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SUMMER 2009

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church Descent of the Holy Spirit Guides Us to All Truth 3
3025 Denver Street • San Diego, CA 92117
telephone: (619)276-5827
Pages from the Orthodox Youth Ministry’s Our View 4
email: frbratso@sbcglobal.net Saints Sophia & daughters 6
web: http://saintgeorgeinsd.com Saint John the New Martyr of China 7
From the President 8
Church Officers & Staff Continuing Our Legacy Summary 9
PARISH PRIEST: V. Rev. Bratislav “Bratso” Krsic Continuing Our Legacy is Our Responsibility 11
PARISH DEACON: Rev. Paul Germain From the Treasurer’s Desk 13
PRESIDENT: Nemanja Selezan Naughton sisters on still another winning team 13
VICE PRESIDENT: Vladan Trifunovic St. George Choir Trip to Phoenix 14
2nd VICE PRESIDENT: Dobrila Undheim Kolo Sisters 15
3rd VICE PRESIDENT: Simona Trifunovic Religious Education Report, Spring 2009 16
SECRETARY: Tina Zivkovic Here’s what’s new in MORAVA’s corner 17
TREASURER: Rev. Paul Germain Church Family News 18
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Lindsay Selezan St. George Stewards—June 7, 2009 22
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: Melanie Milicevic From the Stewardship Chair 22
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE: Nada Pantovich, Stole Report for Jan. 1 – June 1, 2009 23
Vojkan Popovich, Sam Purlia, Vladan Vladisavljevic, “Uniting” Bosnia, Smoking in the Arsenal 25
Vecki & Miodrag Miljkovic, Dragan & Sonja Radic,
Serbian Orthodox Church redistributes dioceses in the Americas 28
Marko & Vera Rakic
Ecumenical Patriarch active in world issues 29
STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY:
Chair: Lydia Petric Rhoads Calling All Tradesman 30
AUDITING BOARD:
President: Miro Copic, Sean Wright, Zeljko Milasinovic
TUTORS/VESTRYMEN: Mico Lukic, Ladislav Midyear course adjustment. Since the shortest day of the year way back in
Tapavcevic, Pete Dopodja, Alex Sekanovic, George December, each following day has given us a glint of hope as the time of darkness
Skaljac, Marko Rakic, Vojkan Popovich, Miro Copic, got shorter. Culminating now in the summer soltice, the longest day in the year, when
Milan Miljkovic we typically celebrate graduations, weddings, holidays, vacations, reunions, and the
S.S.S. ST. GEORGE CHOIR like, in the summer light. Many of these events mark the end and/or the beginning of
President: Velimir Jovanovic something. Thus, it seems this midpoint of the year would also be a good time to
CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS (KOLO) make a course adjustment. Let me give you an example: Our Continuing the Legacy
President: Sylvia Ivanovic Capital/Stewardship Campaign has completed its first phase. Unfortunately, it didn’t
CHURCH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT make its goal this first time out. That said, I think each of us needs to re-evaluate our
Deacon Paul Germain seriousness about supporting our Church and make a course adjustment. Did you
MORAVA FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE not pledge or give? Why not? Are you going to be like all those freeloaders who enjoy
Director: Maria (Draskovic) Milasinovic public broadcasting and never donate anything for its support? Yes, you can do that.
ADULT ORTHODOX FELLOWSHIP No one really knows, and you have your reasons, right? Except someone does
Nemanja Selezan know—the Lord knows. He isn’t going to forbid you from availing yourself of the
VOICE OF ST. GEORGE services of the Church (or public radio), nor is He going to punish you. But if you
Editor: Marsha Jovanovic bothered to learn His teaching, you would know that the more you give, the more you
(619)988-0650 • FAX (619)588-5767 receive in return. So I urge all of us to make a midyear course adjustment today. If
email: marsha@marshaj.com you haven’t done so, take your stewardship pledge card and your Capital Campaign
card and commit to financially supporting your Church. Do it for your own sake, and
do it for the Lord.—Marsha Jovanovic
history is filled with numerous examples the responsibility of each individual is
Message on World Environment of misuse of these privileges, where the also immense both in one's personal and
Day (June 5, 2009) use and preservation of natural resources family life but also in one's role as an
has been transformed into irrational active citizen.
Today's World Environment Day is an abuse and, often, complete destruction,
opportunity as well as an invitation for all leading occasionally to the downfall of Thus, we call everyone to a more acute
of us, irrespective of religious back- great civilizations. sense of vigilance for the preservation of
ground, to consider the world ecological nature and all creation, which God made
crisis. Indeed, the care for and protection of Cre- in all His wisdom and love. And, from the
ation constitutes the responsibility of See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, we
In our time, more than ever before, there everyone on an individual and collective invoke God's blessing for World Environ-
is an undeniable obligation for all to level. Naturally, the political authorities ment Day, offering praise to the Creator
understand that environmental concern of each nation have a greater responsibil- of all, to whom is due all glory, honor and
for our planet does not comprise a roman- ity to evaluate the situation in order to worship.
tic notion of the few. The ecological cri- propose actions, measures and regula-
sis, and particularly the reality of climate tions that will convince our communities
change, constitutes the greatest threat for of what must be done and applied. Yet, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch
every form of life in our world. More-
over, there is an immediate correlation
between protection of the environment
and every expression of economic and
social life.

For our Orthodox Church, the protection


of the environment as God's creation is
the supreme responsibility of human
beings, quite apart from any material or
other financial benefits that it may bring. Icon of the Trinity,
The almighty God bequeathed this "very cir. 1410 by Andrei
beautiful" world (Gen. 1.26) to humanity Rublev
together with the commandment to "serve
and preserve" it. Yet, the direct correla-
tion of this divine mandate for the protec-
tion of creation to every aspect of
contemporary economic and social life,
ultimately enhances the global effort to
control the problem of climate change by
effectively introducing the ecological
dimension into every aspect of life.

With the opening of this third millen-


nium, environmental issues - already evi-
dent since the 20th century - acquired a Troparion (Tone 8)
new intensity, coming to the forefront of Blessed art You O Christ Our God
daily attention. According to the theolog- You have revealed the fishermen as most wise
By sending down upon them the Holy Spirit
ical understanding of the Orthodox Chris-
Through them You drew the world into Your net
tian Church, the natural environment is O Lover of Man, Glory to You!
part of Creation and is characterized by Kontakion (Tone 8)
sacredness. This is why its abuse and When the most High came down and confused the tongues,
destruction is a sacrilegious and sinful He divided the nations;
act, revealing prideful despise toward the But when he distributed the tongues of fire
work of God the Creator. Humanity, too, He called all to unity.
is part of this Creation. Our rational Therefore, with one voice, we glorify the All-holy Spirit!
nature, as well as the capacity to choose
between good and evil, bestow upon us
certain privileges as well as clear respon-
sibilities. Unfortunately, however, human

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 2


C E L E B R AT I O N * D E D I C AT I O N * P RO G R E S S * V I S I O N

Descent of the Holy Spirit Church defined the divine dogmas


Produces Many Fruits and concerning the All Holy Trinity, and
Guides Us to All Truth other things pertaining to the life in
the Church. The Holy Spirit makes
One should stand in church or in the weak strong, and the faint-
front of the home icons (home altar) hearted brave. The Holy Spirit
and maintain a respectful and con- enables a man to see things that can-
templative silence in the face of not even be uttered, the deep things
such an awesome event: the Descent of God, after the Spirit prepares him.
of the Holy Spirit. This Feast Day By the Holy Spirit, a man prays in
falls on the fiftieth day after Pascha, spirit and truth, according to his
the Resurrection of our Lord, hence need and the will of God. The Holy
the name Pentecost. On the Hebrew Spirit completes a Christian life and
calendar, Pentecost was the harvest makes it possible for one to live it
feast. For us Christians, it is the har- fully as intended by God, that is, in
vest of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. communion with Him.
St. Paul in his letter to Galatians This Pentecost when the Church
5:22-23 gives us the entire list of the entreats the Holy Spirit to come and
fruits of the Holy Spirit: The fruit of pour out His gifts once again, let us
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuf- dear readers, submit ourselves to
fering, kindness, goodness, faithful- this powerful breath that renews,
ness, gentleness, self-control. In the strengthens and enlightens every
gospel according to St. John 16:13, man. If we surrender ourselves com-
Jesus Christ told His disciples and pletely to the Holy Spirit, allowing
tells us today that the Holy Spirit, Him to take over our life, we will
The Pentecost icon not only tells the story of the
will guide you into all truth. share in the life and action of God.
descent of the Holy Spirit in tongues of flame upon
As one saint said it “all of the attri- the apostles, but it also teaches us the greater
The Church’s hymnography reveals
butes of divinity must become ours; meaning of this event in God’s provision for the
a deep and profound theology about
eternal life, truth, goodness, holi- salvation of the world. See how the circle of the
the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
ness, purity, joy ... all perfections Apostles is not closed but is open both at the top
Light and Life, and a living, noetic
summed up in the greatest which is toward heaven – from which they receive the Holy
Fountain, the Spirit of wisdom, the
Love. For God is Love!” Spirit – and also at the bottom where we see a
Spirit of understanding; a good, an crowned figure holding a cloth filled with many
upright, a noetic Spirit, presiding in May our St. George parish continue blank scrolls.In this we see that the Holy Spirit
power and purging offenses. He is to gather each Sunday and Feast descended first upon the Apostles for they had been
God, and deifies; He is Fire, issuing Day as the apostles did in the upper prepared by our Lord Jesus Christ to receive this
from Fire, speaking, working, dis- room, and may He transform all of divine indwelling. But the outpouring of the Holy
tributing the gifts; through Whom us into a living flame of God’s grace Spirit does not stop there for the crowned man at
all the Prophets, and the Apostles of that brings forth the fruit of the Spirit the bottom and in the center of the Apostles
God, and all the Martyrs received which is love, joy, peace, longsuffer- represents all the kingdoms and nations of the
their crowns. Strange is this report, ing, kindness, goodness, faithful- earth. Having received the Holy Spirit, the
ness, gentleness, self-control. Apostles began to speak and preach the Gospel in
strange and new this sight, a Fire
a multitude of tongues which were the languages of
divided that these gifts may be "O Heavenly King, Comforter, the nations of the earth. Shortly after this the
apportioned. (Pentecost Matins, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere Apostles divided up the whole of the known world
Third sticheron at the Praises) present and fillest all things, Trea- between themselves and began to preach the
The Holy Spirit reveals truth to a sury of good things and Giver of Gospel to all nations. The scrolls represent the
man; He enlightens and purifies him life: Come and dwell in us, and various nations, each of which would be taken up
cleanse us of all impurity, and save, by one or the other of the Apostles. There he would
with fire. The Holy Spirit, Who
go to proclaim the Resurrection and the defeat of
guides into all truth, reveals the our souls, O Good One." Amen!
sin, death and the devil and the freedom of all men
mystical dogmas of Christ and the from their captivity.(Archpriest David Moser).
Holy Trinity. By the Holy Spirit, the Protopresbyter Bratislav Krsic
prophets prophesied, the apostles
taught, and the councils of the

