The weekend celebrations started with a vespers service immediately followed by a folklore performance. His Grace Dositej welcomed a packed hall of guests for St Sava’s Evening. The parish’s ensemble Rastko welcomed special guests Gračanica, Serbian folk dance ensemble who had especially flown over from Boston, USA. Both dazzled the audience.

On Sunday, the parish came together in huge numbers to celebrate our national saint in a festive spirit despite the troubled times we presently live in.

Divine Bishop’s Liturgy was served by Dositej, Bishop of Britain and Scandinavia in concelebration with clergy from London and the rest of Great Britain. Parishioners, children and parents were joined by Her Excellency Ms. Aleksandra Joksimović, Serbia’s Ambassador and her partner, HRH Princess Katarina Karađorđević da Silva, Miss Marijana Ognjanović, Consul of the Republic of Serbia, the military attaché Mr. Dragan Dabović and his wife.

Luka Milivojević, captain of Crystal Palace FC, was also present along with his family, who often attend St Sava’s.

The host of this year’s St Sava’s celebration was Mr. Predrag Pisić, who presented all the students of the Church Sunday School with gifts.

During Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Bishop Dositej ordained Reverend Bojan Radičević, parish priest from Halifax, to the rank of archpriest in recognition of his dedicated service at Halifax parish. With the Bishop’s blessing, Father Bojan proclaimed the significance of St Sava’s character for our Church and his inspirational legacy for all the Orthodox faithful.

Bishop Dositej also announced a change in position. After many years in the post, Protopresbyter Stavrophor Goran Spaić had asked to be relieved of his role as the elder of St Sava’s Church and also as the eparchial emissary of the Bishop. The Bishop had therefore decided to appoint Protopresbyter Stavrophor Dragan Lazić in his stead and wished him every success. At the same time he thanked Protopresbyter Stavrophor Goran Spaić for his diligent previous service. Father Goran remains the Bishop’s official deputy.

After Divine Liturgy, the children of the Church Sunday School gave a festive academy together with the Rastko and Gračanica folklore ensembles. The St Sava sermon was delivered by subdeacon Siniša Macakanja, a graduate of theological studies from London.

A festive lunch was prepared by the parish’s industrious Kolo Srpskih Sestara “Kosovka devojka”.

PHOTO GALLERY

This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the consecration of St. Sava Church in London and the 60th anniversary since the St. Sava Church School was established. Therefore, on Saturday 19th November 2022 we celebrated these significant anniversaries in the recently decorated Bishop Nikolaj Hall in the presence of our bishop Dositej, Her Excellency Mrs. Aleksandra Joksimovic, and HRH Princess Katarina Karađorđević de Silva. A rich cultural programme was performed by the church choir, folklore ensemble Rastko, pupils of St Sava Church School, and our London based actresses and artists: Vesna Stanojević, Maria Pavlovich Allport, Silva McQueen, Živorad and Anđelija Nikolić, and Ilija Obradović. After the program, 200 guests enjoyed a dinner prepared by members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters.

Photos from the event can be found in two galleries:

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

Christmas Eve, Friday 6th January
10:00 Divine Liturgy and consecration of the badnjak
19:00 Vespers

The church will be open all day from 09:00 to 21:00, during which period you are welcome to come along at any time to collect your badnjak and light your candles.

CHRISTMAS, Saturday 7th January
07:00 Divine Liturgy
10:00 Divine Liturgy
19:00 Vespers

On Christmas Day, the church will be open all day from 06:30 to 20:00, Parking in the churchyard is not allowed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. However, those attending the 7:00 Christmas Liturgy can park for free in nearby streets until 8:30.

On Christmas Eve the restaurant will be open from 11am to 4pm and from 6pm to 9pm, and on Christmas day from 11am to 4pm and from 6pm until midnight for our Božićna igranka.

SYNAXIS OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, Saturday 8th January
10:00 Divine Liturgy

HOLY PROTOMARTYR AND ARCHDEACON STEPHEN, Sunday 9th January
10:00 Divine Liturgy

Christ is Born!

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.