Tenth letter – Celebration of St. Cyril and Methodius and sanctification of crosses for the Orahovac church

Saturday, 24 May 2008

Early this morning the Belgrade bus came down the stone paved streets. Those were our friends from Djurdjevi Stupovi(1). There were plenty of people in front of the church. Church doors were wide open. Together with the people from Orahovac father Velja Stojkovic welcomed the guests. Several boys carried huge, gold-gilded crosses -the gifts for the Church of Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The liturgy started at 7.30 a.m. It was served by Father Velja, Abbot Stephan, Father Martinian, Father Miron and Father Romilo. The liturgy was wonderful because of so many God’s people at one place. The monks were singing thus making the liturgy even more beautiful. Two huge gold-gilded crosses were placed near the altar and shone with unfathomable light, making our church even nicer. At the end, the crosses and water were sanctified and antidoron(2) was given to the people. Some of the guests received the Holy Communion and at the end of the service congratulated each other the holiday of St. Cyril and Methodius. During the liturgy our diligent housewives laid the table and prepared breakfast for our guests. After the liturgy, the church yard became full of people and joyful children. People were served with plum brandy and coffee and after that everybody sat down for breakfast. Table was crammed with food and people were delighted with the way we received them. Father Stephan blessed the meal and the celebration started. People crossed(3) their glasses with wine or plum brandy for the good health of the Serbian people in Kosovo. At one point the singing started; the twin brothers Milan and Marko played Kosovo folk songs. The first song was the Anthem of Orahovac(4), everybody sang together moved by feelings and by Orahovac wine. Then the people got up and started to play the wheel dance in the churchyard. At one moment everybody was happy and joyful. Our song could be heard for far away. This was the first time that we organized such public festivity. After breakfast the guests had the possibility to go to Velika Hoca(5) to see the monastery of St. John the Baptist. I got the chance to go with them. Father Miron and the monks welcomed us there. From Velika Hoca we went to Zociste monastery, it was very nice there, so much beauty at one place. We attended the evening service there.

For a moment I went out of the monastery, approached the wall and saw the entire village where the Serbs once lived. Unfortunately there are no more Serbs there now. I wonder where they are? What do they do for a living? Do they long to see their birthplace? I was looking at the entire village in front of me.

I wished that at least for a moment I could give them my eyes so they could see their birthplace. I felt bad; I returned to the service and prayed for all of them. When everything was finished, we went back to Orahovac. Supper was already waiting for us. It was nice with so many people at one place.
In the morning when our guests woke up, they were sorry that they had to leave, and said that their heart remained in Orahovac, they took with them our love and a piece of us. I’m always sad at the end when my guests leave, I feel very bad because they’re leaving, while we always stay in the same place with the same grief, sorrow and wish for a freedom.