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 3


Pages from the Orthodox Youth Ministry
Put Your Thinking Caps On! massive conversion of the crowd after
they had each heard the Gospel being
1. Sinan Pasha of Belgrade ordered that
preached in their own language?
the relics of St. Sava be translated to
Belgrade and there to be burned on a Transfiguration
Vracar, April 27, 1594. b Pentecost
a True/ b False c Ascension
2. We commemorate the burning of St. d Pascha
Sava relics on May 10 each year.
5. Transfiguration Feast Day falls on
a True/ b False which date?
3. The Vidovdan Feast day is commem- a July 12
Scripture says this about a orated on…?
Righteous Response b August 19
a May 12 c August 28
Wrath destroys even men of
b June 11 d January 19
discernment; but a humble
answer turns away anger, and a c June 28
grievous word stirs up wrath. d August 28 Answers: 1-a; 2-a; 3-c; 4-b; 5b
The tongue of the wise
understands good things, but 4. What special feast day described in
the mouth of those without the Book of Acts was followed by a
discernment proclaims evil
things. The eyes of the Lord are
in every place; they keep watch Church. The faithful are called out of the Entering the Church Late! The time to
over both the evil and the good. world to be the Church: the body of arrive at church is before the service
The healing of the tongue is a Christ, the Bride of Christ, the New starts, but for some unknown reason, it
tree of life, and the one who Israel, the ark of salvation, the assembly has become the custom - or rather the
guards will be filled with the of the faithful. Through the Church, bad habit - for some to come to church
Spirit. (Proverbs 15:1-4) Christians are united to Christ and to late. If you arrive after the Divine Lit-
each other. In this community, the urgy begins, try to enter the church qui-
believer receives the grace of God etly - and observe what is happening. If
Getting Familiar with Orthodox through the sacraments and hears the the Epistle or Gospel is being read or the
Terminology & Etiquette truth of the gospel. This mystical trans- Little or Great Entrance is taking place,
formation of people into one body in wait until it is finished to quickly find a
Canon. Literally, "a rule." It describes Christ takes place in the Eucharist. seat. If Father is giving the sermon, stay
(1) the inspired Books of the Bible—the Because Christ is the Head of the in the back until he has concluded. If in
Canon of Scripture; (2) the rules and Church, the Church is a reflection of the doubt, check with one of the ushers to
decrees issued by the early Church (see Incarnation, with both human and divine see if it is a good time to seat yourself.
Acts 15:23-29) and by Ecumenical qualities (see 1 Cor. 10:16, 17; Gal. 6:16; Try not to interrupt the Liturgy with your
Councils—Canon Law; and (3) certain Eph. 4:12; 5:22-32). entrance. By the way, the best way to
parts of worship, such as the Liturgical avoid this problem is to arrive on time -
Canon or the Canon of Matins. Commandment. The Law of God, given then you don't have to wonder if it's okay
first in the Ten Commandments on Mt. to come in or not. People who come late
Chrismation. The sacrament completing Sinai, and completed or fulfilled by the to the Liturgy should not partake of the
baptism, whereby one receives the gift of teaching of Christ (Ex. 20:1-17; Matt. Eucharist!
the Holy Spirit through anointing with 5:1—7:27; John 15:12).
the Chrism, a specially prepared oil Crossing Legs in Church! In some
which must be consecrated by a bishop. Communion. (Gr. koinonia) A common Orthodox cultures, crossing one's legs is
On several occasions in Acts, a baptized union of the most intimate kind, enjoyed taboo and considered to be very disre-
Christian received the gift of the Holy by Christians with God and with each spectful. In our North American culture,
Spirit through the laying on of the hands other in the Church. This communion is while there are no real taboos concerning
of an Apostle (see Acts 8:14-17; 19:6). especially realized in the mystery of the crossing one's legs, we tend to cross our
Chrismation is a continuation of that Holy Eucharist (John 6:56; 1 Cor. 10:16, legs to get comfortable while sitting.
ancient practice in the Church. 17). Should we cross our legs in church? No.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 4


Not because it is "wrong" to ever cross tled visitor. "Why all it is, is the outline they may be in themselves, certainly do
legs, but rather because it is too casual - of a head. Most of it is still missing - the not constitute the aim of our Christian
and too relaxed - for being in church. Just eyes, mouth, arms, legs and feet - the life; they are but the indispensable means
think about it, when you get settled in whole body is missing!" of attaining that aim. For the true aim of
your favorite chair at home, you lean the Christian life is the acquisition of the
back, cross your legs, and then your "You won't see that on a wall," the work- Holy Spirit of God.
mind can wander anywhere it wants to. man replied. "The body of Christ is the
Remember that sitting in church is a con- congregation of people who will be wor- As for fasts, vigils, prayer and almsgiv-
cession, not the normative way of prayer. shipping in this church. The Body of ing, and other good works done in the
You surely don't want to get too relaxed Christ is the Church." St. Paul writes, name of Christ, they are only the means
and let your mind wander off too much. "He (Christ) is the head of the body, the of acquiring the Holy Spirit of God...
In fact, when you do sit in church, you Church" (Col. 1:18). St. [John] Chrysos- [Ed. Note: emphasis mine]. Prayer is
should sit attentively - and not too com- tom said, "Christ is the head of the body, always possible for everyone, rich and
fortably. When sitting in church, keep but what can the head do without hands, poor, noble and simple, strong and weak,
those feet on the floor, ready to stand at without feet, without eyes, without ears, healthy and suffering, righteous and sin-
attention (which is what "Let us attend" without a mouth?" ful. Great is the power of prayer; most of
means). Cross yourself with your fingers all does it bring the Spirit of God and
and hand - but don't cross your legs! As the Head of the Body, Christ issues easiest of all is it to exercise."
orders to the various members. He is the
brain; the One in Whom all the fullness It has been said that St. Seraphim in the
of God dwells bodily. What a privilege above words sums up the whole spiritual
God bestows on us when He ties us so tradition of the Orthodox Church. For,
How to Celebrate Pentecost at Home intimately with Christ and with each what is greater than to possess the Holy
other as to make us constitute one Body Spirit? And what is easier than the means
...Read and discuss the Scripture lessons with Him as the Head. When we medi- by which He comes to us: prayer?
that are read in Church on Pentecost tate on this analogy, we come to look at
(Acts 2:1-11 and John 7:37-52, 8:12). prayer as the members of the Body (the No prayer is complete unless it includes
Church) reporting for duty to the Head a petition to the Holy Spirit that He come
It is the Body of Christ through which He (Christ). He continues to be present in to dwell in us. Thus, through prayer
continues to be present in the world the world today. every day becomes Pentecost.
today: to teach us, forgive us, guide us,
bless us, and strengthen us. After Christ The Holy Spirit. Finally, Pentecost is the This would be a good time to learn one
ascended into heaven, He established the day on which the Holy Spirit came to us of the best known and most used prayers
Church to carry on His work. When we in His fullness. On this day we kneel of the Orthodox Church. Almost every
go to Church on Sunday, we are going to three times during the church service as one of our church services begins with it.
Christ. When we support the Church we pray together with the priest that the It is a prayer to the Holy Spirit and
with our offerings, we are supporting same Holy Spirit Who filled the first should be used often in your family
Christ. When we listen to the Church, we apostles with God's presence and power devotions:
are listening to Christ. may fill us today with the same power
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the
that we may experience the reality of
Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere
The Body of Christ. The Church is God in our lives.
present and fills all things, Treasury
called the Body of Christ because just as of good gifts and Giver of Life, come
Christ once used His physical Body to do The Holy Spirit must be constantly and abide in us, and cleanse us of all
the work of God in the world, so now He attained. He should be received daily. To impurity, and save our souls, 0 Good
uses His mystical Body, the Church. achieve this, it is necessary to wait One.
prayerfully and expectantly for Him as
On the long high front wall of a church the apostles did before Pentecost. "All
that was just being completed, an artist these with one accord devoted them- From Fr. Anthony Coniaris in Making
started painting a picture of Christ as the selves to prayer..." (Acts 1:14). This kind God Real in the Orthodox Christian
Good Shepherd. Only the firm brush of prayerful waiting is essential if we are Home. This book offers us many ways to
strokes outlining the head could be seen. to receive the Holy Spirit. enrich the lives of our families.
A stranger stopped in and asked curi-
ously, "When will the picture be fin- St. Seraphim of Sarov describes the
ished?" whole purpose of the Christian life as
nothing more than the receiving of the
A workman replied. ''That picture? It is Holy Spirit: "Prayer, fasting, vigils and
finished.'' "Finished?" repeated the star- all other Christian acts, however good

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 5


Saints Sophia & daughters

The Orthodox Church is filled with


accounts of courageous Christians who,
throughout the ages, have witnessed
their faith—not only in word but, most
memorably, in deed. For it was they who
outwardly expressed their faith and, in
some cases, joyfully accepted their fates
at the hands of brutal murderers who
condemned the True Christian Faith and
sought to erase it from the face of the
earth.

In the second century, there lived in


Rome—under the Emperor Hadrian (a
pagan idolater)—a young widow named
Sophia (Greek for ‘wisdom’). She lived
with her three daughters whom she
piously named after Christian virtues.
Pistis (which means Faith) was the old-
est, then came Elpis (which means Hope)
then Agape (which means Love). Sophia
raised them to embrace their Christian
faith and they not only learned of it as
one would a school subject, but they
lived it—for it was their entire life of
faith.

They reached such a level of young piety


that their names spread throughout the
land and fell upon the ears of the eparch
Antiochus. Upset by their outward
beauty of holiness, he reported them to
the Emperor Hadrian who commanded
they be brought immediately to trial.

Sophia undoubtedly knew the struggle


that lie ahead of herself and her three
daughters. However, she was not afraid
for she had always turned to Christ in
times of difficulty and had taught her
daughters to do the same. Therefore, she When Sophia was brought alone before time to pray and gain strength for their
gathered the girls together at their tender the emperor, the malicious Hadrian was certain martyrdom.
ages of 12, 10 and 9. She warned them of amazed at her confidence and boldness.
the days to come and that their faith was When no progress was made, he sent for After the three days had elapsed, Hadrian
about to be tested. She informed them her young daughters. Though, sharing made hollow promises of riches and
that their trials would be painful and their mother’s faith and wisdom, they did power to the girls. He didn’t realize that
most likely lead to their deaths. She told not waver. they cared nothing about earthly things
them that Christ would be with them but rather they kept their values set at
throughout and that physical pain lasts Hadrian attempted a different approach their meeting with their Lord Jesus
only a short while but the Kingdom of by assigning the sisters, along with their Christ and his Heavenly Kingdom.
Heaven is forever. She instructed them to mother, to a noblewoman name Palla-
pray constantly and cling to Christ, with- dia—in order that they may learn the He tried, one at a time—starting with
out fear. ways of foolish idolatry. Instead of head- Pistis, the oldest child—to woo and flat-
ing Palladia’s words, they utilized the ter them into renouncing their faith,

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 6


promising wealth beyond comprehen- The emperor, surely thinking it the great- Orthodox priest, Metrophanes Chi-Sung.
sion. Pistis calmly informed Hadrian that est punishment for a mother to live alone His wife, Tatiana, and his son Isaiah (age
while he was an earthly ruler, her God with the memory of her daughters’ tor- twenty-three) were killed right in front of
rules the universe and she will serve only ments, released Sophia and she took up him. Then they killed Fr. Metrophanes
her God. She commanded that she would the bodies of her beloved children and himself, being stabbed in the chest by a
never bow down before a lifeless idol. buried them together. With rejoicing and crowd of rebels. Next was Maria, age
the pain of a mother, her tears fell upon nineteen, Isaiah’s fiancée, who was try-
Surprised that his enticements and even- their grave for three days. At which time, ing to help other Christians escape.
tually, his threats, were being thwarted her life was peacefully taken from her
by a young girl, he became enraged. and her soul was reunited with her Lastly, they showed no mercy as they
Sophia and Pistis’ two sisters watched as daughters. All received the crown of inflicted the most severe torments upon
she was brutally beaten. They prayed as martyrdom, including Sophia for though Fr. Metrophaes’ son, John, who was
she was savaged and burned, remaining she did not endure physical pain, she was eight years old. They cut him to pieces,
peaceful and hopeful throughout her suf- dragged through the torments of witness- starting with his nose, ears and toes. He
ferings. She was then beheaded. ing the tortures handed to her daughters. remained calm and quiet, looking like an
The church remembers and celebrates angel in the flesh. Some of the witnesses
Next came Elpis, age ten. She endured these four glorious saints on September had pity on him and tried to comfort him.
the same interrogations and attempts to 17th. Gazing upon his dying, mutilated body,
sway her faith. She also gave the same they asked if he was in great pain. Smil-
kind of responses to the emperor. ing and looking even more radiant, his
Unaware of the power of true Christian www.childsaints.com sweet lips uttered, “It is not difficult to
faith, Hadrian commanded the burning, suffer for Christ.” Shortly thereafter, the
hanging and lacerating of the beautiful Saint John the New Martyr of China Christ which this small child had con-
child. She bravely endured, with her fessed, welcomed John into the King-
Lord by her side. Her face glowed In the year 1900 there lived throughout dom of Heaven.
brightly and her body exuded a sweet China several groups of Orthodox mis-
smell, astonishing all those who looked sionaries who, with great dedication, Hundreds of other Chinese Orthodox
upon. When Hadrian ordered her to be worked hard to preach the teachings of Christians also met their martyrdom.
beheaded, she willingly gave her neck. Christianity among the diverse popula- These were among the first Chinese mar-
tion of Taoists, Buddhists and Confu- tyrs to confess and die for Jesus Christ.
Lastly, Agape, age nine, came forward. cians. They stayed focused on their The church remembers them on June
Feeling he could surely sway such a gull- mission and never allowed themselves to 11th.
ible and fragile young child, he screamed get involved in the worldly cares around
at her to be smarter than her sisters and them, amidst the Boxer Rebellion of that
leave her mother with at least one child. time. www.childsaints.com/
She responded that her mother was wise
and unharmed by his previous actions Despite the fact that these
against Pistis and Elpis, knowing that missionaries were peace-
they were at last in the glorious company ful people, the Chinese
of their maker. She told Hadrian not to revolutionaries were intol-
waste his time. erant of any foreign ideas
and on June 11, 1900, the
With his mounting anger came mounting persecutions of Christians
torments and the youngest received the began in the city of Beijing
greatest tortures of the three sisters. She and spread throughout all
was hanged, beaten, stretched to the of China. They destroyed
point of dislocation, but remained stead- nearly all of the Orthodox
fast in her love for God. Hadrian gave the churches and demolished
order to throw Agape into a furnace of years of labors, right down
fire, to which the small child fearlessly to their libraries.
chose to walk into, voluntarily. Her body
remained untouched by the flames and But this was not enough to
she praised and thanked God for making bring satisfaction. They
an example of His awesome power went on to kill all of the
before the pagan crowd. Seeing that Orthodox people. The first
nothing was working, they beheaded her. to be martyred was the Chinese Martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion
family of the first Chinese

