St. Sava Camp’s 2025 season continued in high spirits with the ever-popular Tambura Week - the fourth and final week of Camp, August 3-9, filling the Shadeland grounds with the lively sounds of music, dancing, and laughter. Campers spent the week learning traditional Serbian dances and songs, immersing themselves in the rich heritage of their faith and culture. This year’s music and dance were led by dance instructor Mia Cirkic and musical instructor Stana Topich, who inspired campers with their energy and passion. Week four priest, Fr. Aco Vlajkovic, Fr. Nektarije Tesanovic and Fr. Mark Resanovich, inspired the mostly teenaged campers each day in religion.
The success of St. Sava Camp is made possible by the dedication of many. We extend heartfelt thanks to His Grace Bishop Irinej for his guidance and wisdom in supporting the camp, ensuring that the youth of our diocese have a beautiful and safe place to gather each summer. Special appreciation is also given to the Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters of the Eastern American Diocese - Kolo Savez for running the day-to-day operations and to the dedicated trio—Millie Radovick, Dee Dee Baskot, and Maca Topich—who work tirelessly to ensure that every detail of camp is taken care of.
Our campers thrived under the leadership of an outstanding team of counselors: Nessa Wright, Maria Janiga, Sara Topich, Jelena Dragovich, Anastasija Vukalo, Dara Barach, Ana Winowich, Jovan Bajich, Petar Rabljenovic, Luke Malich, Philip Malich, Michael Trklja, Anastasija Kosic, Teodora Kosic, Mirjana Karanovic, Marko Jekic, Luke Torbic, Maja Jekic, and Natalija Gligorevic. Led by Head Counselor Stana Topich, these young adults worked tirelessly to create fun and meaningful experiences for campers every single day.
Safety at the lake and pool was ensured by lifeguards Jelena Dragovich, Milana Winowich, and Daniel Hawkins, whose watchful care kept water activities enjoyable and worry-free.
Behind the scenes, a devoted group of women—Maria Stone, Amanda Formato, Ali Bilak, and Lori Bajich—arrived at Shadeland before the season began, dedicating their weekend to cleaning, painting, and preparing the camp for four weeks of fellowship and joy. Their work, though often unseen, laid the foundation for a successful and vibrant camp season.
The End of Camp Celebration and Patronal Feast of the Shadeland Estate - The Venerable Mother Angelina of Krushedol, was truly the highlight of the entire Camp Season. The Day began with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy by His Grace Bishop Irinej and concelebrated by many clergy of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Deaneries. In his homily, the Bishop spoke to the campers about their need to find faith in today’s challenging world by always maintaining integrity and dignity throughout their lives, as they are truly summoned to be “light of the world” (cf. Matt. 5:14-16) for all of us - their families, schools and communities. This is to be accomplished by being authentic and walking with Christ and the saints, such that they will never be alone in their sojourn.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the campers and counselors and faithful joined in the celebration of the Patronal Feast - Slava, honoring the Venerable Mother Angelina of Krushedol.
Following a wonderful picnic style luncheon, everyone moved with great anticipation to the pavilion for the grand event - the performance of the Tamburitzans and other musicians, singing and folkloric dancing, which was preceded by the singing of the National Anthems of the United States, Canada and Serbia. Speeches of gratitude were presented before a highly charged and emotional group of campers, counselors, family and friends by Camp Directors, Fr Vedran Grabic and Fr Bisko Stojanovic, as well as Kolo Savez President, Mrs Millie Radovick, and others concluding with the final word of appreciation by Bishop Irinej. Appropriately, the program which can be watched (here) in its entirety, ended with the singing of Uskliknimo s’ljubavlju (Let us Sing with Love) - the hymn to Saint Sava, Patron Saint of our Shadeland Camp.
Tambura Week once again highlighted the special spirit of St. Sava Camp—a place where music, faith, culture, and community come together to create lifelong memories for our youth.
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