Sabor
2008 May 14
The annual May session of the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church began in Belgrade today. Patriarch Pavle is unable to take part so His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije will preside over the meeting. There is talks that a new patriarch will be chosen…but then again there are a lot of things people are talking about that really is none of our business.
As you see above the hierarchs have gathered for the Invocation of the Holy Spirit. It’s best we leave it to the Holy Spirit to guide our church through our bishops than to pay attention to what people are saying and rumors being spread online.
Father Milovan,
Today as we commemorate the translation of the Holy Relics of St. Nicholas to Bari, Italy for safe keeping, I read in the Prologue that we also commemorate the miracle of St. Nicholas to St. Stefan. It is a story that grabbed my attention in December and thought it would be good to remember the story today with those who are unaware of it. The story of the miracle of St. Nicholas to St. Stephan is as follows (Taken from the Kosovo.net web site):
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When Stephen came of age, his parents arranged that he marry the daughter of the Bulgarian King Smilatz, and the young couple were given the land of Zeta, where they sett led until such a time as Stephen would be called to succeed his father to the throne. Meanwhile, King Milutin had remarried, and his second wife, Simonide, plotted in order that their son Constantine inherit the throne. She convinced Milutin that Stephen wanted to seize the throne prematurely, and the deceived Milutin ordered that his son be captured, that he be blinded to ensure that he never again entertain such treachery, and that he be sent as a prisoner to Constantinople.
The prince was taken together with his children, Dusan and Dusica, and when they were passing through Ovcepole (Sheep’s Field), the guards took red hot pokers and blinded him. That night St. Nicholas appeared to Stephen in a dream: “Be not afraid,” he said, “your eyes are in my hands.” Comforted not a little by this vision, the sightless Stephen arrived in Constantinople. The Emperor Andronicus pitied the young exile, and received him graciously. He was soon settled in the monastery of Pantocrator, where he impressed the monks by his meekness and his longsuffering acceptance of the bitter trial that had come to him through his own father.
Five years passed. King Milutin was growing old. Hearing good reports about his son, his heart softened, and he called Stephen home to Serbia. Before leaving Constantinople, Stephen had a dream in wh ich St. Nicholas appeared to hi m a second time, holding in his hand a pair of eyes. When he awoke, his sight was restored.
Grateful to the Lord for these victories, King Stephen set about with Archbishop Daniel, Nikodim,s successor, to find a place to build a church. They settled upon a place called Decani, and there, in 1327, King Stephen himself laid the cornerstone for what was to become one of the most magnificent and enduring specimens of Serbian church architecture. Inside it was graced by splendid icons, to which more were added in the sixteenth century by the hand of the celebrated Slav iconographer, Longinos.
King Stephen gave generously to the needy. He also made liberal donations to churches and monasteries on the Holy Mountain, in Jerusalem, Alexandria, and to the monastery of Pantocrator in Constantinople. Nor did he forget his debt to the wonderworker Nicholas: he commissioned a silver altar and sent it together with some icons to the church in Bari, Italy, where the Saint’s holy relics are located.
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Father Milovan, one more thing that I would like to mention is that after first learning about this story, I googled Bari, Italy to read more about St. Nicholas and to see the church where his relics lay. I did find a picture on the site of the only silver altar there but sadly, it is described incorrectly as being from the 17th century instead of the 14th. And, does not acknowledge that it is a gift of thanks to St. Nicholas, along with the 14th century Serbian Icons on the web site, from St. Stephan. It would be nice to see this corrected and St. Stephan gifts acknowledged. Perhaps the church can help correct this……..
Christ is Risen!
Fr. Milovan:
I want to thank you for your blog and for your comments, especially concerning the online rumors, etc. I just returned from living in Kosovo-Metohija for the past year and have had my comments twisted and changed for the sake of rumor and political advantage. I agree it is of the utmost importance that we let the Holy Spirit guide and instruct the church and our Bishops. I would love to speak with you sometime.
Grace and Peace to you from our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ!
Fr. Michael W
Mesa, AZ