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On the day of Slava

Let the host put on nice and clean clothing, light the cresset in front of Slavas icon, and withother member(s) of the family go to the church in order to attend morning prayers or the HolyLiturgy.1) If you are going to bring Slavas cake to be cut in the church, then a day before that youshould find out when exactly will cutting of Slavas cakes be performed (usually during earlymorning). On the day of Slava, host will take to the church Slava cake and koljivo (wheat)wrapped in a clean white handkerchief, a little red wine in a bottle and a small candle, which willbe put in koljivo (wheat) and will be lit while the act is being performed. If possible, host shouldbring the cake in the church, and if he cannot then another family member should do it! Bringwith you a paper which will contain the names of all family members, so a priest can mentionthem during the prayer.Parents who carry the cake to the church, need to bring their (older) children to the church inorder to partake in this act of prayer, so their young hearts have a better memory (andunderstanding) of such beautiful days and our glorious customs.Usually, when the priest completes Matins (morning prayers), he spreads the smoke comingfrom the censer on Slavas koljivo (wheat), cake and wine, while singing the hymn to the Saint,and will then read the prayer in front of the koljivo and bless it.

In this prayer a priest prays that theLord God blesses all the gifts, whichare stored in honour of the Saint; tomultiply gifts both at home thatcelebrates that day and in the wholeworld; to cleanse from sins andsanctify those who were preparing forSlava; as well as those who will berejoicing by eating that food; and blessthose who prepared koljivo (wheat)and brought it for the blessing - inhonour and memory of the Saintcelebrated on that day - so all therequests and wishes about a betterlife on earth and heaven are fulfilled.

Then a priest blesses the wine and Slavas cake, asking God to accept this sacrifice in memoryof the Saint being celebrated on that day.

Then the cake is cut at the bottom in the shape of a cross, poured with wine and then the hostand priest both hold the cake continuously turning it in a circular movement by singing thesethree songs.

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I - In the first song, we praise Saints and martyr who are our prayors before our God andteachers of faith and moral purity:"Holy martyrs, who have greatly suffered, pray to the Lord for the forgiveness of our souls." II - In another song Christ is celebrated, Who is the praise of the apostles and the joy of themartyrs:"Glory to Thy, O God, the praise of Apostles, the joy of the martyrs, You are the Holy Trinityundivided.III - The third song is about the coming of the Son of God in the human body - by birth. "Isaiah rejoice, Virgin is blessed and bore a son Emmanuel, a God and a man; East is his name,by magnifying Him we glorify the Virgin Mary. Then Slavas cake is broken in half (by a priest and a host), and then joined again. After kissingthe cake a priest says: "Christ Among Us." A host also kisses the cake and answers: He is andwill be.This is done three times. Then the host receives the cake from the priest, takes koljivo (wheat)

and brings it home, then puts them on the table or in front of an icon. Then candle needs to be lit, the spread the smoke (coming from the incense) the icon, candles,the people in the house and the rooms, and then collectively pray to Lord and your patron Saint,as you have done on the eve of the Slava.After the prayer, family members congratulate the host for celebrating Slava and congratulateeach other by (shaking their right hand) kissing them (three times) on the cheek.

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2) If the cake is cut in the house, host along with another family member (once they return fromthe church after morning prayer or Holy Liturgy) wait for the arrival of a priest, who (if invited)comes to the house to cut the Slavas cake.Table with Slavas candle needs to be set in front of the icon as mentioned above; candle

should be located towards the closer end of the table, koljivo (wheat) on the right side of thetable, glass or a bottle of red wine alongside the cake, knife, incense and the paper listing thename of the all family members needed (which will be mentioned during the prayer) should be inthe centre of the table. Cresset in front of the icon should be lit in the morning.When a priest arrives to hosts home, while entering he greets the members of the house withthe Gospel words: "Peace to this house and those who live in it." To this, the host responds:"Amen. God grant us! "Once all the householdmembers gather around andthe candle is lit, a priestreceives an ember for thecenser, then he puts incenseinto the censer and spreadsthe smoke in the house.

The purpose of incense is bestexpressed in this church song:"Let my prayer be lifted up asincense before Thee, O Lord!"(Psalm 141:2).

