TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ST. SAVA THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL IN LIBERTYVILLE
Lansing, IL - The St. Sava School of Theology in Libertyville, Illinois held their twentieth anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church in Lansing, Illinois. The day began with the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Serving were His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of the Midwestern Metropolitanate, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern America and His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America. Also attending was His Eminence Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago. Thirteen priests assisted the hierarchs at the liturgical celebration, seven of which are St. Sava graduates. Additionally, five deacons served, four of which are St. Sava graduates and Protodeacon Stanimir Spasovic, professor of Canon Law and History of the Serbian Church. Also in attendance were a number of clergy, graduates of this school. The student choir sang the responses at the liturgy under the direction of V. Rev. Milos Vesin professor of Serbian Chant at the theological school.
Following the Divine Liturgy a festive academia was held in the hall. The host priest, Fr. Milos Vesin, emceed the program. Greetings and congratulatory remarks were offered, among others, by His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher, the dean of the school, Bishop Dr. Mitrophan, professor of New Testament, V. Rev. Dr. Nedeljko Grgurevic, professor of liturgics and Metropolitan Iakovos. The program also included selections sung by the student choir. The keynote speaker was Protodeacon Dr. Stanimir Spasovic who, in his address, gave a detailed look at the significant work of Serbian composer Stevan St. Mokranjac, whose 150th anniversary since his birth our Serbian church is commemorating this year. Dr. Spasovic paid particular attention to his great contribution to Serbian chant.
From the inception of this school in 1986 75 students have graduated, from that number 55 are serving the Serbian Orthodox Church, 50 of whom are ordained priests or deacons and the remainder have not been ordained but are continuing their post graduate studies and are in some service to their church.