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 7


From the President St. George Serbian Orthodox Church - 2009 Calendar

Dear Brothers and Sisters, respected Fathers: JULY SUNDAY LUNCHEON/EVENT DUTIES - MORAVA
Friday-Sunday 17-19 Morava Folkfest
I am honored to address you all again. We have entered the Sunday 19 Quarterly Stewardship Meeting
summer of 2009 and our main challenge continues to be the Sunday 19-8 Summer Camp Begins
renovation and expansion of our parish facilities. Many of AUGUST SUNDAY LUNCHEON/EVENT DUTIES - AOF
you have answered the call, and as president I am deeply
Friday 14 Dormition Fast Begins
thankful for your participation – may it be material or physi-
cal. As you will read in this issue of the Voice, parishioners SEPTEMBER SUNDAY LUNCHEON/EVENT DUTIES - KOLO
and friends of St. George have pledged over $100,000. This Friday-Sunday 5-7 Diocesan Weekend in Jackson
is a significant contribution. I truly believe that many more Church Closed
will do the same. Saturday 12-13 Serbian Festival
Summer is a time of rejuvenation, often less burdened by the Sunday 20 KOLO Slava /Church School Begin
demands of fall, winter and spring. Whether through travel or OCTOBER SUNDAY LUNCHEON/EVENT DUTIES - MORAVA
rest, we see it as a time to recharge. Parishes often experience Saturday 17 St. Stefan and Jelena (Stiljanovic)
lower attendance during summers, as our drive to rejuvenate
NOVEMBER SUNDAY LUNCHEON/EVENT DUTIES - CHOIR
takes us away from our places of worship. Ironically, our
spiritual home is a constant stable provider, able to recharge Sunday 1 Quarterly Stewardship Meeting
Stewardship Sunday
us should we choose it. I want to invite all this summer to find
Sunday 26 Thanksgiving Day
rejuvenation in our beloved parish. I urge you to keep our Lit-
Friday 27-6 Nativity Fast
urgy a priority, as you plan barbecues and trips to the beach.
Instead of letting summer distract us, take advantage of the DECEMBER SUNDAY LUNCHEON/EVENT DUTIES - AOF
extra hours it gives. Invest in your spirituality, for we all
DATES & LUNCHEON SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
know that when we are spiritually rejuvenated all else will
follow.
With respect,
Draga Braco i Sestre,

Nemanja Selezan, St. George Church President Drago mi je da vam se ponovo obratim. Ulazimo u leto 2009
godine i nas veliki izazov je renoviranje i prosirenje nase
parohijske zgrade. Mnogi od vas ste se odazvali pozivu a ja
kao predsednik sam duboko zahvalan na vasem ucescu bilo
da je to materijalno ili dobrovoljnim doprinosom. U ovom
izdanju “Voice of St. George”-a procitacete da su clanovi i
prijatelji crkve Sv. Djordja obecali sumu od $100,000. Ovo je
znatan doprinos. Ja sam potpuno uveren da cete i vi ostali da
ucinite isto.
Leto je vreme za odmore i cesto nas manje obavezuje od
jeseni, zime ili proleca bilo da putujemo ili se odmaramo vid-
imo taj period kao vreme da se osvezimo. Parohije obicno
imaju manje posete preko leta posto nas zelja za odmorom
odvuce od crkve. Ironicno, nasa duhovna kuca je stalni sta-
bilni snabdevac koji nam omogucuje i duhovni odmor uko-
liko mi to zelimo. Zeleo bih da vas sve pozovem da nadjete
duhovni odmor u nasoj crkvi. Podsecam vas da date prioritet
liturgiji kada planirate druzenja i odlaske na plazu umesto da
vas leto od toga odvuce. Iskoristite duze letnje dane. Posve-
tite se duhovnosti jer svi znamo kada smo duhovno podmlad-
jeni sve ostalo ce samo po sebe da dodje.
S postovanjem,

Nemanja Selezan

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 8


LIES AND INDI-
Congratulaltions and a special thank you to the Continuing Our Leg-
Continuing Our Legacy Summary VIDUALS WHO acy Stewardship Committee Team for their dedication in kicking off
HAVE DONATED our enormous capital improvement campaign. Please prayerfully
I am providing a summary for the Con- THUS FAR AND consider making a pledge and/or contribution to meeting the cam-
tinuing Our Legacy BEEN AN INSPI- paign objective of raising $1.5 million dollars:
Stewardship Cam- RATION TO OTH- Prayer Team: Deacon Paul Germain+; Frs. Draskovic and Petak-
paign to update the ERS! GOD BLESS ovic
St. George parish as YOU! Print Team: Mara Bosnak+, Melanie Milicevic+; Miro Copic; Diana
to the tremendous Coso
progress we’ve IDEAS for future Administrative Team: Lindsey Boyce+
made in a few efforts: Web Team: Nemanja Selezan+; Vlastimir (Vlasta) Sindjelic
months time thanks
Video Team: Marko Rakic+, Zeljko Milasinovic+; Dobrila Undheim
to everyone’s caring DONORS’ WALL:
Pascha Team: Tina Zivkovic+, Simona Trifunovic+; Vecki Miljk-
efforts. This was discussed
ovic, Sonja Radic
as an option but
Cont Legacy Dinner:Fr. Bratso Krsic+, Jadranka Bozinovska+;
2009 Continuing Our Legacy Cam- likely only done at
Velimir Jovanovic, Lydia Rhoads (Milasinovic family donating all
paign Pledges March 29-May 19, 2009 very end of entire food & cooking); Vladan Trifunovic (arranging the “Re-Inventing
remodel, which Tesla” performance)
OVERALL RAISED/Pledged: gives parishioners Info Team: Vera Rakic+; Vladan Trifunovich (Choir luncheon
$103,934.25 time to make dona- Sundays-thank you)
tions during the 3- Distrib. Team:Protinica Lisa Krsic+
The Pledged amount listed above is esti- yr timeline. Will
Program Leaders:Jennifer Milanovich+; Dragan Radic+
mated for the full 3-year period of this have names listed
RSI Consultant: Roger Boatman
project. This amount does NOT include (and only if
the 2008 Easter Donations or any other desired) under 3-D Model Construction:Dragan Radoicic+; Nemanja Selezan,
donations made previous to hiring RSI. RANGES of Marko Rakic
pledged amounts
CONTINUING OUR LEGACY only.
FUTURE blood of the St. George Parish.
THERMOMETER to go UP AFTER
RSI has provided St. George with a fol- MAY 3rd St. George Slava. A thermom- Grants and Going outside the St. George
low-up guideline for the 3-year period in eter for fundraising will be put up in community Grants (such as money avail-
which pledges are being collected. This church hall near 3D model to show funds able for historic buildings, religious cen-
program is called the BRIDGE PRO- pledged/collected for remodel. ters, or San Diego landmarks) might be
GRAM and consists of a working model an option. Also, sending a mailing or
to follow for confirmation of donations, Families/Individuals who can pledge information to request donations from
thank you letters, and quarterly updates larger gifts need to come forward. Part of people that are outside the St. George or
for 3 yrs, etc. why St. George
missed the mark of
Quarterly Update letters & emails: The making 2-3x annual
main bulk of the correspondence is in the revenue is that there
Quarterly updates. These will be sent were no really large
both via mail and email. Fr. Bratso will donors ($30K, $50K,
be providing the parish Quarterly $100K donors). It’s
updates regarding the building fund and not easy to ask for
amount raised to date. The purpose of money during this
these is to keep the Continuing Our Leg- economy; however,
acy Campaign in our parishioners minds we need to ask and
(hearts & prayers too!) and so people encourage our poten-
will know automatically where St. tial donors at this
George stands in regard to the overall stage that might be
project needs. able to participate
with larger donations,
Thank You Letters: Most of the people as these types of dona-
who have made donations should have tions are key to the
received a Thank You letter by now. BIG success and future life
THANK YOU TO ALL THE FAMI-

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 9


Orthodox Church community is possible outside the church community as well-
in order to widen our potential net to and I have faith that St. George will con- Continuing Our Legacy is Our
gather much needed funds for remodel/ tinue to grow and we will be able to pro- Responsibility
repair of church grounds. ceed with the remodel of the church hall
at the very least. J The Vision and the Gift
Small fundraisers: Small fundraisers 1 Chronicles 29
can't hurt our efforts; however, even sev- And as St. George’s Church Board Pres-
eral of these will not generate the kind of ident, Nemanja, shared with me recently Carved into the face of Mount Rush-
giving that we need. Yet I still believe “Most important we have recovered more, but – more than that – carved into
it’s a good idea to donate several future funds spent on RSI consulting, received the affection of American people, is the
smaller fundraisers/events towards 3-year pledges and injected the sense of memory of President Theodore
building project if possible. giving into our parish.” I agree! Roosevelt. Roosevelt first hurtled into
the American consciousness with
Even though we didn't raise $200K- I am really proud of our team, our parish- famous example of his “Rough Riders.”
$300K (let alone $1.5 Mill for the entire ioners for their faith and supporting these When all others were reluctant to take
project), I stand behind the entire cam- efforts, and in St. George Church itself! San Juan Hill, Teddy Roosevelt took
paign process and the hiring of RSI to charge. In the face of the intransigence of
provide a frame work for our efforts. The May God Bless our EFFORTS and an older officer, he simply requested that
entire Legacy team gave 100%, and I am BLESS ALL St. George Parishioners his men be permitted to march through
proud of them! Given the economy and and supporters for your loving gifts, the senior officers’ ranks and charge the
the fact that we have a small parish (esp. stewardship, and hard work! hill. Triumphantly “TR” charged up the
people who attend regularly), I believe hill in front of his men and into the fore-
we had a great success (~ 6x return on THANK YOU ALL!! HVALA LEPO!! front of American leadership.
investment) even if it falls short of the
entire project cost. It just may not be With Blessings and Faith in Continuing With that background, a later quote from
realistic at this time to raise this amount Our Legacy, Teddy Roosevelt rumbles with all the
money and we need time for the econ- more authority:
omy to recover and our people to all get
It is not the critic who counts, or how
on board with the overall project/goal. Jennifer Milanovich,Co-Chair
the strong man stumbled and fell or
That being said, I believe we can still do Continuing Our Legacy Stewardship
where the doer of deeds could have
more- going after grants perhaps and Capital Campaign done them better. The credit belongs
to the man who is actually in the
arena, whose face is marred by dust
and sweat and blood, who strives
Calling All Tradesman valiantly, who errs and comes short
Here is a chance to help your church with the renovation project. If you are in con- again and again, who knows the
struction and are licensed, insured, and bonded in the State of California, we need great enthusiasm, the great devotion
your help. We are looking for people in the following fields: and spends himself in a worthy cause,
and if he fails, at least fails while
• Plumbing
enduring greatly, so that he’ll never
• Electrician be with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory nor defeat.
• Mechanical (HVAC)
• Framing Casting a longer shadow than that stands
David of Israel, a pivotal person of
• Concrete / Masonry
human history. A man of passion, bright
If we choose a general contractor for the job, we will allow any subcontractors to victory and bitter failure, he reminds us
bid the job and interview with the general contractor. A competitive bid would across 3,000 years of the influence of
include dollar cost, and the subcontractor would have to meet time and quality leadership and sacrifice in a cause of
requirements of the general contractor. worth. At a crucial moment in the history
Our goal is to create a Church Hall that will serve us for generations, I could think of God’s people, David came forward to
of nothing more appropriate than if we were able to do it with our own tradesmen. make a sacrificial gift that led many oth-
Please contact me at Vladan.trifun@gmail.com, if you are interested. ers to do the same. He too was one who
Vladan Trifunovic stumbled, fell, rose up, dreamed, built,
and triumphed.

There are always those timid souls who


wait for just the right moment before tak-

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 10


ing the step of sacrifice. The temperature
of circumstance must be at just the right
degree, the humidity of the moment at the
perfect percentage, and the barometric
pressure of the challenge at precisely the
appropriate millibar. If all is well, such
bland leaders of the bland will move for-
ward.

Then there are those heroic souls who


recognize the significance of the
moment, the window of opportunity, and
then the undeniable, unrepeatable chal-
lenge before them. They do not wait for
perfection; in sacrifice they prefer action.

Before our St. George parish in these


days just such a moment shimmers in the
transient morning of our opportunity. We
all know the challenge before us. A door
of unrepeatable opportunity for our par-
ish opens before us. Today we are called
upon to make sacrifices. The call of the
moment does not beckon us to equal gifts
but to equal sacrifice.

Years ago Michelangelo found inside a


marble block the famous statue of David.
In another way we can quarry from this
ancient text a lingering truth for life this
moment. At the strategic moment, God’s
people seize the moment to make a his-
toric sacrifice.

