Holy Trinity Makes a Pilgrimage
Faith, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness.
These are treasures we seek every day as adults in this life,
and continuously pray for our children to find much sooner than we.
So, bright and early on Friday morning, July 20, 2007, Father Ljubomir Krstic and 42 church school children and parishioners from Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Paul,
Minnesota anxiously gathered and boarded a bus to visit several Orthodox monasteries. (Our first bus trip!)
We laughed, we joked, we played, we sang, we ate, we slept.
But on this trip, we found these gifts of the spirit and much more as we wound our way through Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. The oohs and ahhs began as soon as we stepped off the
bus at the St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Il. The statues of Dragoljub Mihalovic, Pavle Djurisic and Momcilo Djujic, the beautiful cemetery, and the back drop of the monastery were
breathtaking. We were especially grateful to join the teenagers attending camp for evening vespers. How beautiful their young voices sounded as they sang the responses during the
service.
Next, we visited Gracanica in Third Lake, Il. Again, we were astounded by the beauty of this monastery. The holy icons, the carvings…after a tour through the church and an interesting talk
by Deacon Serafim, we left to explore the outside grounds. Again we were able to observe a youth camp, and several of our children immediately began to ask if they could attend camp
next year.
After a swift game of basketball (well, many of us watched as Father Ljuba and the children ran the court), we boarded the bus for “Avalon,” a Greek restaurant not far away. It was
wonderful food and the children had a blast sitting together and laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
Saturday morning was a sunny beautiful day, and we left for The Nativity of the Mother of God in New Carlisle, Indiana. The moment we entered the gates we all felt graced by peace and
solace. As we walked up the path, the sparkling top of the monastery came into view.
Many parishioners felt as if they had “come home.” After blessing all of us, Father Gavrilo gave a beautiful talk on our faith and living in today’s world. The nuns prepared a wonderful lunch
and were most gracious to their guests. They took the time to talk with our children, helped them look for turkey feathers, and let us all stroll through their lush and green gardens and
colorful grounds of many varieties of flowers and trees.
The nuns also gave us a box of booklets that contain stories written for children, about religious heroes and bible stories. They were grateful for the gifts we brought them: Coffee, Oil,
Flour, Sugar and Rice. Before our departure, Father Gavrilo blessed the crosses and ikons we purchased at their gift shop one by one. Leaving the monastery, the bus was silent as we
reflected on our visit.
But the day was not over….we stopped at Merrillville’s St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church where their Serbfest was in full swing…lamb, pork, cevaps, music and games were to everyone’
s delight. What better way to let the children run off some steam! Parents, too! We found some old friends and some new friends and everyone had a great time!
We had one more stop to make before our journey ended. Sunday morning found us heading to St. John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There, we were
told the monastery held a piece of the cross Christ was crucified upon and that we would be able to see it.
A great many miracles took place, we were told after having it touched you. It was hard to imagine what this would look like.
It was a sprawling monastery of great proportions. There were hundreds of people walking to, or standing outside, the church because the entire monastery was full. The gold
chandeliers, the wood carvings, the icons, everything was magnificent. After the Liturgy, we lined up to view the relics.
A priest stood with a magnetized box containing the holy relic, a nun stoodby assisting him. As each person walked up, he ran the box over their heads, minds, face, back, chest and
arms. To feel this blessing cannot be put down in words. You must experience it for yourself. Afterwards, they had coffee and baked goods…outside! What a treat.
We then began our way back home. We laughed, we joked, we played, we sang, we ate, we slept. When we arrived, many of our friends and family were there to pick us up and there was
much hugging, kissing and telling of stories.
Our children grew closer, friendships were formed, they shared, laughed and played together. No matter what we were looking for on this trip, I believe we found it.
Faith, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness.
These are treasures we seek every day as adults in this life,
and continuously pray for our children to find much sooner than we.
So, bright and early on Friday morning, July 20, 2007, Father Ljubomir Krstic and 42 church school children and parishioners from Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Paul,
Minnesota anxiously gathered and boarded a bus to visit several Orthodox monasteries. (Our first bus trip!)
