Lazardan

Jun 28, one of the most holy and patriotic day in Serbia. To those who don't know how Prince Lazar became a saint, I'll be glad to tell.

Lazar is said to have been visited the night before battle by a grey hawk or falcon from Jerusalem who offered a choice between an earthly kingdom—implying victory at the Battle of Kosovo—or a heavenly kingdom—which would come as the result of a peaceful capitulation or bloody defeat. "...the Prophet Elijah then appeared as a gray falcon to Lazar, bearing a letter from the Mother of God that told him the choice was between holding an earthly kingdom and entering the kingdom of heaven..."

Of course, Prince Lazar opted for the heavenly kingdom, "We die with Christ, to live forever”, he told his soldiers. That Kosovo's declaration and testament is regarded as a covenant which the Serb people made with God and sealed with the blood of martyrs. Since then all Serbs faithful to that Testament regard themselves as the people of God, Christ's New Testament nation, heavenly Serbia, part of God's New Israel. This is why Serbs sometimes refer to themselves as the people of Heaven.

In Kosovo alone, the blood of the Serb soldiers still remains and through the recovered relics of Prince Lazar has miracles, he was canonized by the Srpska Pravoslavna Crkva and his feast day falls on June 28(June 15 on the Old Calendar). His headless incorrupt body are inside Manastir Ravanica.

Ever since my conversion in 2015 and starting to celebrate Lazardan by 2016, I feel God is near me, protecting me from every attacks of the devil and brings me more closer to God and his church. I feel more strong emotionally and it's my strength. God is with us, never forget him and the saints that fought for an heavenly kingdom than an earthly kingdom like Saint Prince Lazar.

Danas Vidovdan

I will always remember this date. Vidovdan. It is not just the political celebration of the but also the Slava of St. Vitus as well and the memorial day of Saint Prince Lazar and his soldiers during their sacrificial battle at Kosovo.

Many events that occured coincidentally from the sacrifice at Kosovo to the Montenegrin independence happend all throughout history. If I would be asked why in the future, i would celebrate Vidovdan, one thing is what i would amswer. The feast day of Saint Prince Lazar according to the Srpska Pravoslavna Crkva, marked this day if the Julian Calendar would be used but if i prefer June 15, i may as well.

I may ask my Srpski prijatelji more when i get there to properly celebrate Vidovdan in honor of my future patron saint. Despite my turbulent week and emotional distress, i pray continually to God for Saint prince Lazar's intercession and to give me strength throught the many challenges that will unfold in my life. If there would be a one time i may visit Srbija, i hoped it will be Vidovdan week and go on a pilgrimage that will make me a strong person by heart. By all means, Vidovdan is not just a political but more on religious celebration as well. We have options but i will prefer the religious one.

May this day as a whole be a source of strength to the Serbian people and to those who looked upon their medieval heroics and spiritual strength all through out the years.