Dear Parishioners and those hold slava,
The whole world, and us with it, find ourselves in the grip of the coronavirus which brings with it unpredictable dilemas in the normal functioning of our parish life.
We celebrated Easter (for the first time in our livs) in our homes (the smallest of Christ's Churches) and those who celebrate the feast of Holy Martyr St George will have to do so without the blessing of the kolač (bread cake) and žito which I would traditionally undertake as your parish priest. According to the UK law on the coronavirus, as well as our Bishop Dositej's decree that we strictly adhere to the law, I am are regrettably unable to bless your slavski kolač this year.
So I would ask that you follow the guidance below:
At your home (the smallest of Christ's Churches) light the censer in front of your slava icon, a candle, with a briquette of incense and cense your slava icon (St. George) and your whole home.
Read out the following prayers (if you have prayer book) or recite:
Sveti Bože, sveti Krepki, sveti Besmrtni, smiluj se na nas ! (three times)
Slava Ocu i Sinu i Svetome Duhu, sada i uvek i u sve vekove. Amin.
Presveta Trojice smiluj se na nas, Gospode očisti naše grehe, Vladiko oprosti bezakonja naša, sveti poseti i isceli nemoći naše, imena tvoga radi.
Gospode smiluj se. (three times)
Slava Ocu i Sinu i Svetome Duhu, sada i uvek i u sve vekove. Amin.
Say the Lord's Prayer: “OČE NAŠ ... “ !
Recite the Troparion of St George the Holy Martyr:
“Jako pljenih svoboditelj i niščih zaščititelj. Nemostvujuščih vrač, carej poborniče, pobjedonosče, velikomučeniče Georgije. Moli Hrista Boga, spasitsja dušam našim” !
Hold up the slavski kolač (bread) towards the slava icon and recite:
“Gospode Bože, prinosimo Ti ovaj slavski kolač u slavu i čast svetog Velikomučenika Georgija; njegovim molitvama primi Premilostivi, ovu žrtvu u svoj nadnebesni žrtvenik” !
Turn the slava kolač (bread) with your household full circle three times, then (from the base) cut the sign of the cross into the bread, pouring over wine then break the kolač in half. Kiss the slavski kolač with other membrs of your household with the greeting:
“Hristos je među nama + I jeste i biće ! (three times)
Again with the same wine with which you blessed the bread, pour the sign of the cross onto the žito.
Giving thanks to your patron St George, serve the Slava žito and kolač.
If you need a candle for slava or anything else, please contact me in Bedford (on the official telephone and e-mail) and for Corby, any of the members of our parish board: Radovan Vuckovic, Aleksandar Bastajic and Predrag Subic.
We regret this emergency pandemic, which leaves us all at a (spiritual and economic) loss.
I wish all of you who observe your baptismal slava Djurdjevdan spiritual and physical health and joy as you celebrate in your home (the smallest of Christ's Churches).
Please remember that St George's Day is on a Wednesday this year which means it is posno (fasting meals only).
Your parish priest,
Proto Radmilo and the Board