Sacrifice Begins With a Vision and a


Task. We must envision building for
God’s work. When King David had con- been too extravagant. The motive was When the voices of little children ring in
quered his enemies, secured his borders, pure. What was sacrificed was to be the hallway of St. George hall and the
and brought prosperity to his people, his given “not for man but for the Lord God.” steps of aged parishioners faithfully walk
eager mind turned to building the house The mighty, sacrificial offering belonged through these facilities, it will be because
of God. The very Hebrew word dawid to God alone. of a purity of vision that wishes to honor
suggests someone who seethes or boils God and God alone.
with passion. Nothing half-hearted char- How do we weigh the motive of sacrifice
acterized this great king. for the challenge before our St. George It is one thing to have a vision. It is
parish? It is not to honor an individual or another thing to have a vision and a task.
The motive of David’s vision was pure: group of individuals. Nor does the chal- We must make provision for the vision.
“The temple is not for man but for the lenge before us call for a sacrifice to Along with a vision is the task of paying
Lord God” (1 Chronicles 29:1). make a statement about our church cul- for the vision. A task without a vision is
turally, socially, or economically. There drudgery. A vision without a task luxury.
When the call is made for sacrifice, the emerges only one appropriate motive for A vision with a task means victory.
motive for driving vision should be pure. the sacrificial giving required of us in this Because David wanted the vision to be
Had the temple been a monument to hour: the worship of Triune God: Father, reality, he made regular, planned gifts to
David or merely an architectural reflec- Son and Holy Spirit. We give that the the vision (v.2). Many parishioners of our
tion of Hebrew culture, the motive would name of God be honored, the word of god St. George give faithful, weekly or
have been unworthy if not blasphemous. be taught, and by God’s grace, the church monthly gifts to support the work of
Had the goal of David been merely of God be built. Christ in our parish.
another monument, the cost would have

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 11


But, David went a step further. At a time
of unprecedented, unparalleled need he
went “above and beyond” that which he
had given before: “Moreover, because I
have set my affection on the house of my
God, I have given to the house of my
God, over and above all that I have pre-
pared for the holy house, my own special
treasure of gold and silver” (v. 3). At the
time, which called for unusual sacrifice,
David gave an extraordinary gift that
was personal, additional, and devo-
tional.

Sacrifice Continues With a Response.


Each of our parishioners plays one
instrument in the orchestra of what God
is doing in our parish. Every one holds
one piece of the mosaic of God’s activity
at our cherished St. George parish.

At the moment our gift is necessary; its


proportion is the same as all other gifts in
the eyes of God. Just as the musical tri-
angle is not equal in sound but equal in
significance, so also our giving is not
equal in amount but is of equally signifi-
cant proportion.

Some may give with a larger amount and


some with a smaller amount, yet giving
You know you are Orthodox if:
the same proportion at the critical time is
the giving that pleases God. It is indeed • You are more comfortable standing in church than sitting.
not equal gifts but equal sacrifice that • You're used to skipping breakfast on Sundays.
matters.
• You wonder why the Pope crosses himself backwards.
If you did not already give to the Con- • You wear comfortable shoes to church because you know you'll be standing
tinue Our Legacy – Remodeling of our a long time.
Church Property and Rebuilding Our- • You don't flinch when someone throws water at you.
selves project, please consider doing so
• You are experienced at removing wax from clothing.
today.
• You consider any service two hours or under, short.
May our Lord, through the prayers of St. • Your Easter isn't Easter without an all-night party.
George, bless our efforts and sacrifice.
• Your priest is married.
Thank you very much and glory be to
God for all things!!! • You can differentiate between the eight different chanting tones.
• You can say 'Lord have mercy' 40 times without making a mistake.
• You can say "Christ Is Risen"/"Indeed He Is Risen" in at least 3 languages.
Fr. Bratso Krsic
• You've grown accustomed to the taste of wine because you've had it since
you were a baby.
• You wonder why others complain about having to "fast for 6 hours before a
blood test". (6 hours....piece of cake!)
• But most of all.....you're in awe every time you walk into an Orthodox
church, no matter where in the world it is.....and you

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 12


lay offs, higher taxes, higher cost of Total Asset Accounts Assets as of 3-09
From the Treasurer’s Desk everything, that we continue to see the $89,104
support of our Church and its ministries Overall Total Cash Assets as of 3-09
As we all know, the financial condition with time, talent and treasure. As you $292,011
of our country and especially California will read about our Continuing our Leg-
*please see the minutes from the Q1 Stew-
is very worrisome. With the defeat of the acy campaign, the charitable giving con- ardship Meeting for a full report.
latest propositions, California is in the tinues at St. George without fear and a
midst of a $20 billion budget deficit, not clear love for our parish. As Orthodox I would like to especially thank Milos
to mention water rationing and apparent Christians, we are clearly committed to Belcevich for his tireless and dedicated
cuts we will see in services coming soon. the Gospel of Jesus Christ. help during the transition process. He
This is in conjunction with a doubling of has been invaluable and a true blessing
our vehicle registration, a significant The first quarter financials were audited as I learn how to manage our finances.
increase in our income tax and in some and approved by our stewardship at the Milos is an expert in accounting and I
cities almost a 10% sales tax. California Stewardship meeting in April. We are in thank God for him and his knowledge. I
has become the highest taxed state in the good financial standing and have made also thank our Auditing Committee,
union, surpassing New York and New some key decisions in order to maintain Miro Copic, Sean Wright and Zeljko
Jersey, which held the top positions for a strong portfolio going forward. The Milasinovic for their outstanding support
some time. We have some tough finan- Investment Committee, headed by Miro and valuable advice. And for our Finan-
cial times ahead and we rely on our gov- Copic, with assistance from Sean Wright cial Secretary Lindsey Selezan for her
ernment officials to be fiscally and Maria Kunac, was able to identify organization and counting expertise!
responsible. Let us pray that the Lord some high interest CDs so that we could And of course I thank God for all of our
will bless their efforts and find a solution take advantage of a greater than 2% Executive Board, our Church family, and
to our budget issues. return on our savings. This is significant, everyone for their patience.
for we were getting <1% using our cur-
However, I would like to point out that rent bank. We also consolidated some of I pray our God will continue to bless us
the United States is the most charitable the accounts and this in turn had more with these gifts and I thank Him for all of
country in the world. Based on our money available for smart investment His mercy upon us.
Judeo-Christian heritage, we give in alternatives.
charity more freely and with love as In Christ our Lord,
demonstrated by our support of organi- Please find below a snapshot of what was
zations like International Orthodox presented at the first quarter Stewardship
Christian Charities and even our beloved meeting: Deacon Paul Germain, St. George
St. George. It is a great blessing from Total Bank Account Assets as of 3-09 Church Treasurer
God to see, even with our friends and $202,908
family struggling with unemployment,

Naughton sisters on still another winning team


From soccer to softball with plenty of academics
inbetween, Mary & Avery Naughton, twin daughters
of Pam Naughton, one of the St. George choir direc-
tors, and granddaughters of St. George steward and
former treasure-financial secretary, Millie Mrja,
continue to score all-star and league championships
in San Diego North County. In May their softball
team, the Star Strykers of Carmel Valley, won the
North Shore Softball League 2009 season title. In the
team photo, they are in the front row: Mary first from
the left and Avery is third from the left. The girls
attend La Country Day School, where they are both
outstanding scholars as well.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 13


It was nice to see Martha and Slavko Dobrash, who used to live
St. George Choir Trip to Phoenix in San Diego before they moved to Phoenix area. Slavko and
Martha used to sing in our choir, and they have been singing
Our choir traveled to Phoenix on February 13-15 to participate with the Phoenix choir for many years. It was also nice to see
in the 50th Anniversary Concert and the choir Slava of the Ste- Rada Tierney, nee Krivosić, and her daughters and many other
van Hristich choir. We have a special relationship with this choir friends.
because they were the kumovi choir when our choir was
inducted in the Serbian Singing Federation, and we have visited After the concert, a Chicago lady, who has been going to such
them many times, such as two year ago. They reciprocated on events for a long time, told me that our choir gave the best per-
many occasions. formance even though we were missing Kate and Maja. During
the dinner and dance, Johnny Kangrga orchestra provided the
Just like in the many earlier trips to Phoenix, we decided to entertainment.
travel by bus. We started early on Friday from our Church,
picked up the passengers from North County at St. Petka Sunday activities included the Divine Liturgy, Parastos for the
Church, and continued to Phoenix. With many stewards joining deceased choir members, the choir Slava (Sretenje Gospodnje)
our choir members, the bus was almost full. celebration, and the banquet. The combined choir, directed by
Lazo, sang Oče Naš and the responses during the Slava celebra-
It was a pleasant trip with lots of singing, talking, food, and tion. During and after the banquet we were entertained by the
drinks. Everyone brought something to share: Vlado brought Jedistvo tamburitza orchestra.
šljivovica, Tina sandwiches, Dobrila kept making mimosas
throughout the trip, etc. This turned out to be a double 50th anniversary celebration
because on that Sunday was also the 50th wedding anniversary
When we arrived at the St. Sava Church hall, we were greeted of Prota Velimir and Protinica Buba Petakovich. The Phoenix
by their choir members with šljivovica, followed by a welcome choir made a special cake for them and we all sang Mnogaja
dinner and dance. Two other choirs took part in these festivities: Ljeta.
the Kansas City choir, who were the honored guest choir (our
choir was the honored guest choir two years ago), and the St. When it was time for our departure, the Phoenix choir followed
Sava choir from San Gabriel. us to our bus. They gave us a lot of food and drinks, including
beer and a bottle of šljivovica, to take on our trip back, nice way
On Saturday there was a picnic and lunch at a park, followed by to end this memorable trip.
the concert, dinner and dance at the church hall. The concert
started with Oče Naš sung by the combined choirs directed by Our choir received a very generous donation from Dan & Dr.
the Phoenix director Lazo Mihailovich, followed by Star Span- Vesna Radojevic for singing at the funeral of her father Tomis-
gled Banner directed by Dobrila, and Bože Pravde directed the lav Srdanovich.
Kansas City choir director.

Kate could not come to Phoenix because she had to sing with Velimir Jovanovic, President of St. George Choir
the San Diego Master Chorale that same weekend, as did
another soprano Maja. Our choir sang two sacred and two sec-
ular pieces directed by Dobrila. We received a warm applause.

Marija
Milasinovic
recording
the bus trp

Christina
singing
along with
the orchestra

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 14


Kolo Sisters

Our parish is so precious, and having such a beautiful


place to worship and gather is truly a blessing to all. I
have been attending St. George for more than 30 years,
and have always felt welcomed. Having raised our chil-
dren in such a rich spiritual and cultural environment has
been a blessing. When I was asked to join Kolo many
years I ago, I felt so honored.
Now having been elected President, I hope that together
as a group we can accomplish our goals that we will set
forth. Please accept this as a personal invitation to join
St. George's Kolo, and share your God given talent with
us.
I would like to share this thought of mine. Life is so fast
paced, and making time for each other is somewhat chal-
lenging. but as we are going through our daily routines,
and we have a thought of someone we know, the Lord is
communicating to us. We can take a moment and pray for
that person and their love ones. Their needs may be
greater than we know.
May the good Lord continue to bless all with good health
and prosperity, as we continue to be of service to Him.
Together we can continue to help our parish, and help
others in need.
I want to congradulate all of the past Presidents, Board
members, and Kolo members, for all their hard work and
efforts. I hope to honor you in this new role. I only ask
for your patience and prayers.
With love your sister in Christ,

Sylvia Ivanovic, Kolo President

Congratulations to Prota Velimir & Protinica Ljubinka Petakovich


on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary, which they cel-
ebrated in Phoenix, Arizona, at the celebration of the 50th anniver-
sary concert of the Stevan Hristich Choir.

Housekeeping – Please help clear the tables!


Sunday lunches are a wonderful way to socialize and share some fellowship after church. This
is made possible by the many volunteers who, with love and dedication, prepare a meal to
share with their church family. We kindly ask each and every one of you to clear your plate
and/or your table completely. Remember, this is your second home.
One of our church stewards shares a story where her Kuma belongs to a yacht club and at each
club it is understood that each table is cleared by the members. This is to help keep costs down.
It is an amazing thing to see people all dressed up and then everyone clears their table. What
actually happens is that a couple of people volunteer to clean the whole table. If a yacht club
can do this, so can a church club! Please help pass this information along and let’s all make
this effort and have it become the norm, not only on Sunday lunches, but for all events, big or
small!
Hvala lepo!

