Holidays in Serbia - Savindan - St. Sava Day, Spirituality Day, School Day

The Serbian Orthodox Church received autocephalous status in 1219. Its first archbishop was Saint Sava (in the world - Rostilav Nemanja), who was ordained by Patriarch Manuel I of Constantinople in the presence of the king and nobles. From that moment on, Serbia was divided into 12 dioceses headed by bishops . The activities of Saint Sava contributed to the establishment of statehood and independence of the country. In honor of the founder of the church, Savindan, also known as Spirituality Day and School Day, has been celebrated in Serbia since 1840 on January 27th. Slava is an ancient South Slavic custom of celebrating a family saint. Savva Serbsky is considered the father of education and literature, the patron saint of families, craft workshops and schools. The saint is revered by Romanians, Greeks, Bulgarians and Russians. School Glory Day began to be celebrated in Montenegro in 1856, and in 1878 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sava is celebrated as the patron of education in North Macedonia and some regions of Croatia. Families with children must have an icon of the great ascetic, in front of which they pray at home. The holiday is dedicated to the death day of the Archbishop of Serbia. Saint Sava rested in the Bulgarian city of Tarnovo in 1236 on January 14, old style. The peacemaker and preacher, canonized a year after his death, is considered the creator of the new Serbian state. Thanks to his wisdom, the feuds between Sava's two older brothers were stopped, war did not break out between Bulgaria and the Nicene Empire, and a schism did not occur in the Orthodox Church. The relics of the saint, which are kept in his homeland in the Milesheva monastery, healed many believers. Therefore, on January 27, Serbia celebrates a large temple and family holiday - St. Sava's Day. In ancient times, on the eve of the celebration, it was customary to fast for seven days. On Savitsa they did not eat the meat of four-legged animals, symbolically protecting them from wolves. In this way, people tried to appease the saint, who was considered the patron saint of livestock. Folk signs are also associated with the holiday. Thus, thunder on Savindan foreshadowed the onset of important events in the country. During the celebration of Spirituality Day, divine services are held in many churches in the Balkan countries. The most important thing is held at Vračar in Belgrade, where the patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church serves the liturgy. Children do not attend schools and higher education institutions on January 27. In honor of the holiday, the Slavic kalach is consecrated in the Svyatosavvsky center and a solemn ceremony is held. At it, students are awarded certificates, and awards are given to teachers and students, as well as public figures who have made a great contribution to enlightenment and the development of education in Serbia.