The Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church marked a true milestone in the continuing history of the Circle – the 150^th Anniversary of the birth of Nadezda Petrovic. Born in the night between 11-12 October 1873, Nadezda is remembered as the one who conceived of the formation of the Circle of Serbian Sisters in June 1903. As such, the Circle was formally founded on August 28, 1903, in Belgrade.

Gathering on the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the St. Sava Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio, despite an overcast and rainy day, a truly resplendent Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America. Numerous clergy from throughout the Diocese joined in the concelebration. It was especially pleasing to see six of the deacons in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Deaneries assisting at the Holy Liturgy. The Njegos Choir of the St. Sava Cathedral splendidly rendered the responses to the sacred service, uplifting the many who were prayerfully present.

In his homily, presented in both Serbian and English, Bishop Irinej, visibly moved, spoke about the event of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, which occurred in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople on October 1/14, 911. He expounded on the testimonies of St. Epiphanius who spoke of how she appeared holding her omophorion surrounded by a brilliant light over the worshippers, while the Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ, recalled the tears which the Theotokos shed at the time of her Protection. His Grace inspired by a teaching of Sergei Bulgakov, who spoke of the continued tears of the Mother of God, shed for the world and its redemption, comparing them to the rain gifted to us on this day.

The Bishop addressing in particular the chanters and choir singers, spoke of how today was also their great patronal feast, as the Church commemorates this day its hymnographers, composers and singers, who have honored the Theotokos in their hymns. Numbered among them are St. Romanos the Melodist, who composed 1,000kontakia, most notably the Christmas kontakion, “Today the Virgin gives birth”; the Venerable John Koukouzelis, known for introducing the use of a melodic line accompanied by an ison; and his student, the Venerable Gregory Domesticus of the Great Lavra, who is remembered for innovating the Irmos, “All of Creation rejoices in you, Theotokos”.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace ordained Reader Njegos Perkovic, Diocesan Archivist, to the order of the Diaconate. The gathered faithful, joined by his extended family that came from Ontario and Wisconsin to participate in the joyful ordination, exuberantly responded to the vesting and presentation of the new Deacon with acclamations of Axios, Dostojan, Worthy!

Following the sacred services, the St. Petka Circle of Serbian Sisters prepared and offered a most delectable and bounteous festive table at the ensuing agape meal. During the banquet those gathered were addressed by Mr. Alex Machaskee, initiator of the Serbian Cultural Garden in Cleveland’s unique and magnificent Rockefeller Park. His remarks were followed by Mrs. Millie Radovick, President of the Federation of the Circles of Serbian Sisters. At the conclusion, His Grace addressed the festal gathering on the life of Nadezda Petrovic as an influential artist and great humanitarian.

Transitioning from the St. Sava Cathedral to the Serbian Cultural Garden at Rockefeller Park, our Lord truly smiled upon all, permitting the rains to subside just enough to be able to offer a Memorial Service for the repose of the noble soul of Nadezda Petrovic, before a bronze bust of her, which is prominently featured at the Garden. Though the bust was shielded from the rain, a tear was observed coming from her left eye. After additional remarks were offered in her memory, koljivo and a light repast were served to those present.

In the words of Professor Dragana Crnjak, slated speaker for the day: “Nadezda Petrovic’s artistic legacy is even more remarkable when understood in the full context of the turbulent times she lived in.  While shaped by her education in Munich and influenced by travels to Italy and France, her paintings were driven by strong national identity and her patriotic love for Serbia.

“Expressive and bold, the artworks simultaneously reflect intense visual dedication to the observed subject along innovative and free explorations of color and surface qualities.  It is this dichotomy that charged her paintings with authentic voice and pulsing energy a viewer can sense even today after more than a century of their creation. Nadezda’s famous painting Kosovski Bozuri, painted in 1913 during her stay in Kosovo and Metohija as a volunteering war nurse, is a strong example of her genuine talent powerfully fueled by deep love for Serbian identity and history.  The saturated and warm color palette, enhanced with gestural and layered brushstrokes move us to this day with their strong sense of urgency and warmth.”