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 15


Please help us encourage our children to place on each postcard. Punch the left
Religious Education Report, attend and participate together as one side of each card with two holes and add
Spring 2009 family in Christ. St. Theophan the fastener rings to make the "growing"
Recluse once said “Of all holy works, the book.
With the coming of summer, the bloom- education of children is the most holy.” (You could also cut card stock the same
ing of the flowers, the baby birds chirp- The responsibility lies with us to make size as the postcards [3 x 5 or 4 x 6] as
ing in their nests, we find a renewal of Christian education a reality for our chil- filler pages for journal notes or to which
God’s creation and our spiritual renewal dren. We are responsible for making it a the kids could attach other items.)
following His glorious Resurrection. In priority for them. Thank you for your
the book of Acts we read about how the help with this important ministry in our Know God - No Fear
disciples of the Lord began their minis- Church.In Christ our Lord, No God - know Fear
try, spreading the Word of God to those
who wish to hear about salvation in Fourth Annual Youth Retreat
Deacon Paul
Christ Jesus. With these joyous thoughts August 6 through August 10, 2009
also come anticipation of summer vaca-
Want to be able to reflect on your Calling all Serbian Orthodox teens to
tions, barbecues and family time
family's summer activities later in the share how God can influence how we
together as people of God.
fall and winter? live our lives now and for the future. We
Our last day of Sunday School will be will explore the many ways in which our
Start a "funtime" book. Together with
May 31. faith shapes the decisions we make. God
your siblings glue movie-ticket stubs,
Upcoming events this summer include leads us to paths that offer both opportu-
party invitations, drawings of vacation
our Second Annual Summer Vacation nities and challenges; however, the
spots, and other memorabilia onto the
Bible Camp at St. George, sometime in direction we take is ours to choose.
pages of an album. Now when people
June. Last year we had over 20 children Come to this retreat and talk about these
ask you about your summer, they will get
participate in the Matins, activities and choices and how others have succeeded
an earful - and an eyeful.
fun. Also, the annual St. Sava camp is and failed in living the good life.
[Ed. Note: If you make it to a monastery,
scheduled and awaiting registration. be sure to take pictures of the chapel and This year's youth retreat will be held at
Please go to www.campstsava.org for the grounds and add them to your "fun- Walsh College (www.walsh.edu),
more information. All of the forms and time" book.] which provides the perfect setting for
registration requirements are there. If discussion, reflection, and recreation.
Another idea:
you can’t access the website, please let
Make an ever-growing travel journal. Ask Father Bratso for additional infor-
myself or Fr. Bratso know and we will
Choose and purchase a picture postcard mation.
copy them for you. Also, remember that
of each place you visit during your vaca-
Fr. Bratso has to sign your forms prior to
tion. Record a few key facts about the
mailing to the camp.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 16


The festival this year will be held July 17, 18 and 19, 2009, with
Here’s what’s new in MORAVA’s corner the performance on Saturday, July 18 at 1:00 p.m. at UCSD
Mandeville Auditorium. We are producing another commemo-
2009 has been a busy year for Morava. From Christmas for- rative book, and we are relying on our community to support us
ward, we have been busy practicing, performing and serving on our endeavor, as this is our main function and fundraiser of
our parish at various holidays and functions. the year. We are thrilled to have new groups coming to our fes-
tival this year and are eager to see what they will perform!
Over Valentine’s weekend, Morava accompanied St George
Choir on a 48-seater bus to Phoenix, Arizona to celebrate Ste- Please mark your calendars and RESERVE THAT WEEKEND
van Hristich’s 50th Anniversary. We had a wonderful weekend to celebrate with us! For more information and/or to be included
of karaoke, barbeque and hiking at Papago Park and a concert on an email mailing list, please email morava20@yahoo.com.
and performance Saturday evening at the hall. Of course, there
was never a dull moment on the bus ride – it was always full of
fun and surprises! Marija Milasinovic, Director & Choreographer, MORAVA
FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE
At the end of February, our Golubici (youngest group) and
Junior Morava joined Senior Morava by practicing on a new
night, Fridays. This night has brought together many families
and provided an opportunity for our community to meet at the
end of our hectic weeks to socialize and work on various activ-
ities (such as baking for upcoming church functions). Our
moms rolled 900 sarmas for Easter in the matter of 3 hours!

Morava served the meal for our church’s “Continuing the Leg-
acy” dinner in April, which was a beautiful dinner and evening
filled with inspiring speeches and video showing us just what
we are working towards…a newly renovated hall and church,
where we can continue to propagate our faith and culture for
generations to come.

Next, Senior Morava participated in the Annual Linda Vista


Multicultural Fair, held on April 26. We were surrounded by
numerous other cultural groups from all over San Diego,
proudly showcasing their heritage. May 16, the senior group
trekked up to St Stevan’s in Alhambra to participate in their
annual Kolobration, which was another success, garnering com-
pliments from guests on our singing and dancing. Memorial
weekend took us to our sister parish of Sv. Petka in San Marcos
to participate in their annual Kolofest, which hosted many
groups and was a night filled with great dancing and many
kolos! Avala was a good host, as always, and all three of our
groups were a hit.

We are preparing for our 20th Summer Folkfest on July 17-19,


2009 (not to be confused with our 20th anniversary of the
FOUNDING of Morava two years ago)! We have some exciting
groups participating this year, some new groups and some good,
old friends. Our honored guests are coming to us from Milwau-
kee, Wisconsin – ST SAVA. Our other good friends, ZAVICAJ
from Houston, Texas will grace our stage with their presence
and talent. Two new groups, RASTKO from Irving (Dallas),
Texas and SRPSKI OPANAK from Edmonton, Canada will
grace our stage with their presence. Likewise, local groups from
Arizona and California will honor us with their showmanship.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 17


Congratulations to
Church Family News George & Julie Stojadi-
novic whose older son,
Alex, was promoted to
Colonel at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center in
April. Alex was married in
St. George Church several
years ago. As well as being
an accomplished physi-
cian, Alex is also a gifted
accordian player in the
Serbian tradition. He and
his wife Tanja have one
son, Nicholas. We are all
Congratulations to Radomir & Jelena very proud of you for serv-
Plavic who celebrated their family Slava ing our country, Dr. Alex,
on the site of their newly constructed including your parents and
condo quadplex in Hillcrest. Designed brother, Petar.
by architect Petar Perisic, who unexpect-
edly passed away recently, the structure
presents an arrangement units of that late Adam Pavlovich, has completed an
merges artistic sense with functionality. Ambassadorial Rotary Scholar service-
study program in which she was located
in Budapest, Hungary. During her year
in Europe she met countless foreign dip-
lomats, brushed up on her already multi-
lingual skills, was involved in an
assistance project in Romania, and trav-
eled extensively. She was able to visit
her father’s relatives in Montenegro sev-
Marian Pavlovich returns after spend- eral times. She returns to UCLA to com-
ing year in Europe. Marian Pavlovich, plete her university degree in 2010.
daughter of Socorro Pavlovich and the

Congratulations to the Rhoads-Petric Family. Michael


Rhoads, son of Howard and Lydia Rhoads and grandson
of Milovan and Jelena Petric, graduated with a JD from
The George Washington University Law School in
Washington, DC. He is spending the summer preparing
to take the bar exam at the end of July and will begin
work in August as a Graduate Law Clerk with the San
Diego County District Attorney's Office.

Quinceanera in Mexico. Marsha &


Misha Jovanovic attended the 15th birth-
day party of Lucero Salas Lopez, step-
daughter of Dragan Popovic (above
right), in Mexico City in April. Lucero is
Congratulations to the Radojevich Family.
the only child of Dragan’s wife, Luz del
Natasha Radojevich, daughter of Dan & Dr.
Carmen Lopez Rivera, who is active in
Vesna Radojevich, and granddaughter of Pro-
the PRI political party in Mexico. Mar-
tinica Nada Radojevich, graduated with a
sha & Misha shared their table at the fes-
Masters degree in Psychology from Long
tivities with the Serbian Ambassador to
Island University in New York on May 14.
Mexico, Milisav Pajic and his wife,
Vesna.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 18


Sandra Skendzic, now graduating from
Rancho Buena Vista High School,
filled her senior year with several extra
curricular activities. While maintaining
a high GPA in school, she also main-
tained her job at Grand Pacific Palisades
Resort and her internship at Taylor
Made Adidas Golf in the marketing
department. Sandra will finish up her
summer working at Grand Pacific,
enjoying the time left she has left with
her family and friends. In the fall, she
will be attending the University of Cali-
fornia, Santa Barbara where she will
continue her studies with the drive and
ambition she holds now.

All graduates are


honored at
St. George’s annual
Vidovdan Celebration
on June 28

Gina Ivanovic graduates from high school.


Congratulations to our own
The youngest child of Sylvia & Mirko
Father Bratislav Krsic, who
Ivanovic, Gina says, “Now it's my turn to
somehow found time to com-
make some serious decisions as to which
plete a Doctor of Ministries
profession I would like to choose. I feel that
degree in May while being a
the area of medicine is what interests me
full-time parish priest, busy
most at this time, and I'm looking at becom-
father of three, and active par-
ing a nurse. It is a career where I can be of
ticipant in nationwide Diocese
service to others, and feel fullfilled.” Gina
activities.
will be attending college in the fall.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 19


ST. GEORGE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
ANNUAL FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2009

Planning has begun!!!


Our first meeting was held on Friday, June 26th at 7pm in the
St. George Social Hall. Thank you to those who attended. There are still
plenty of positions to be filled.

Silent Auction: Chairperson needed! Start looking to see what you


can contribute to this event. Suggestions are: Timeshares, Mileage points
and Vacations, Electronics, Golf Clubs, Professional Services, Artwork,
Jewelry, Autographed Memorabilia, etc. can be offered and would be much
appreciated for our silent auction.

Torte: Please, please, please ladies (and gentlemen) bring traditional


homemade torte to be sold at the festival. This was a huge success last year.
We received so many compliments on all the wonderful torte that everyone so
graciously made and donated. Any kind of Serbian torta accepted – any size,
any shape.

CHAIRPEOPLE WE NEED YOU!!!


We still need help in many areas. Clean-up this year will be a big task
and will require maybe even a vacation day off from work on Monday. Plan
early so that you can come and assist.!!! We definitely need someone to work
on getting & supervising a crew there the next day. So once again, let’s pull
together and make this the BEST YEAR EVER!

We will start having sign-up sheets in August. If you have any


questions or would like to chair something please feel free to give one of us a
call. Simona - 760-224-2375 (simonat26@gmail.com) or
Tina - 760-533-6713 (tinazivkovic@roadrunner.com)

Thank you for your continued support!

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 20


Save the Date!
November 14, 2009
Cevap Challenge - Rostiljada
Back by Popular Demand!
A Smashing Success last year! Pravi Hit!
Entertainment provided by
the ever-popular Boban Marjanovic!
More Challengers! More Cevaps!
Distinguished Panel of Judges!

Svi Nam Dobro Dosli!

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 21


St. George Stewards—June 7, 2009 • Leff, Kathryn Thickstun
From the Stewardship Chair • Alemany, Lazar and Linda • Lukich, James and Petka

• Andolsek, Tonska D. • Lukic, Milos


Since our last issue of the Voice, 11 fami-
lies have made their 2009 pledge to St. • Aud, Matthew and Laurie • Markley, Scott and Nada
George. I thank each and every family for • Melnick, Stanley and Pauline
• Barron, Zorka
making their commitment to our church.
• Belcevich, Milos • Mijailovic, Goran
The updated the list of 2009 stewards is
listed here. Again, if I have inadvertently • Benesh, Kathryn • Mikler, Zora
left off your name or misspelled your • Milanovich, Jennifer
• Bulic, Branislav
name, please let me know.
• Copic, Miro • Milasinovic, Zeljko and Marija
I remind you that the concept of steward-
• Cronemeyer, Zorica • Miljkovic, Milan and Diane
ship is not new to St. George. One of our
past Presidents, Wayne Papac, introduced • Denton, Natalie • Miljkovic, Miodrag and Vecki
the program more than ten years ago. • Drakulich, Persida • Milicevic, James and Melanie
Stewardship is the giving of Time, Talent,
• Draskovich, Father Bozidar and • Milovancev, Miroslav and Mira
and Treasurers. With your faith and sup-
Protinica • Mitrovich, Jelena
port, we continue to build on this concept.
Being a steward of St. George is more • Freeman, Lillian • Mitrovich, Predrag
than making a financial commitment to • Fulton, Jeff and Radmila • Mrja, Millie
the Church. Of course, we need your
• Gavrilov, Gleb • Nedic, Sava and Spomenka
financial commitment to keep the church
doors open every Sunday, but being a • Germain, Deacon Paul and Natalija • Nikolic, Dragan and Gordana
steward is also someone who gives of • Grba, Svetozar and Christine • Novakovic, Drago and Dana
their time and your talent. Painting the
• Gregovich, Ljubica • Papac, Wayne and Sandie
flag pole, cooking meals, teaching Sunday
School, these are all contributions that • Grijakovic, Vladomir • Pantovich, Nada
you can pledge as a steward. • Hyduke, David • Petakovich, Father Velimir and
Our yearly operating expenses are • Ilic, Boris Protinica
approximately $175,000, about $465 per • Petric, Alex
• Ilic, Petar and Rosa
day. This figure does not include any of
the costs for the renovation of the church • Irick, Olga • Petric, Milovan and Jelena
property. You also should know that 100% • Ivanovic, Mirko, Sylvia, Marko and • Plavsic, Mara-Seja
of the operating budget comes from your Gina • Plavsic, Milan and Ljubica
donations. Without your donations, we
• Jaich, Dennis and Rhonda • Popa, Cornelia
could not exist.
• Jojic, Dobrinka • Popovich, Dolly
I encourage each and every one of you to
make your 2009 pledge if you have not • Jojic, Vesko and Julie • Popovich, Ella
already done so. • Jovanovic, Martha • Pugh, Zachary and Milica
I am very excited to let you know that you • Jovanovic, Milivoj and Verica • Purlia, Sam and Gloria
can make your weekly, monthly, or yearly • Jovanovic, Misha • Radjenovic, Mirjana and Milica
donations on our website:
• Jovanovic, Velimir and Mira • Radojevich, Dan and Vesna
http://saintgeorgeinsd.com
• Kennedy, Ken and Sonia • Radojevich, Protinica Nada
If you have any questions about steward-
• Kinach, Alex and Seka • Radovanovic, Dragoslav and Ljiljana
ship, please contact either Father Bratso
or myself. • Kostic, Tordis • Raicevic, Vladimir and Silvana
• Krsic, Father Bratso and Protinica • Rakic, Marko and Vera
Lydia Petric Rhoads, Stewardship • Kukich, Branislav • Rhoads, Howard and Lydia
Chairperson
• Kunac, Dusan and Maria • Rhoads, Michael
• Leff, Dylan • Saathoff, Ron and Stephany

