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Serb returnees in Drsnik celebrate first patronal feast of their
church - St. Paraskeva
In his address to the faithful, Father Makarije
first called on the people to return to their centuries-old homes and bring them back to life from the ruins because that
is the only way that Serbs can prove that they care about this area and that they want to stay here and live here. "The Church
has been and will be with you always to support and to help you as it has always done throughout history," said Fr. Makarije
We are restoring our holy shrines through prayer -
Liturgy in Drsnik
KIM Info Service
Drsnik, October 27, 2005
On October 27 Serb returnees to the Metohija village of Drsnik near Klina celebrated
the feast of St. Petka (St. Paraskeva), the patronal feast of their local church, for the first time after they were forced
to leave their centuries-old homes and live as refugees five years ago.
Protosingel Makarije (Ristic) of Visoki Decani Monastery served Holy Liturgy with the
concelebration of Decani monks in the presence of several hundred faithful, local residence and well-meaning persons who arrived
to the celebration of St. Petka in Drsnik from nearly enclaves in Kosovo and Metohija. Oliver Ivanovic and Randjel Nojkic,
representatives of the Serb List for Kosovo and Metohija, were also present for the service.
In his address to the faithful, Father Makarije first called on the people to return
to their centuries-old homes and bring them back to life from the ruins because that is the only way that Serbs can prove
that they care about this area and that they want to stay here and live here. "The Church has been and will be with you always
to support and to help you as it has always done throughout history," said Father Makarije.
His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, vicar of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren and
abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, visited the village of Drsnik last week, distributing assistance to the returnees and encouraging
them to persist in their determination to stay in their native village.
Faithful arrive in Drsnik by bus
The first Serb returnees came back to
Drsnik in July of this year. In the meanwhile 38 houses have been rebuilt and two more are scheduled to be completed by the
end of the year. According to plan a total of 126 houses and the local church are to be restored.
Local Serbs collected funds for the rebuilding of the parish home and took care of
the most urgent reparations on the church. The church of St. Paraskeva, which dates back to the 16th century, was completely
torched inside in June 1999 and is in need of complete renewal and restoration of the surviving frescoes. Master builder Vita,
who spent his whole life working next to the church and praying to God, is ready to resume work on the restoration of the
church as soon as funds are collected. The returnees firmly believe that when the church is restored the village itself will
come back to life.
In front of the church and restored parish home
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Our Holy Mother Petka (Paraskeva)
This glorious saint was of Serbian birth, from the town of Epibata, between Silinaurius and Constantinople.
St Petka's parents were wealthy and devout Christians, and had one son, Euthymius, who became a monk during his parents' lifetime
and later became Bishop of Madytos. After her parents' death, the maiden Petka, always desirous of the ascetic life for the
sake of Christ, left her home and went first to Constantinople and then to the Jordan wilderness, where she lived to old age
in asceticism. Who can describe all the labours, the sufferings, the temptations from demons that Petka endured for many years?
In her old age, an angel of God appeared to her and said: 'Leave the wilderness and go back to your home.' St Petka obeyed
the voice from heaven, left her beloved wilderness and returned to Epibata. She lived a further two years there, still in
ceaseless fasting and prayer, and then gave her spirit into God's hands and went to join the company of Paradise. She entered
into rest in the eleventh century. Her wonderworking relics were, in the course of time, taken to Constantinople, Trnovo,
Constantinople again and Belgrade. They are now in Romania, in the town of Jassy. St Petka's spring is to be found in Belgrade.
The waters miraculously heal all the sick who, with faith in God and love for this saint, hasten to ask her aid.
from The Prologue of Ochrid of Holy Bishop Nikolai (Velimirovich)
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For The Pope, Our Civilisation & Culture and Against Islam!
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