We laughed, we joked, we played, we sang, we ate, we slept.
But on this trip, we found these gifts of the spirit and much more as we wound our way through Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. The oohs and ahhs began as soon as we stepped off the
bus at the St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Il. The statues of Dragoljub Mihalovic, Pavle Djurisic and Momcilo Djujic, the beautiful cemetery, and the back drop of the monastery were
breathtaking. We were especially grateful to join the teenagers attending camp for evening vespers. How beautiful their young voices sounded as they sang the responses during the
service.
Next, we visited Gracanica in Third Lake, Il. Again, we were astounded by the beauty of this monastery. The holy icons, the carvings…after a tour through the church and an interesting talk
by Deacon Serafim, we left to explore the outside grounds. Again we were able to observe a youth camp, and several of our children immediately began to ask if they could attend camp
next year.
After a swift game of basketball (well, many of us watched as Father Ljuba and the children ran the court), we boarded the bus for “Avalon,” a Greek restaurant not far away. It was
wonderful food and the children had a blast sitting together and laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
Saturday morning was a sunny beautiful day, and we left for The Nativity of the Mother of God in New Carlisle, Indiana. The moment we entered the gates we all felt graced by peace and
solace. As we walked up the path, the sparkling top of the monastery came into view.
Many parishioners felt as if they had “come home.” After blessing all of us, Father Gavrilo gave a beautiful talk on our faith and living in today’s world. The nuns prepared a wonderful lunch
and were most gracious to their guests. They took the time to talk with our children, helped them look for turkey feathers, and let us all stroll through their lush and green gardens and
colorful grounds of many varieties of flowers and trees.
The nuns also gave us a box of booklets that contain stories written for children, about religious heroes and bible stories. They were grateful for the gifts we brought them: Coffee, Oil,
Flour, Sugar and Rice. Before our departure, Father Gavrilo blessed the crosses and ikons we purchased at their gift shop one by one. Leaving the monastery, the bus was silent as we
reflected on our visit.
But the day was not over….we stopped at Merrillville’s St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church where their Serbfest was in full swing…lamb, pork, cevaps, music and games were to everyone’
s delight. What better way to let the children run off some steam! Parents, too! We found some old friends and some new friends and everyone had a great time!
We had one more stop to make before our journey ended. Sunday morning found us heading to St. John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There, we were
told the monastery held a piece of the cross Christ was crucified upon and that we would be able to see it.
A great many miracles took place, we were told after having it touched you. It was hard to imagine what this would look like.
It was a sprawling monastery of great proportions. There were hundreds of people walking to, or standing outside, the church because the entire monastery was full. The gold
chandeliers, the wood carvings, the icons, everything was magnificent. After the Liturgy, we lined up to view the relics.
A priest stood with a magnetized box containing the holy relic, a nun stoodby assisting him. As each person walked up, he ran the box over their heads, minds, face, back, chest and
arms. To feel this blessing cannot be put down in words. You must experience it for yourself. Afterwards, they had coffee and baked goods…outside! What a treat.
We then began our way back home. We laughed, we joked, we played, we sang, we ate, we slept. When we arrived, many of our friends and family were there to pick us up and there was
much hugging, kissing and telling of stories.
Our children grew closer, friendships were formed, they shared, laughed and played together. No matter what we were looking for on this trip, I believe we found it.
113 Saratoga Street N, St. Paul MN 55104
(651) 641-0828 - info@holytrinityserbian.org
(651) 641-0828 - info@holytrinityserbian.org
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and Friends. Holy Trinity is not aware of any copyright infringements in acceptance of these images. All images received in
good faith become the property of Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Paul, and therefore require prior permission in
order to copy, duplicate, or release any images seen within.
and Friends. Holy Trinity is not aware of any copyright infringements in acceptance of these images. All images received in
good faith become the property of Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Paul, and therefore require prior permission in
order to copy, duplicate, or release any images seen within.
www.HolyTrinitySerbian.org
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