On Sunday, November 10, 2024, the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral parish in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following the Holy and Divine Liturgy, honored Drs. Nenad and Milena Janicijevic for their incredible work during the 1990’s, when Serbia suffered so much from the bombing, and how Dr. Nenad led the way for medical and other humanitarian relief.

A wonderful icon of the Holy Unmercenary Healers, Sts. Cosmos and Damian, was presented to the Janicijevic family by Presbyter Nebojsa Varagic, together with a beautifully framed Grammata, a Hierarchical Letter of Exceptional Recognition, was presented on behalf of His Grace, Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America.  In like manner, a commemorative plaque for the church honoring Drs. Janicijevic, was also presented so that all generations will remember their great deeds.

According to Pittsburgh’s well-known educator, Milana Karlo Bizic, affectionatel;ly known as ‘Baba Mim’: “they had to feel like the richest people on earth today.  Not for all the beautiful accolades they were given today, but for this scene I witnessed that warmed my heart”.

When it was time for Holy Communion, their granddaughter, little Vera Janicijevic, according to ‘Baba Mim’, “scrambled to get out of her Baba’s warm embrace. Once her feet touched the floor of her church pew, she immediately crossed her hands to her chest and wiggled her way to the line-up of communicants. Patiently, she awaited her turn.” Milana continues by noting, how she watched as she loved received Holy Communion, from Fr. Nebojsa and then, “so happy, she skipped on her way back!” She aptly concludes that this is the essence of pure joy! “My heart!  My heart!  They have a beautiful family!”.

If one were to put a numeric value to vast amount of humanitarian and medical aid delivered through Dr. Nenad, in partnership with Mylan Labs and the late, +Milan Puskar, it would approximate $165 million dollars.

At the reception which followed the Divine Liturgy, Dr Nenad spoke of having 84 Lumber Co. CEO Joe Hardy for a patient. At the time, Dr. Nenad not knowing who he was, noticed that Joe paid his medical bill with a check. No insurance. On his 3rd visit, he apprised the billing department to give Joe Hardy a 20% discount, as he probably doesn’t have much money. Joe laughed at Dr. Nenad’s sincerity and good heart.  They became great friends.  Hardy’s birthday was January 7^th and, following Christmas Liturgy, the Janicijevic’s celebrated Joe’s birthday with him, especially for his 100th birthday. 

Joe’s daughter was also a patient of Dr. Nenad’s. She wanted to thank him for the great care she and her father received at his hands. Dr. Nenad told her the church was having a hard time with their “Raise the Roof Project.”  She wrote out a check for $120,000.00, which he announced that day, to finish the project!  “Angels are everywhere!  What a great day this was!  What a surprise ending this was”, exclaimed Mim Bizic.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/mim.bizic/