The Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, adopted the legislative draft for the establishment of Saint Sava Day as a holiday of the Serbian minority in Romania to be celebrated on January 27 every year.
All 246 deputies present voted in favour.
Saint Sava Nemanja was the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the founder of Serbian schools, statehood, and diplomacy.
‘Saint Sava is the historic, religious personality having the highest esteem and honour among the Serb minority in Romania and Serbs all over the world,’ the initiator of the bill, Deputy Adnagi Slavoliub, said.
The deputy of Serbian origin stressed that the establishment of St Sava’s Day will contribute ‘to the promotion of cultural diversity and good co-existence, as well as the development of partnerships with the Republic of Serbia, but also to underscoring the contribution of this minority to the cultural life of Romania.’
‘Although Serbs’ history and culture are rich with heroes and saints, Saint Sava is considered the most important among them. He gave the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people a vital spirit and force that are so necessary to overcome the hardships throughout history,’ Slavoliub added.
The events that will be organized to mark St Sava’s Day aim to promote the image of Romania to the world and to highlight historic traditions.
Saint Sava was declared a Patron Saint of schools and students by Prince Milos Obrenovic.
Today, many schools in Serbia are named after this great Saint.
A diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church is functioning on the territory of Romania, namely the Diocese of Timisoara. The diocese is led by His Grace Bishop Lukijan Pantelić.
Photography: vidovdan.org
