Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria

Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria

The music, food, and dancing of these countries are not as well-known as the Greek. 

Home Activities:

  • Review the stories of the great saints of these churches – Sts. Sava, Lazar, and Zlata.  Your child should have heard these stories in Church School. 
  • Color the icons for your icon corner
  • We have several Romanian and Serbian families in our own parish who could share their culture with your children.
  • Find the countries on a map of Europe.

Prayer: Lord, bring peace in this region and to Your people there.

 

Serbian Macaroni

Try this in place of macaroni and cheese:

2 pounds ground beef browned with 1 medium chopped onion. Then add 1/3 cup parsley flakes, salt and pepper, and 2 tablespoons butter. Stir and add 2 small cans tomato sauce, 1 small can tomato paste, along with each of the cans filled again with water. Add ½ tsp garlic powder, 1tsp. cinnamon, and 1/3 cup sugar. Simmer 30 minutes and serve over macaroni.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

ST. SAVA OF SERBIA

                St. Sava was the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but he was also a humble monk. The following story tells of his wisdom and humility:

One day, as the devil was walking down a steep mountain path, he saw the good and

gentle St. Sava, a priest of Serbia, coming up the path. St. Sava greeted the devil warmly and asked him what he would like best to do. The devil answered, “I would like to grow vegetables, if you would help me.”

So St. Sava and the devil became partners. They decided to grow onions. Soon there

were beautiful green shoots coming up all over the field. Since they were partners, St. Sava asked the devil which half he would prefer.  The devil answered, “I’ll take the half above ground and you can have the part under the ground.” St. Sava agreed. Soon the onions were ripe. Above ground were dried up stalks, but underground were beautiful red onions!

The devil was furious. Next they grew cabbages. The devil insisted on having the part under the ground this time. St. Sava again agreed. Soon the cabbages were grown. St. Sava cut the beautiful heads above ground; all that was left was the brown roots underground for the devil.

Now the devil was even angrier. They decided to grow potatoes. The devil asked for the part above the ground. And, again, the devil got worthless leaves, while St. Sava had a crop of beautiful underground potatoes.

                 Next they decided to grow wheat. The devil chose the underground part, and Sava was happy to get the beautiful yellow stalks of wheat. The devil was left with worthless stubble.The devil was in a terrible rage. St. Sava crossed himself and the devil vanished from sight, never to return to match wits with such a good and godly priest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zlata lived in the village of Slatina in the country of Bulgaria. She was very poor, but loved Jesus with her whole heart. She was also beautiful and kind. All the village loved Zlata.

In those days, the Moslem Turks ruled Bulgaria. They hated all Christians. One day, a Turk saw Zlata as she was gathering firewood for her family. He decided he wanted her for his wife and captured her. He took her to his home. There he decided she must first become a Moslem before he could marry her. But Zlata would not deny Jesus Christ her Lord.

The Turk promised Zlata riches and slaves to do her work for her. But, she would not deny Christ. Then the Turk threatened her with terrible tortures, but she told him she was not afraid to suffer for Jesus. Then he had her live for six months with his Turkish women; they tried to trick her into denying Jesus and even tried magic. But nothing would get Zlata to deny Jesus. The Turk then went to her family and told them they would all be killed if she did not become a Moslem. They tried to get Zlata to at least pretend to be a Moslem, but she told them that she would not lie to God.

                The evil Turk was beaten. He tortured Zlata, but all she did was pray. The Turk was furious. He hung her in a tree and cut her into pieces. So St. Zlata became a martyr and went home to heaven with her beloved Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GEORGI IS FROM BULGARIA