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 22


• Savchuk, Nikolaj and Olga
• Selezan, Nemanja and Lindsay Boyce (Fiscal Q1, 2009 Audit)
• Serder, Sophie
St. George Serbian Orthodox
• Smith, Justin and Zorana
• Srbich, Alexander and Mrs. April 20, 2009
• Srdanovic, Tom
To Our Stewards and Executive Board Members:
• Stanojevic, Andja
• Tepavcevich, Ladislav This report is to advise you that the Audit Committee of St. George Serbian Orthodox
• Trifunovic, Vladan and Milica Church has examined the financial register and corresponding bank statements and the
related work papers pertaining to cash flows of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, San
• Trifunovich, Robert and Simona Diego California for the period from January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009.
• Undheim, Robert and Dobrila
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial records based on our audits, as
• Vasich, Branko and Ruja provided by to us by the current Treasurer, Deacon Paul Germain.
• Vasic, Milica
• Vladic, Milorad and Vladanka We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals in
the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
• Vlasovich, Milanka to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
• Vukotich, Danica misstatement. Our audit included the examining of individual transactions and supporting
documentation as reflected in the financial state ments. We believe that our audit provided
• Vukotich, John and Jean a reasonable basis for our opinion.
• Vukotich, Stefan and May
In our opinion, the financial statements of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, present
• Vuksanovic, Dusan fairly, in all material respects, the financial position for the above referenced period and
• Vulovich, Filip the results of its operations and its cash flows. We note a few policy recommendations
below this opinion but these did not materially affe ct our audit.
• Wright, Sean and Svenja
• Zivkovic, Jovan and Tina Audit Committee Members:

s/ M iro Copic

s/ Jack Milasinvoic

s/ Sean Wright

STOLE REPORT JANUARY —JUNE 2009

Baptisms-Chrismation
Funerals Servant of God____is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
Grant, O, Lord, Memory Eternal to: and of the Holy Spirit! God grant you many years!
• Olga Medigovich-Cox • Nicholas Dorin Shaternik
• Daniela Eva Milicevic
• Tomislav Srdanovic
• Maksim Svetlan Komatina
• Natalia Righeliss
• Martin Ivan Gounev
Weddings • Mane Kaurin
O, Lord our God, crown them with • Adrian Nicholas Vasiliu
glory and honor! – God grant you • Blake David Miller
many years! • Mark G. Miller, Jr.
• Kiril Emilov Yanakiev and Daniela • Eric Dimov Deliivanov
Huerta Rodriguez • Nikolaj Daniel Krsic
• Damian Nicholas Slavkov

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 23


ing through to Tuzla in several groups, in A number of photos of Muslim fighters taken
Srebrenica — The History of Salon fierce fighting.” during their breakthrough to Tuzla, which
Racism “There is no way the Serb Army could have Dorin obtained from the Muslim sources,
captured seven or eight thousand Muslim show Izetbegović’s fighters in uniforms, with
“In the West, the popular mythology about fighters and male civilians and execute them many of them wounded.
7,000-8,000 Muslim men being executed in somewhere, partly because that was techni- “On these photos one can see a number of
Srebrenica in 1995 is still alive and well, but cally impossible,” Dorin said. He explained wounded fighters who survived the battle
independent research shows some 2,000 Bos- that, among else, there was never enough against the Serb Army. Muslim side is now
nian Muslim fighters were killed in battle for Serb soldiers who could carry out a crime on presenting its fighters who did not recover
Srebrenica and that is the number of bodies such scale. from their wounds as the victims of an execu-
Hague investigators were able to find”, said tion”, said Dorin.
Swiss researcher Alexander Dorin, who has In his research, Dorin was using various
been investigating Srebrenica events for the sources, including statements by the Muslim He pointed out that some Muslims have
past 14 years. fighters and commanders, as well as testimo- admitted at least 2,000 of their Srebrenica-
nies given by Dutch UNPROFOR troops who based fighters were killed in the battle.
In his latest book titled “Srebrenica — The were stationed in Srebrenica at the time.
History of Salon Racism” (Srebrenica — die Dorin also reminded of the statements by the
Geschichte eines salonfahigen Rassismus) He pointed to a very interesting investigation Muslim politicians given to media about an
published this month in Berlin, Dorin focuses carried out by the Bulgarian reporter and “offer” American president Bill Clinton
on manipulations with the number of Mus- author Germinal Civikov, who wrote a book made to Bosnian Muslim war leader Alija
lims who lost their lives in Srebrenica. about the case of Croat Dražen Erdemović, Izetbegović back in April 1993, to have “the
former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, Chetnik [Serb] forces enter Srebrenica and
“Regarding the events in Srebrenica in 1995, whose testimony represents the key Hague massacre 5,000 Muslims, which would result
the media manipulations still reign in the “evidence” of “Srebrenica massacre”, who in the [US-led NATO] military intervention”
West, claiming that after the town fell to Ser- claimed that his commander Milorad Pelemiš against Bosnian Serbs.
bian hands some 7,000 to 8,000 of Muslim “ordered him and few other soldiers to exe-
fighters and male civilians were killed. How- At the same time, Dutch UNPROFOR troops
cute some 1,000-1,200 Muslim POWs”. testified that Serb Army treated Muslim civil-
ever, the researchers around the world have
shown this bears But the analysis of that case, said Dorin, ians in an entirely correct manner, while Sre-
no relation to the truth,” Dorin told Srna proves Erdemović invented most, if not all of brenica Muslim warlord Naser Orić with his
News Agency. that story. fighters was massacring Serb civilians in the
Dorin explained that director of the Belgrade most monstrous fashion for years in Srebren-
According to data he had gathered, Dorin dis- ica municipality, and pillaging and destroying
covered that at least 2,000 Muslim fighters Center for Investigation of War Crimes
Milivoje Ivanišević analyzed the lists of their property all the while.
were killed in battle for Srebrenica. He added
the facts are showing that neither civilian nor alleged Srebrenica victims. Ivanišević dis- … For Those who Want to Know the Truth
military leadership of Republic of Srpska covered that, a year after the fall of About Srebrenica
(Serb Republic in Bosnia-Herzegovina) ever Srebrenica, some 3,000 Muslim men who Despite all the evidence about what really
ordered execution of the Muslim fighters and were supposedly killed in 1995, took place in Srebrenica and the fact there
POWs. were voting in the Bosnian Muslim elections. was no ‘massacre’, Dorin doubts the Hague
“2,000 is approximately the number of bodies In addition, at least 1,000 of the alleged 1995 verdicts in regards to Srebrenica events can
Hague investigators were able to find up to “Srebrenica massacre victims” have been be contested or overturned, being that this
this day. To that number the Muslim side dead long before or after Bosnian Serb Army “so-called tribunal has convicted a number of
added several hundred Muslim fighters, most took the town over. people for the alleged Srebrenica massacre
of whom came from abroad, who were killed “It is perfectly clear that Muslim organiza- without any evidence whatsoever”.
in battle few years before the fall of Srebren- tions listed as Srebrenica victims all the Mus- He cited a case of the Serb Vidoje Blagojević,
ica, in Han Pijesak and Konjević Polje,” lim fighters who were killed in the fights after convicted to a long prison term even though
Dorin said, adding that this is evidenced even the fall of Srebrenica,” the Swiss researcher he had no connection to Srebrenica events,
by the Muslim documents captured by the said. while “the mass murderer Naser Orić was
Bosnian Serb Army. According to Dorin, some Western reporters acquitted of all responsibility for killing the
Bosnian Serb Army Fought Against Orić’s wrote back in 1995 that part of Srebrenica Serbs”.
Cutthroats, Not Against Muslim Civilians Muslim population, after the town’s takeover, “That court routinely discards everything that
“Prior to the fall of Srebrenica, Naser Orić’s migrated to other countries. This includes an proves Serbs are not the monsters they have
troops withdrew from this small town, leav- American journalist who wrote that around been made out to be. That tribunal has a
ing 25,000 civilians behind, although a cer- 800 Srebrenica Muslims went abroad — from purely political function. It has no relation to
tain number of civilians, some of whom were Serbia. the justice and truth”, Dorin told Srna.
armed, was withdrawing together with Orić’s “It was not possible to conduct an in-depth The Swiss researcher does not expect his
fighters,” Dorin said. investigation, since no one can search the book about Srebrenica events will be able to
He said that Bosnian Serb Army “did not kill entire world to pinpoint each and every name break down the stereotypes. He said the book
a single Muslim civilian of those who [from the lists of alleged Srebrenica victims]. was written for those who wish to learn the
remained in Srebrenica or Potocari, while it Still, the available evidence already shows truth about the events Western mainstream
did engage Orić’s column, which was break- there were immense manipulations at play,” media sold as “Srebrenica massacre” and
Dorin said.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 24


