THE SLAVA WE CELEBRATE IN FEBRUARY

20.01.2021.

In order to remind of the true essence and importance of slava for the preservation of the unbroken tradition and identity of the Serbian people, we emphasize the recommendations of church dignitaries that we must return to modesty in celebrating slava and devotion to the faith and the saint we thank.

Celebrations outside the home are fashionable and deviate from the very essence of religious holidays, especially slava, which is a family holiday. Within the family and loved ones, this significant event gets its full meaning.

The celebration of the holidays that began at the beginning of autumn continues with the Serbs during the winter months, so it is the turn of February and the holidays that we celebrate then.

FRBRUARY 12 - Three Holy Hierarchs

The Holy Three Hierarchs are celebrated in our nation as a slava, and many monasteries and churches celebrate it as their glory. By the way, the Holy Three Hierarchs are the historical figures of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, and in the Serbian tradition they are called Belshazzar, Melchior and Caspar.

In Serbian regions, the mentioned saints are considered protectors of people and animals from frost, cold and evil winds. According to the winds that blow that day, it is predicted what the weather will be like during the year. That is why today the winds must not blow, because unless it is clear and beautiful, calm weather, not even a year, that is. the summer ahead will not be warm and beautiful. If it is sunny and without wind, we have a real warm summer and a peaceful year ahead of us.

In our nation, this day is a guild celebration of metalworkers, engineers and media workers, while with the Greeks it is not only a religious, but also a national and school holiday.

FEBRUARY 14 - SAINT TRYPHON

Orthodox believers celebrate Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of vineyards and field work. On that day, our winegrowers go to the vineyards, prune some vines and water some vines with wine, in order to restore the vine's weakened strength, after a long winter dormancy, so that it begins to flourish in the spring that is already beginning to approach.

That is why Saint Trifun in Eastern Serbia is called Orezac and Zarizoj.

The Serbian Orthodox Church, believing in the strange power of the prayerful intercession of the holy martyr Trifun, has established a special act of prayer, which is performed with fields or gardens, if damage from insects, mice and other animals occurs.

Saint Trifun is celebrated by innkeepers and mechanics, today's cafe owners, so there is a story that if the owner "caterer" wants his business to go well during the year, today we must not charge the one who orders the wine.

Loyal to the faith of Christ, God endowed him with the gift of miracles, so he healed many sick people from various diseases with prayers. It is said that, among others, he healed Gorda, the daughter of the Roman emperor Gordian, who was suffering from a mental illness from which no doctor could cure her.

FEBRUARY 15 - Candlemas

Candlemas (The meeting of the Lord) is a holiday dedicated to bringing Jesus Christ into the temple. The Feast of the Assumption, by the way, is very common among the Serbian people, who associate their tradition and customs with this holiday. The Candlemas is always celebrated on the 40th day of Christmas and nothing is done on that day. The Candlemas is a holiday of essential importance for Christianity because it indicates the first meeting of the Savior with people.

Thus, in our people, there is a belief that winter and summer meet on Sretenje. If a sunny day dawns on Sretenje, and the bears, frightened by their own shadow, return to hibernation, it is believed that winter will last for another six weeks.

The most interesting of the Sretenje beliefs is that young girls should be careful today when they first meet in the morning, because their groom will be just like that in appearance and character.

At Candlemas in 1835, the first constitution of the Principality of Serbia was proclaimed in Kragujevac, known as the Sretenje Constitution, and Serbia celebrates Statehood Day on this day.

February 16 - SAINT SIMEON THE GOD-RECEIVER

In the time of Emperor Ptolemy of Philadelphia, Saint Simeon, as one of the famous seventies, was chosen to translate the Bible from Hebrew into Greek. He did his job conscientiously. At one point, an angel of God appeared to Simeon and explained to him that the prophecy was true and that he would be convinced of it because, according to God's will, he would not die until he saw the Messiah.

Delighted by this voice from heaven, righteous Simeon thanked God that he would see the Promised One. When the Virgin and Child came to the temple in Jerusalem, the Spirit of God announced a happy event to Simeon. The joyful old man took Christ in his arms, and then asked God to release him happy from this life. Soon after, Saint Simeon passed away.

This righteous old man is still considered the protector of small children, and his holiday is the day when all the wishes come true for the youngest.

Serbianshop, within its activities, also finds an opportunity to contribute to the preservation of traditional values, spiritual wealth and the essence of the Serbian being, and the baptismal glory certainly is. Of course, you should look at the interesting offer of objects - symbols of baptism, such as icons, candlesticks, chandeliers and others. Surely everyone will find something for themselves and their loved ones.