Passion Gospels at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Friday – April 29, 2016

• Morning Service/Hours at 10:00 a.m.
• Vespers with laying of Holy Shroud and Funeral Service at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Saturday – April 30, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• Resurrection Matins at 11:30 p.m.

Pascha – May 1, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

Easter Monday – May 2, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

Easter Tuesday – May 3, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

In preparation for Orthodox East taking place Sunday, May 1, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts service will take place Wednesday, April 13 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana.

These services take place every Wednesday morning at St. Sava Church during Great Lent wherein communion is received from Gifts (the Body and Blood of Christ) that are sanctified (consecrated) in advance, hence the name Presanctified Liturgy; this Divine Liturgy has no anaphora (eucharistic prayer).

The Presanctified Liturgy is used on the weekdays of Great Lent, a season of repentance, fasting, and intensified prayer when the more frequent reception of communion is desirable; however, the full Divine Liturgy having a joyful character is not in keeping with the somberness of the season of repentance (Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving”) and so the Presanctified Liturgy is substituted.

Although this service may be performed on any weekday (Monday through Friday) of Great Lent, common parish practice at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church is to celebrate it on Wednesdays.

Find out all spiritual and other events taking place at St. Sava by visiting www.saintsava.net/calendar on the church website.

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.

• Click here to download the schedule of Holy Week and Easter Services for printing in Adobe PDF format
• Click here to see the Versper Services schedule throughout the Chicagoland area

Holy Week and Easter Service Schedule

Lazarus Saturday – April 23, 2016

• Confession at 9:00 a.m.
• Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. – VRBICA
• Holy Communion for children

Palm Sunday – April 24, 2016

• Confession at 9:00 a.m.
• Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

Holy Wednesday – April 27, 2016

• Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• The Sacrament of Holy Unction will take place at St. George Serbian Church, Schererville, IN at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Thursday – April 28, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• The Great Vigil: Reading of 12 Passion Gospels at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Friday – April 29, 2016

• Morning Service/Hours at 10:00 a.m.
• Vespers with laying of Holy Shroud and Funeral Service at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Saturday – April 30, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
• Resurrection Matins at 11:30 p.m.

Pascha – May 1, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

Easter Monday – May 2, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

Easter Tuesday – May 3, 2016

• Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

The schedule of Lenten Vesper Services taking place throughout the New Gracanica Midwest Diocese, Chicago Deanery – 2016 is now available online and for download.

Services will take place at various Serbian Churches throughout the Diocese. See the schedule listed below for specific locations and other information.

• Click now to download the Lenten Service Schedule for the New Gracanica Midwest Diocese and schedule of Holy Week and Easter Services at St. Sava for printing in Adobe PDF format

Lenten Service Schedule for New Gracanica Midwest Diocese

Vespers – Saturday – April 2, 2016

• Services at St. Sava, Merrillville, IN at 6:00 p.m.
• Preaching – Fr. Radovan Jakovljevic

Vespers – 3rd Sunday – April 3, 2016

• Services at St. Elijah Cathedral, Merrillville, IN at 6:00 p.m.
• Preaching – Fr. Ilija Balach

Vespers – Friday – April 8, 2016

• Services at Holy Resurrection, Chicago, IL at 6:00 p.m.
• Preaching – Fr. Marko Matic

Vespers – Saturday – April 9, 2016

• Services at St. Nicholas, Brookfield, IL
• Preaching – Fr. Aleksandar Savic

Vespers – 4th Sunday – April 10, 2016

• Services at St. George, East Chicago, IN at 6:00 p.m.
• Preaching – Fr. Milos Vesin

Presanctified Liturgy – Friday – April 15, 2016

• Services at Monastery New Gracanica
• Clergy confession and conference
• Second Vigil – Monastery New Gracanica at 5:00 p.m.
• Diocesan Annual Assembly at 7:00 p.m.

