Buenos Aires, January 31, 2025
Photo: iglesiaortodoxaserbiasca.org
The St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Buenos Aires celebrated its slava, or patronal feast, on Sunday January 26.
The local Serbian Orthodox hierarch was unable to attend, but the local Antiochian hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Santiago, and the local Russian hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Leonid, came to celebrate the feast, reports the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Buenoes Aires, South America, and Central America.
Many faithful from different communities were present to pray to the Lord and celebrate the holy illuminator of the Serbs, St. Sava.
Photo: iglesiaortodoxaserbiasca.org
In his homily, Met. Santiago emphasized St. Sava’s extraordinary life journey, highlighting three key aspects: his remarkable personal sacrifice, his family’s transformation, and his nation-building legacy. Born a prince with wealth and authority, St. Sava chose to renounce everything for a life dedicated to God. His spiritual influence extended to his own father, who became a monk under his son’s guidance. After his father’s death as a saint (evidenced by myrrh-streaming relics), St. Sava used his father’s relics to reconcile his quarreling brothers and unite the Serbian people. Beyond establishing the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava helped build Serbia as an Orthodox nation, leaving a spiritual and cultural legacy that continues to strengthen the Church today.
Then, Met. Leonid spoke and congratulated Abbess Maria, saying: “In the Epistle reading, we heard that God gave different gifts to each one: To some He gave the gift of prophecy, to others the gift of teaching. So today we congratulate Mother Maria on the slava of the monastery of which she is abbess, and we pray to God to give her the gift of leadership, of directing this monastery so that with God’s help there will be more monastic vocations in it.
After the Liturgy, the “St. Sava Academy” was held, with various readings about the Holy Hierarch, followed by a festive lunch.
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