St. Sava, The First Archbishop of Serbia
January 14/27
Rastko Nemanjic, the son of Stefan Nemanja, and the great
Serbian national leader, was born in 1169. As a young man he
yearned for the spiritual life, which led him to flee to the
Holy Mountain, where he became a monk Sava, and with a rare
zeal followed all the ascetic practices. Nemanja followed his
son's example and himself went to the Holy Mountain, where he
lived and ended his days as the monk Simeon. Sava obtained the
independence of the Serbian Church from the Emperor and the
Patriarch, and became its first archbishop. He, together, with
his father, built the monastery of Hilandar and after that many
other monasteries, church and schools throughout the land of
Serbia. He tracelled to the Holy Land on two occasions, on
pilgrimage to the holy places there. He made peace among his
brothers, who were in conflict over their rights, and also
between the Serbs and their neighbors. In creating the Serbian
Church, he created the Serbian and Serbian culture along with
it. He brought peace to all the Balkan peoples, working for the
good of all, for which he was venerated and loved by all on the
Balkan peninsula. He gave a Christian soul to the people of
Serbian, which survived the fall of the Serbian state. He died
in Trnovo in the reign of King Asen, being taken ill after the
Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Theophany in 1236. King
Vladislav took his body to Mileseva, whence Sinan Pasha removed
it, burning it at Varcar in Belgrade on April 27th,1595.
-on the vision of the unseen world-
"We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen." (2Cor.4:18)
We see this material and transitory world, but we look to that
spiritual and immortal world.
We see earthly joy, often cut short by tears and sighing,
finally and inevitably ending in death, but we look to
spiritual joy among the angels and saints of God in heaven,
to unbroken and eternal joy. We see the sufferings and failures
of the righteous in this life, but we look to their glory and
triumph in the other world.
We see much success, glory and honor for the unrighteous in
this life, but we look to their defeat, condemnation and
unspeakable torment in eternity.
We see the Church of God often humiliated and persecuted in this
world, but we look to her victory over all her enemies and
adversaries, visible and invisible.
We see, my brethren, tyrants and abductors, often as the rulers
and the rich in this age, and the saints as nobodies, distressed
and forgotten, but we look to another kingdom, in which the
saints will reign, with not one tyrant or abductor: the Kingdom
of God, eternally sinless and immortal.
O long-suffering and most merciful Lord, open our spiritual
eyes that we may see that which awaits us after this brief
life, that we may strive to fulfill Thy commandments. To Thy
glory and praise for ever. Amen.
**You are not alone**
You are not alone
My heart is on your path
Every journey taken
Will find its way at last
Solitude becomes you
Quietness divine
Mind is gently speaking
Words I need to find
Capture dreams in journey
For when you will return
Hearts will have great meaning
In beauty you have learned
You fill my life with happiness
You give me all I need
Journey love forever
This road will be our dream
This path that we have taken
It never will subside
No matter what the destiny
I am your spirit bride
Each night before I close my eyes
I look out to the sea
I know your spirit saying
Our love will always be
Gathered in my treasures
This destiny divine
You have given special gift
Of journeys through lifetime.
A simple friend/A real friend
A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.
A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.
A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays
late to help you clean.
A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.
A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.
A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.
A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.
A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when
you HAVE an argument.
A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after
you've had a fight.
A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!