Next, a priest reads the prayerfor the blessing of koljivo(wheat), cake and wine.Then in front of the icon of the Slava, priest raises the cake, as our sacrifice for the glory of Godand honor of the Saint whom we celebrate on that day; Then he cuts the cake and wine poured across it; and with the host moves the cake in thecircular motion while singing three songs:I "Holy martyrs ..."II "Glory to Thy, O God ..."III "Isaiah rejoicing ..."The whole church ceremony is much more glorious and closer to the heart when the wholefamily sings these songs with the priest, which is why they should learn them as well. Once all three songs are sung, the priest breaks the Slava cake with the host, or those whoreplace him, and then all members of the family approach and kiss the cake. During that eventpriest says to them: "Christ be among us!" and we respond: "He is, and shall be!"

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Household members should learn those words. Next, the priest continues with a prayer in whichhe mentions the household members whose names are written on the piece of a paper locatedon the table.At the end of the ceremony all those present kiss the cross, as during the blessingof the water. Then comes congratulation.All that is necessary for this ceremony should be ready before its beginning; when this

ceremony begins, the whole family should be present, so they can peacefully and piouslyparticipate together with a priest and pray to the Lord. Because a priest does not come as aperson who simply does his job - he comes for the prayer and the spiritual guidance of thefamily. That is why; all those present should behave as in the Lords House, pay attention to theceremony and partake in it by praying and crossing themselves during the mentioning of Godsname. During that time we pray to God for the health and betterment for all of us, while duringthe blessing of koljivo (wheat) we also remember our dearest ones who have passed away, andfor that reason - we need to piously pray to God, sincerely and wholeheartedly.Serbs are proud of their Slava and try to worthily celebrate it during freedom and slavery, in theirhomeland and away. Such religious customs and ceremonies develop in our children religiousand national feelings. Children look forward to such festivities, and it is the duty of parents to

bring as much joy to the children as possible, so they would remember us and their childhood ina positive light.It is not necessary to point out that everything should be clean and organized:the house and its members. Suit worn by the host and his family does not need to be new nordecorated, but must be clean.

But above all, this particular note, their heart should be pure, their conscience clean andpeaceful, and on that day they should help their poor neighbors regardless how small the gift ordonation: food, money, clothing or footwear. If possible their children should bring that donation,so in their youth they can understand their Christian duty. The joy of those whom they help willalso bring joy to the children, so they can celebrate their Slava with more joy and satisfaction;thankfulness from those who were helped will be heard by the Almighty God, Who will bless thehome of those who perform such good deeds and bring them twofold in the glory of God and thepatron Saint.

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Only such a celebration Slava is pleasing to God and to the patron Saint, so we shouldcelebrate in such a manner!If you can and God has provided you withsuch a possibility, you can prepare alunch for your cousins, friends and

neighbours. However, that lunch andfestivity should be in accordance to theappropriate manner during the celebrationof Slava and not to turn into disgrace andblasphemy of Slava and our name.

During lunch, if it is being prepared for theguests as well, usually people cheers toeach other, although this is not commoneverywhere. But where this takes place,the host should moderate always havingin mind that this is not any festivity but -

Serbian Slava the day which should bededicated to the memory of the patronSaint. Our ancestors have set the limit bythe following words:"If you often drink to the health of others,you will lose yours!"

Note: Slava does not consist of eatingand drinking, but of a good Christianlife, the thoughts of God, in memoryand emulating the lives of Saints andperforming good deeds and in this

respect and we do everything we can!

So, if you do not have opportunities to celebrate Slava by preparing meals, do not borrow forthat purpose, nor for the love of being praised by the guests but celebrate Slava, celebrate thememory of the patron Saint simply by abiding the religious segment of this feast, which in fact isthe true way of celebrating Slava by prayer and a pure heart:...Celebration of Slava is deeply rooted amongst the Serbian people. No other nation celebratesthis many saints as Serbs. A deep sense of Slava lies in the highest ideal of our people - theideal of a holy man, and that is:a man free from the earthly kingdom,a man pure of injustice and vanity,a man filled with love for God and people,man fearless of death;simply said: a soulful man!Once we starts taking such Saints as ideal examples of how one should live, then humanity willbecome happy. Hence, our people are always the bearer of an advanced and saving ideal,Evangelic ideal, which in the end the whole human race will have to accept and adopt if theywant salvation.