even “genocide”, in order to justify their war ary 1991 he went a major step further: “I result of the interaction of pressure groups
against the Serbs. would sacrifice peace for a sovereign Bosnia- within the American power structure. Thus
Dorin added that mostly left-oriented West- Herzegovina, but for that peace in Bosnia- the war in the Balkans evolved from a Yugo-
ern newspapers and Herzegovina I would not sacrifice sover- slav disaster and a European inconvenience
eignty.” into a major test of “ U.S. leadership.” This
organizations have shown an interest in his was made possible by a bogus consensus
latest book and have offered cooperation. The process culminated with the referendum
on independence (29 February 1992). The which passed for Europe ’s Balkan policy.
Alexander Dorin’s book about Srebrenica Serbs duly boycotted it; just 62 percent of This consensus, amplified in the media, lim-
events is expected to be translated both into voters opted for independence, Muslims and ited the scope for meningful debate.
Serbian and English language. Croats; but even this figure was short of the Just as Germany sought to paint its Maas-
(http://de-construct.net/e-zine/?p=6082) two-thirds majority required by the constitu- tricht Diktat on Croatia ’s recognition in
tion. This did not stop the rump government December 1991 as an expression of the
of Izetbegovic from declaring independence “European consensus,” after Zimmermann’s
Alexander Dorin , May 23rd, 2009, by De-
on 3 March. intervention Washington ’s fait accomplis
Construct.net
Simultaneously one last attempt was under were straightfacedly labeled as “the will of
way to save peace. The Portuguese foreign the international community.” Europe was
minister Jose Cutileiro persuaded the three resentful but helpless when the United States
sides that Bosnia-Herzegovina should be resorted to covert action to smuggle arms into
“Uniting” Bosnia, Smoking in the independent but internally organized on the Croatia and Bosnia in violation of U.N. reso-
basis of ethnic regions or “cantons.” The lutions. Zimmermann’s torpedoing of the EU
Arsenal
breakthrough was due to the Bosnian Serbs’ Lisbon formula in 1992 started a trend that
At a time when the U.S. power and authority acceptance of an independent Bosnia , pro- frustrated the Europeans, but they were help-
are increasingly challenged around the world, vided that the Muslims give up their ambition less. Cutileiro was embittered by the US
the new team sees the Balkans as the last geo- of a centralized, unitary one. Izetbegovic action and blamed Izetbegovic for reneging.
politically significant area where they can appeared to accept it but when he returned Had the Muslims not done so, he recalled in
assert their “credibility” by postulating a from Lisbon , Zimmermann flew post haste 1995, “the Bosnian question might have been
maximalist set of objectives as the only out- from Belgrade to Sarajevo to tell him that it settled earlier, with less loss of life and land.”
come acceptable to the United States , and was a means to “a Serbian power grab” that Cutileiro also noted that the decision to
duly insisting on their fulfillment. We have could be prevented by internationalizing the renege on the signed agreement was not only
already seen this pattern with Kosovo, and problem. State Department subsequently Izetbegovic’s, as he was encouraged to scup-
now we see an attempt to stage its replay in admitted that the US policy “was to encour- per that deal and to fight for a unitary Bosnian
Bosnia under the demand for constitutional age Izetbegovic to break with the partition state by foreign mediators.”
reform, i.e. centralization. plan.” The New York Times (August 29, 1993) THE SETTING - At the outset of the
The advocates of unitary Bosnia studiously brought a revealing quote from the key player crisis in 1990-91 most inhabitants of Bosnia-
ignore the fact that similar U.S. policies con- himself: Herzegovina did not want to become “Bos-
tributed to the war 17 years ago. In the spring The embassy [in Belgrade ] was for recogni- nians” in any political sense; but they were
of 1992 the late Warren Zimmermann, the tion of Bosnia and Herzegovina from some- unaware of the extent to which their future
last U.S. ambassador to Yugoslavia before its time in February on,” Mr. Zimmermann said depended on events beyond their republic’s
breakup and civil war, materially contrib- of his policy recommendation from Belgrade boundaries. The ruling League of Commu-
uted—probably more than any other single . “Meaning me.” … Immediately after Mr.
nists of Yugoslavia literally disintegrated in
man—to the outbreak of the war in Bosnia- Izetbegovic returned from Lisbon , Mr. Zim-
Herzegovina. The facts of the case have been the first months of 1990. The resulting power
mermann called on him in Sarajevo … “He
established beyond reasonable doubt and are said he didn’t like it; I told him, if he didn’t vacuum was felt in Bosnia-Herzegovina
no longer dosputed by experts. like it, why sign it?” more keenly than in other republics because
the Party rule there was more rigidly doctri-
Nine months earlier, in June 1991, Slovenia After that moment Izetbegovic had no motive
and Croatia declared independence, a move naire. When the first multi-party election
to take the ongoing EC-brokered talks seri-
that triggered off a short war in Slovenia and ously, just as the Albanians had no motive to since 1938 finally took place in November
a sustained conflict in Croatia where the negotiate with Belgrade after President Bush 1990, the voters overwhelmingly acted in
Serbs refused to accept Tudjman’s fait declared in Tirana that it would become inde- accordance with their ethnic loyalties that
accompli. These events had profound conse- pendent. After his encounter with Zimmer- proved more enduring than any ideological
quences on Bosnia and Herzegovina , that “ mann Izetbegovic felt authorized to renege on differences between them.
Yugoslavia in miniature.” The Serbs (34%) tripartite accord: the U.S. would come to his
adamantly opposed the idea of Bosnian inde- assistance to enforce the independence of a When the Bosnian election results were tal-
pendence. The Croats (17%) predictably unitary Bosnian state. lied, they effectively read like a census plain
rejected any suggestion that Bosnia and Her-
The motives of Zimmermann and his political and simple. The overwhelming share of the
zegovina remains within a Serb-dominated
bosses in Washington were not rooted in the vote—80 percent—went to the three parties
rump Yugoslavia .
concern for the Muslims of Bosnia as such, or that had grounded their appeal in the ethnic-
Alija Izetbegovic had decided a year earlier indeed any higher moral principle. Their pol- national identity and issues. The apparent
that Bosnia should also declare independence icy had no basis in the law of nations, or in the ability of the three “nationalist” parties to
if Slovenia and Croatia secede. On 27 Febru- notions of truth or justice. It was the end-
cooperate in the aftermath of the election was

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 25


based on one thing they all had in common: Yugoslavia was a flawed polity, and there Izetbegovic was an advocate of Sharia law
the desire to break free from the Titoist could have been no rational objection to the and a theorist of the Islamic Republic long
straightjacket. Had Yugoslavia not been striving of Croats, and even Bosnian Mus- before the first shots were fired. His early
breaking up in 1991-92, this emphasis on tra- lims, to create their own nation-states. But views were inspired by the teaching of the
equally there could have been no justification Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Al Husseini, who
ditional identities would have passed as a nat-
for forcing over two million Serbs west of the toured the German-occupied Europe preach-
ural democratic readjustment to reality. The
Drina to be incorporated into those states ing that the Third Reich and the Muslim
truth is that there was no internal, Bosnian against their will. Yugoslavia came together world had a natural community of interests.
threat to peace at the beginning of 1991: in 1918 as a union of South Slav peoples, and Izetbegovic’s ideas subsequently matured
when it came the threat was from outside. The not of states, or territorial units. Its divorce into a comprehensive, programmatic state-
SDS and the SDA were not simply in coali- should have been effected on the same basis; ment in the Islamic Declaration – his de facto
tion: they were natural allies while Bosnia the boundaries of the republics should have political platform:
remained at peace, although they would been altered accordingly. This is, and has The Islamic movement must, and can, take
become just as natural enemies if Yugoslavia been, the real foundation of the Yugoslav con- over power as soon as it is morally and
fell apart. flict ever since the first shots were fired in the numerically so strong that it can not only
summer of 1991. Even someone as unsympa- destroy the existing non-Islamic power, but
The Serbs of Bosnia wanted, overwhelm- thetic to the Serb point of view as Lord David
ingly, to preserve the status quo. As they had also build up a new Islamic one… There is no
Owen conceded that Josip Broz Tito’s inter- peace or coexistence between the Islamic
no desire for the destruction of Yugoslavia , nal administrative boundaries between Yugo-
they were forced into reactive posture vis-à- faith and non-Islamic social and political
slavia ’s republics were grossly arbitrary, and institutions.
vis those who willed the Federation’s disinte- that their redrawing should have been counte-
gration. Their argument—even if seldom nanced: This was a political program par excellence.
stated with simplicity and coherence—was The author’s contempt for Western values is
clear when freed from rhetoric: they had lived Incomprehensibly, the proposal to redraw the evident in his dismissal of the Kemalist tradi-
in one state since 1918, when Yugoslavia republics’ boundaries had been rejected by all tion: “ Turkey as an Islamic country used to
came into being. They reluctantly accepted eleven EC countries… [T]o rule out any dis- rule the world. Turkey as an imitation of
Tito’s arbitrarily determined internal bound- cussion or opportunity for compromise in Europe represents a third-rate country the like
aries between the six federal repub- order to head off war was an extraordinary of which there is a hundred in the world.”
lics—which left one third of them outside decision. My view has always been that to Elsewhere, he accepts the “achievements of
Serbia-proper—on the grounds that the have stuck unyieldingly to the internal Euro-American civilization” but only in the
Yugoslav framework afforded them a mea- boundaries of the six republics within the for- area of “science and technology… we shall
sure of security from the repetition of the mer Yugoslavia … as being those for inde- have to accept them if we wish to survive.” In
nightmare of 1941-1945; but they could not pendent states, was a folly far greater than a revealing sentence, Izetbegović discusses
swallow an illegal ruse that aimed to turn that of premature recognition itself. the status of non-Muslims in countries with
them into minorities, overnight and by Of the three ethnic-religious parties in Bos- Muslim majorities: “The non-Muslim minor-
unconstitutional means, in their own land. nia-Herzegovina, the Muslim party—the ities within an Islamic state, on condition that
Even without the vividly remembered trauma SDA—was the most radical, in that it alone they are loyal [emphasis added], enjoy reli-
of the Second World War, they reacted in advocated a fundamental restructuring of the gious freedom and all protection.” He advo-
1991-1992 just as the Anglophone citizens of Bosnian society in accordance with divine cates “the creation of a united Islamic
Texas or Arizona might do if they are out- revelation. It attempted to do so not on Bos- community from Morocco to Indonesia .”
voted, one day, in a referendum demanding nia’s own terms, not within the Republic’s Izetbegovic’s views are unremarkable from a
those states’ incorporation into Mexico . own local paradigm, but within the terms of traditional Islamic point of view. The final
They demanded the right that the territories, the global-historical process—as its leaders objective is Dar al Islam, where Muslims
which the Serbs have inhabited as compact saw it—of the global Islamic renaissance. dominate and infidels submit. That is the
majorities long before the voyage of the May- Many in the West have been in a state of meaning of Izetbegovic’s apparent generosity
flower, not be subjected to the rule of their denial for years about the nature of Alija Izet- to the non-Muslims, “provided that they are
rivals. In the same vein the Protestant Ulster- begovic’s long-term program, preferring to loyal”: the non-Muslims can be “protected
men demanded - and were given - the right to believe their own assurances that Izetbe- persons” only if they submitted to Islamic
stay apart from united Ireland when the govic’s blueprint is not “Islamist” but “multi- domination.
nationalists opted for secession in 1921. cultural.”
In his daily political discourse Izetbegovic
In the same vein the state of West Virginia Not unlike Islamist parties elsewhere—nota- behaved throughout the 1990s as a de facto
was created in 1863, incorporating those bly the ruling Justice and Development Party nationalist, fostering narrowly-defined Bos-
counties of the Commonwealth of Virginia (AKP) in Turkey —the SDA had a public, niak nationalist feeling and seeking to equate
that refused to be forced into secession. The “secular” front, and an inner core of Islamic the emerging “Bosniak” identity with an
Loyalists of Ulster and the Unionists of West cadres that remained semi-conspiratorial in imaginary supra-ethnic “ Bosnia .” He was
Virginia were just as guilty of a “Joint Crimi- the early days. This is vividly described by juxtaposing the construct with the two tradi-
nal Enterprise” to break up Ireland , or the one of the party’s founders who had previ- tionally Christian communities—Serbs and
Old Dominion, as were the Serbs of Bosnia- ously made a successful business career in Croats—whose loyalties were alleged to lie
Herzegovina who did not want to be dragged the West, Adil Zulfikarpašić. He was elsewhere, with Belgrade and Zagreb respec-
into secession. appalled by the “fascist” methods of the SDA tively. The two sides of Izetbegovic’s person-
and by its “conservative, religious, populist” ality were not at odds, since within his terms
orientation.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 26


