He was born in Antioch in the year 347, his father's name being Secundus and his mother's Anthusa. Studying Greek philosophy, John became disgusted with Hellenic paganism and turned to the Christian faith as the one and all-embracing truth. John was baptised by Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch, and, after that, his parents were also baptised. After their death, John became a monk and began to live in strict asceticism. He wrote a book: "On the Priesthood", after which the holy Apostles John and Peter appeared to him, prophesying for him great service, great grace and also great suffering. When the time came for him to be ordained priest, an angel of God appeared at the same time to Patriarch Flavian (Meletius' successor) and to John himself. When the Patriarch ordained him, a shining white dove was seen above John"s head. Renowned for his wisdom, his asceticism and the power of his words, John was, at the desire of Emperor Arcadius, chosen as Patriarch of Constantinople. He governed the Church for six years as Patriarch with unequalled zeal and wisdom, sending missionaries to the pagan Celts and Scythians and purging the Church of simony, deposing many bishops who were given to this vice. He extended the Church"s charitable works, wrote a rite for the Holy Liturgy, put heretics to shame, denounced the Empress Eudoxia, interpreted the Scriptures with his golden mind and tongue and left to the Church many precious books of sermons.

The Circle of Serbian Sisters "Kosovo Maiden" continues with humanitarian activities by organising a Bake Sale on 6th November 2022 at 11:30 in the Bishop Nikolaj Hall, and invites you to make and/or purchase cakes, sweet and salty delicacy in traditional Serbian style to help us to continue our charity work. For more information, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Our Creator has made us in such a way that we are composed of both the earthly and the heavenly. Because our body is made from dust it is like unto dust, but because our soul was breathed into us by God's lips, we have our origin in the heavens. There are things seen, such as the many and various bodies; there are also things unseen, such as the Angels, simple spirits, not made from any kind of matter. We possess the qualities of creatures both material and immaterial, and I can say that although the Creator has given us the greater ascetic struggle because of these nearly opposite natures, we are nevertheless obligated to preserve a precise balance between them, so that by observing what is natural to the body we do not violate the demands of the soul; and by protecting the soul's privilege, we do not neglect the needs of the body. 

In the period from October 9th to 13th 2022, a group of parishioners of the Church of St. Sava from London, went on a pilgrimage to the Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos. The group was led by Archpriest Dragan Lazić. This trip, like the previous one in 2019, had a devotional character. The pilgrims got acquainted with the spiritual wealth, shrines, and cultural-historical heritage of the Serbian people on this peninsula. In addition to Mount Athos, pilgrims also saw a couple of sights of the city of Thessaloniki.