Diocesan Annual Assembly – Saturday, April 16, 2016

• Assembly continued from previous day at Monastery New Gracanica

Vespers – 5th Sunday – April 17, 2016

• Services at St. Peter and Paul, South Bend, IN at 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. CDT)
• Preaching – Fr. Dobrivoje Milunovic

Presanctified Liturgy – Friday – April 22, 2016

• Services at St. George, Schererville, IN at 6:00 p.m.
• Preaching – Fr. Dennis Pavichevich

Vespers – 6th Sunday (Palm Sunday) – April 24, 2016

• Services at St. George, Joliet, IL at 6:00 p.m.
• Preaching – Fr. Vasilije Vranic

The next Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts service will take place Wednesday, April 6 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana.

These services take place every Wednesday morning at St. Sava Church during Great Lent wherein communion is received from Gifts (the Body and Blood of Christ) that are sanctified (consecrated) in advance, hence the name Presanctified Liturgy; this Divine Liturgy has no anaphora (eucharistic prayer).

The Presanctified Liturgy is used on the weekdays of Great Lent, a season of repentance, fasting, and intensified prayer when the more frequent reception of communion is desirable; however, the full Divine Liturgy having a joyful character is not in keeping with the somberness of the season of repentance (Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving”) and so the Presanctified Liturgy is substituted.

Although this service may be performed on any weekday (Monday through Friday) of Great Lent, common parish practice at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church is to celebrate it on Wednesdays.

Find out all spiritual and other events taking place at St. Sava by visiting www.saintsava.net/calendar on the church website.

You are cordially invited to attend the Lenten Vesper Service Of the Chicago Deanery With His Grace Bishop Longin, visiting Clergy, and V. Rev. Radovan Jakovljevic taking place Saturday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana.

Following the Vesper Service a Lenten dinner will be served.

Guest speaker will be Deacon Jovan Anicic.

Anicic completed his studies at Saint Sava Seminary and the Theological Faculty in Belgrade.

He received his Masters of Divinity degree at the Gregorian University in Rome and submitted his doctoral dissertation for a PhD in Dogmatics at Aristotle University in Thessalonica.

The next Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts service will take place Wednesday, March 23 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana.

These services take place every Wednesday morning at St. Sava Church during Great Lent wherein communion is received from Gifts (the Body and Blood of Christ) that are sanctified (consecrated) in advance, hence the name Presanctified Liturgy; this Divine Liturgy has no anaphora (eucharistic prayer).

The Presanctified Liturgy is used on the weekdays of Great Lent, a season of repentance, fasting, and intensified prayer when the more frequent reception of communion is desirable; however, the full Divine Liturgy having a joyful character is not in keeping with the somberness of the season of repentance (Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving”) and so the Presanctified Liturgy is substituted.

Although this service may be performed on any weekday (Monday through Friday) of Great Lent, common parish practice at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church is to celebrate it on Wednesdays.

Find out all spiritual and other events taking place at St. Sava by visiting www.saintsava.net/calendar on the church website.

Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church, 750 W. 61st Ave., Merrillville, Indiana 46410

The Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Northwest Indiana is sponsoring the “Triumph of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vesper Service” taking place Sunday evening, March 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Clergy from St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church will be participating in the services along with Clergy from Orthodox Churches from throughout the Northwest Indiana area. Members of St. Sava Church, Orthodox Faithful from throughout the region, and visitors are all encouraged to attend.

A reception will take place following the Vesper Service and presentation of the Holy Icons.

The service will take place at the Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church, 750 W. 61st Ave., Merrillville, Indiana 46410.

The guest speaker will be V. Rev. Dr. Milos Vesin, parish priest at Saint Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, Lansing, IL and Professor of Theological Faculty.

TheTriumph of Orthodoxy (also knowns as the Sunday of Orthodoxy or the Feast of Orthodoxy ) is unique historical event that is celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent (six Sundays before Pascha) in the liturgical calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Feast is kept in memory of the final defeat of Iconoclasm, a time when icons were banned in churches, and the restoration of the icons to the church.

• Click to learn more about the story behind the Feast of Orthodoxy (also knowns as the Sunday of Orthodoxy or the Triumph of Orthodoxy).

For more information about this event, please contact V. Rev. Alin Munteanu at alinmunteanu1972@yahoo.com or 623-693-4639.