of reference the Bosniak ethnicity was the sort of settlement the Europeans had The campaign against the RS is detrimental
defined by religion. To have Alija Izetbe- wanted in 1992-3. The chief outcome of the to what America should stand for in the
govic, with his record and his vision, as the war was a transformed NATO, and the world. It seeks to give further credence to the
head of a democratic, pluralist state anywhere renewal of American leadership in Europe to myth of Muslim blameless victimhood, Serb
in the world, is of course simply unthinkable. an extent not seen since Kennedy. It estab- viciousness, and Western indifference, and
But for his peculiar vision to be applied in lished that America wanted to lead, and to be therefore weaken our resolve in the global
practice, Bosnia-Herzegovina had to be taken indispensable, in the process of European struggle euphemistically known as “war on
out of Yugoslavia and proclaimed indepen- reorganization after 1989. In Bosnia itself the terrorism.” The former is a crime; the latter, a
dent and sovereign. war took longer than it would have done but mistake. Yet there is no true debate in Wash-
Izetbegovic’s chief concern was to find a pre- the settlement that followed Dayton is not ington on the ends and uses of American
text for the intended separation from Yugo- unlike a plausible compromise that seemed power, in the Balkans or anywhere else. The
slavia —any Yugoslavia —and to use the within reach in Lisbon in April 1992. ideologues’ resistance to any external checks
Croat tactical alliance in pursuit of that goal; Richard Holbrooke, the chief U.S. negotiator and balances on the exercise of that power is
the day of reckoning with the HDZ could in 1995, boasted a year later: “We are re- upheld. Obama’s team and Bush’s may differ
come later. Izetbegović was willing to risk the engaged in the world, and Bosnia was the in some shades of rhetoric, but they are one
war. In the 1990 election campaign he said test.” This “we” meant the United States , not regime, identical in substance and conse-
that the Muslims would “defend Bosnia with “the West” or “the international community.” quence. Its leading lights will go on disputing
arms.” In February 1991 he declared in the Indeed, no nation-state started and finished the validity of the emerging balance-of-
Assembly: “I would sacrifice peace for a sov- the Bosnian story as a political actor with an power system because they reject the legiti-
ereign Bosnia-Herzegovina, but for that unchanged diplomatic personality. Each great macy of any power in the world other than
peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina I would not power became a forum for the global debate that of the United States , controlled and exer-
sacrifice sovereignty.” By May Izetbegovic for and against intervention, the debate for cised by themselves. They will scoff at the
went even further, saying that the war in Bos- and against a certain kind NATO, and an warning of 1815, 1918, or 1945 as inapplica-
nia-Herzegovina probably could not be associated, media-led international political ble in the post-history that they seek to con-
avoided because “for a state to be created, for process. The interventionists prevailed then, struct. They will confront the argument that
a nation to be forged, it has to endure this, it and their narrative dominates the public com- no vital American interest worthy of risking a
is some kind of fate, destiny.” This statement mentary on Karadzic’s arrest now. major war is involved in Russia ’s or China ’s
echoed his Islamic fatalism. near-abroad with the claim that the whole
The current clamoring for unitarization raises world is America ’s near-abroad.
When the Bosnian Serbs took control of the an old question that remains unanswered by
Serb-majority areas and connecting corridors the Bosnifiers: If the old Yugoslavia was It is vexing that the demand for rekindling the
in 1992, they were well equipped and offi- untenable and eventually collapsed under the Bosnian crisis comes at a particularly danger-
cered. But the numerical advantage lay with weight of the supposedly insurmountable dif- ous period in world affairs: the return of
the Muslims, who hoped to win in the end ferences among its constituent nations, how asymmetrical multipolarity. Following a brief
with international help. Radavan Karadzic can Bosnia —the Yugoslav microcosm par period of post-1991 full-spectrum domi-
never understood that this was, indeed, Izet- excellence—develop and sustain the dynam- nance, for the first time after the Cold War the
begovic’s grand strategy, and that time was ics of a viable polity? government of the United States is facing
not on the side of the Serbs. In addition Kar- active resistance from one or more major
As for the charges that the RS is founded on powers. More important than the anatomy of
adzic personally and the Serbs collectively war crimes, we need not hypothesize a pre-
were severely damaged by the western media the South Ossetian crisis last August, or the
war “joint criminal enterprise” to ethnically Taiwanese crisis three years from now, is the
handling of their mistreatment of Muslim cleanse and murder, to explain the events of
prisoners and the expulsion of non-Serb civil- reactive powers’ refusal to accept the validity
1992-5. The crimes and violations of human of Washington ’s ideological assumptions or
ians in the summer of 1992. Similar atrocities rights that followed were not the direct result
by Croats and Muslims against Serbs and the legitimacy of its resulting geopolitical
of anyone’s nationalist project. These crime, claims. At the same time, far from critically
against each other, while no less common, as Susan Woodward notes, “were the results
were less conspicuous and deemed unworthy reconsidering the Bushies’ hegemonsitic
of the wars and their particular characteris- assumptions and claims, the key decision-
of Western attention. tics, not the causes.” makers in the Obama Administration will
The media call for intervention, launched in The effect of the legal intervention of the continue to uphold them.
its early stage, made the Bosnian war the sub- “international community” with its act of rec-
ject of international debate to an extent Their ambition, unlimited in principle, will
ognition was that a Yugoslav loyalty was remain unaffected by the ongoing financial
unknown since Vietnam . Many Europeans made to look like a conspiratorial disloyalty
were inclined to support a compromise peace, crisis, just as Moscow ’s Cold War expan-
to “Bosnia”—largely in the eyes of people sionism was enhanced, rather than curtailed,
a federalized Bosnia , and a real arms who supposed ex hypothesi that if there is a
embargo; whereas the United States disliked by the evident shortcomings of the Soviet
“Bosnia” there must be a nation of “Bos- centrally planned economy. Come what may,
European peace plans, broke the arms nians.” In 1943-44 Tito was able to force the
embargo starting in late 1993, and overtly they will not allow the reality of global poli-
Anglo-Americans to pretend that his struggle tics to interfere with their world outlook,
supported the Muslims. Plus ca change! was not communist revolution. In 1992-95 “neoliberal” or “neoconservative,” but hege-
The end of the war was the result of a transat- Izetbegovic forced the West to pretend that monic and irrational at all times.
lantic compromise: London and Paris reluc- his jihad was the defense of “multi-ethnicity.”
tantly agreed to let NATO bomb the Serbs, Both pretenses were absurd.
while the United States reluctantly accepted Srdja Trifkovic, at The Lord Byron
Foundation conference, May 27, 2009

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 27


Patriarch Kirill to visit Turkey in July "Theory should be in close contact with These fully accredited educational insti-
practice. The Church plays a very impor- tutions plan to begin the implementation
Patriarch Kirill of Mos- tant role in this respect. Its major objec- of this project as soon as the Fall 2010.
cow and All Russia will tive is to help those who consider
start visiting other local themselves Orthodox out of tradition to
Orthodox churches in become Orthodox by their way of life.
early July, a spokesman This is what may be called people's true Decision of the Holy Assembly of
for the Secretariat for religious devotion, when their actions Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox
Inter-Orthodox Rela- are inspired by ethical reasons," Patri- Church redistributes dioceses in the
tions of the Moscow Patriarchate arch said. Americas
Department for External Church Rela-
tions, said. Therefore, he believes that Russia "still The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the
has a long way to go, until the present Serbian Orthodox Church, on its session
"These visits will be performed in line formally Orthodox laity becomes com- on May 21, 2009, by the number ABno,
with the authorized list, the diptych," he mitted believers." 49/ord. 147, brought this decision:
told Interfax-Religion on Wednesday.
"This is our challenge, and we shall rely Upon the clause 16 of the Constitution of
By tradition, the head of one Orthodox on the civil society to meet it. It is impor- the Serbian Orthodox Church, and with
Church visits the territories of others as tant to engage young people and student the established suggestion of the Episco-
they are listed in the diptych. The dip- community because we are now refer- pal Council of the Serbian Orthodox
tych currently has 15 Church jurisdic- ring to our country's future. Russia will Church in North and South America and
tions: the Constantinople, Alexandria, become a great country only when it two members of the Holy Assembly of
Antioch, Jerusalem, Russian, Georgian, learns to match spiritual essence and Bishops (His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of
Serb, Romanian, Bulgarian, Cypriot, material nature, temporal things and Zhicha and His Grace Bishop Irinej of
Greek, Albanian and Polish Orthodox eternity," Patriarch added. Bachka), to execute the redistribution of
churches, the Orthodox Church in the existing dioceses of the Serbian Ortho-
Czech Lands and Slovakia, and the dox Church: Midwestern American,
Orthodox Church in America. Eastern American, Western American
Closer academic relationships between and Canadian of the Serbian Orthodox
The Russian Patriarch will first travel to St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Church in the USA and Canada; and
Turkey. Seminary and the Theological Faculty Dioceses for America and Canada of the
of the University Metropolitanate of New Gracanica, with
certain renaming of their titles and mov-
Discussions on closer academic relation- ing of their seats, in order to the canonic
Patriarch Kirill says Russia has a long ships between St. Vladimir's Orthodox territory of the Serbian Orthodox Church
way to go until today's formally Theological Seminary and the Theologi- on the territory of the North and South
Orthodox laity becomes committed cal Faculty of the University of Bel- America now is consisting of:
believers grade, Serbia, took place in Crestwood,
New York, on June 2 and 3, 2009. Rec- 1. The Metropolitanate of Libertyville
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus- ognizing mutual academic and ecclesial and Chicago, with a monastery of St
sia believes that the Church should help benefits, the representatives of two insti- Sava as a seat in Libertyville (consists
people who formally consider them- tutions (Professor Fr. Vladan Perisic and of monastery of St Sava in Liber-
selves Orthodox to become committed Bishop Maxim Vasiljevic from Belgrade tyville and Cathedral church of Res-
believers. and Fr. John Behr, Fr. Chad Hatfield and urrection of Our Lord with three
Prof. John Barnett from St. Vladimir's) parishes), whose Metropolitan is
Patriarch said that people often think of discussed formal relationship guidelines going to be the president of Episco-
themselves as Orthodox by virtue of and conditions for a joint enterprise on pal, Church-People's and Central
their cultural origin. "It often begins that master level. Among the programs being council, and ex officio representative
way. A person eventually grows into considered are: of the Serbian Orthodox Church in
such identity and becomes closer to the a) student exchange program this area.
Church. We should be aware that Ortho- 2. The Diocese of New Gracanica and
doxy is the crucial factor of our cultural b) of visiting professors for both schools Midwestern America, with a monas-
identity," he said answering students' c) joint conferences and tery of New Gracanica as a seat (con-
questions at St. Petersburg Ice Palace on d) joint publications sists of all parishes based in Chicago
Friday. except the previously mentioned
Church of Resurrection of Our Lord -
and other states of the Midwest which

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 28


were part of previous Midwestern
Metropolitanate, as well as all
church-school communities and par-
ishes of the previous Diocese for
America and Canada of the Metro-
politanate of New Gracanica on the
area of previous Midwestern Metro-
politanate)
3. The Diocese of Eastern America,
with a Pittsburg/Mars as a seat (con-
sists of all parished of the current
Eastern American Diocese and par-
ished and church-school communities
of the previous Diocese for America
and Canada of the Metropolitanate of
New Gracanica on the territory of
Eastern America).
4. The Diocese of West America, with
Los Angeles/Alhambra as a seat (con-
sists of all parishes of the previous
Diocese of Western America and par- President Barack Obama met with Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in
ishes and church-school communities Istanbul during his April visit to the Middle East.
of the previous Diocese for America
and Canada of the Metropolitanate of
New Gracanica on the territory of Ecumenical Patriarch active in world may be bestowed by the Legislative
Western America). issues Branch of the United States government.
5. The Diocese of Canada, with a seat in
Toronto/monastery of Milton (con- His All Holiness, Bartholomew I, Arch- Bartholomew I, after his attempts to cel-
sists of all parishes of the current bishop of Constantinople New Rome ebrate the Liturgy in remote areas of the
Canadian Diocese and parishes and and Ecumenical Patriarch, has been country, thereby renewing the Orthodox
church-school communities of the active internationally in many issues. presence, which was absent since before
previous Diocese for America and One of his first focuses has been on 1924, has now come under intense pres-
Canada of the Metropolitanate of rebuilding the once-persecuted Eastern sure from Turkish nationalist elements.
New Gracanica on the territory of Orthodox Churches of the former East- The patriarchal Seminary of Halki in the
Canada). ern Bloc following the fall of Commu- Princes' Islands remains closed since
The clause 8th article 1 of the Constitu- nism there in 1990. As part of this effort 1971 on government orders.
tion of the Serbian Orthodox Church in he has worked to strengthen ties amongst
North and South America is changed by the various national Churches and Patri- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's
this decision, so with it previous names archates of the Eastern Orthodox Com- tenure has been characterized by inter-
will not be used anymore: " Midwestern munion. He has also continued the Orthodox cooperation, inter-Christian
American Metropolitanate" and " Dio- reconciliation dialogue with the Roman and inter-religious dialog, as well as by
cese for America and Canada of New Catholic Church started by his predeces- formal trips to Orthodox and Muslim
Gracanica Metropolitanate", and there sors, and initiated dialogue with other countries seldom previously visited. He
are being established new borders of faiths, including other Christian sects, has exchanged numerous invitations of
Dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Muslims, and Jews. Church and State dignitaries. His efforts
Church in North and South America. to promote religious freedom and human
Perhaps most unusually, he has gained a rights, his initiatives to advance religious
Also, in this way the Clause 15th of the reputation as a prominent environmen- tolerance among the world’s religions
Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox talist, putting the support of the Patri- has been widely noted.
Church is changed and is revised archate behind various international
environmental causes. This has earned
him the nicknames "the Green Patriarch" Wikipedia & Wikimedia
Articles selected by the editor from the and "the Green Pope" and in 2002 he was
Serbian Orthodox website www.spc.rs honored with the Sophie Prize. He has
also been honoured with the Congressio-
nal Gold Medal, the highest award which

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 29


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your homes, workplaces, and civic communities.
“Well done good and faithful servant…” God
bless you all! We appreciate you all! MORAVA “Oldies” end 2008-
2009 season
Morava has finished the 2008/
2009 soccer season in the
Huff”n” Puff League. After 12
played games, the Morava “Old-
ies” ended their worst season in
years. After a relatively good start
the team won only 3 games, drew
4, and lost 5 games. The oppo-
nents outscored the team by 31:26
goals. The main reason for a bad
showing this season was a lack of
a good goal keeper.
If anyone knows someone who is
at least over 45 years of age and
wants to be a goal keeper, call
Misha Jovanovic at 619-807-
7755. The next season starts at the
end of September.

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2008 30


Girls to Marry painted in 1983 in the village Vranovac near Jagodina, Serbia.
Artist Ljubiša Jovanović, called Kene, was born in 1956 in Vranovce near
Svetozarevo/Jagodina (Serbia) in a family of small farmers. He finished 8
grades of elementary school and is still living in his birthplace where he is
shaping his mysterious naive world of dreams. His story is not a pleasant one
Visit
Serbia
nor it is lively sentimental. Light was dimmed in father’s home. His parents did
not love each other. He was twelve when they separated. The boy felt he had
to create and paint his life.
He started painting early. He, off course, saw Breughel’s and Bosch’s paint-
ings and especially old orthodox icons in churches. In essence, his paintings
resemble some other icons, in which saints and demons could be characters 2009
in his village community. The intensity of his colors, drawing distinctness of his
brush speak on splendor extracted from the bottom of his soul.

Misha Jovanovic
Firstworld Travel & Misha Tours
130 East Main Street * El Cajon, CA 92020
619-588-5811 or 619-588-4644

VOICE OF ST. GEORGE • SUMMER 2009 31


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Director Marija Milasinovic & the three different age groups of the MORAVA FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE

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