THE OLD CHURCH IN BAŠČARŠIJA CELEBRATED ARCHANGEL MICHAEL

SARAJEVO, NOVEMBER 21 /SRNA/ – The Old Orthodox Church in Baščaršija, Sarajevo, has celebrated its patron saint day – Aranđelovdan/Archangel Michael today, in the presence of a large number of believers.

The liturgy in the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel was served by the church elder, archipriest Velimir Divljanović, together with several priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He thanked the faithful who attended the liturgy, especially the patron saint day host Dragiša Tešić, who came from Munich but is originally from this area. "They have shown great love, not only toward our church, but toward the Lord, a love that comes from their strong faith", said Father Divljanović. Tešić said this was a special honour for him and his family because this church represents the history of the Serb people in Sarajevo. "I used to come here as a child with my grandparents. Now I am here again, in my Sarajevo, in the Old Church", said Tešić, who moved to Munich 37 years ago. Priest Vladislav Topalović emphasized in his sermon that every church is filled with bodiless heavenly powers, perceived by those who have spiritual vision. He stated that the spiritual reality is even more real than the material one, and that people are spiritually related to angels through spirit and soul, and through the body to the created world. "By celebrating our protectors, the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, and all the bodiless powers, we bear witness to the faith of generations before us and feel that we are not alone. We, as a community gathered around this wonderful and beautiful church, have always felt that we are in a special way under the protection of the bodiless powers", Father Topalović said. He wished the believers that the Lord may protect them and guide them to choose good every day. "We live in a changing world, which is why we need the support of the heavenly warriors whom we praise today, sing about, and call upon to embrace us with their grace, mercy, and love", Father Topalović said. Russia’s Ambassador to BiH, Igor Kalabukhov, who attended the liturgy, said he first visited this church almost 30 years ago and that each visit brings special emotions. "The Old Church is the great heart of this city, and it is very important that young people come here and learn about the history of the Serb people in Sarajevo. I wish the faithful health and prosperity", Kalabukhov added. After the liturgy, communion, and the breaking of the patron saint day bread, certificates of appreciation were presented to individuals who have helped the church in various ways. The Old Orthodox Church in Baščaršija is the oldest sacred building in Sarajevo and the surrounding area. It is the richest and most important cultural-historical monument of great significance to the general cultural heritage. The church’s founder is unknown, but tradition attributes it to Andrijaš, the brother of Prince Marko. The first preserved document mentioning the church is from 1539, though it is believed to have been built on the foundations of an even older church. It features the style of medieval Serb-Byzantine architecture. The Old Church houses the hand of Saint Thecla, fragments of the relics of Saint Panteleimon, Saint Macrina, and Saint Jacob the Persian, and in the women’s section of the church there is a small child’s casket containing additional relics.