The Feast of Saint Sava Solemnly Celebrated at Hilandar

The brethren of the Holy Imperial Serbian Lavra of Hilandar on Mount Athos solemnly and prayerfully celebrated the feast of the founder of the Hilandar Monastery, Saint Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop.

The festive vigil and the Divine Liturgy were presided over by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Christophoros, the Abbot of the Athonite monastery of Gregoriou.

The monks from the monastery of Gregoriou, who sang at the right choir stand, enhanced the beauty of the service, as did the Hilandar monks and the chanters of the ‘Saint Simeon the Myrrh‑flowing’ choir, who sang at the left choir stand.

The Hilandar and Gregoriou Monasteries jointly celebrate their founders’ feasts. The late Archimandrite Georgios (Kapsanis), the Abbot of Gregoriou, established this practice and fostered a brotherly relationship with the Hilandar brethren.

Monks from several Athonite communities, as well as numerous pilgrims from Serbia and other parts of the world, attended the monastery’s panegyris.

At the end of the Liturgy, the clergy blessed the koliva depicting Saint Sava, then served a festive meal to all present in the Hilandar refectory.

Photo: monk Milutin Hilandarac