[lightman]

I may have shared this with you before, if so, please excuse the repetition:

Last October I arrived in the north Chicago suburbs early enough before the General Retreat of the Society of the Holy Trinity in order to make a side trip to St. Sava’s Serbian Orthodox Monastery and Seminary in nearby Libertyville, having seen pictures of its gorgeous chapel on line.

The chapel was open and unoccupied, and, as it was nearly Noon I decided to recite the Noon office. About half way through a Seminarian entered, so I paused, introduced myself, and asked if I might continue. “Of course”. At the conclusion of the office he kissed my right hand, “Bless you, Father.”—a blessed ecumenical prelude to renewing my Ordination vows with my STS colleagues at our opening Eucharist.

After my time in the chapel I offered the prayer “O God of spirits and all flesh...” at the grave of the heroic Serbian General.

Thanks for the ping.

Tom/lightman

[Ravnagora]

Thanks very much for sharing and describing your visit to St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Libertyville, IL, Lightman.

The following photos were recently placed online which, if you haven’t seen them yet, you might enjoy.

St. Sava Monastery is a beautiful place. There are so many beautiful Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries where you can really get a sense of the Christian faith. I pray that somehow the trend described in this posting will reverse.

Here is the link to the photos taken on September 11, 2011:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aleksandra-rebic/sets/72157627670237349/

*****