Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery and Seminary facts for kids
The Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery and School of Theology is a special place in Libertyville, Illinois. It is a monastery, which is a home for monks, and also a school. This school teaches people to become leaders in the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada. The school and monastery are located together.
The school has a large library with 8,000 books.
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Contents
History of Saint Sava Monastery
The Saint Sava Monastery was started in 1923. A bishop named Saint Mardarije founded it. He wanted it to be a school for the Serbian Orthodox Church.
A Place of Safety During World War II
In 1939, Dionisije Milivojević became the bishop for the American-Canadian area. During World War II, many Orthodox Serbs found safety at the Libertyville monastery. It became a refuge for them in America.
A Church Split and Its Resolution
Later, in 1964, there was a disagreement within the church. The head of the Serbian Church, Serbian Patriarch German, removed Bishop Dionisije Milivojević from his church position. This caused a split between the Serbian Church and its branches in North America.
Because of this, two separate Serbian Orthodox churches formed in North America. One was the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada, located in Libertyville. The other was the Diocese of New Gracanica – Midwestern America in nearby Third Lake.
The Illinois Supreme Court first said that this split went against the rules of the main church. They ordered that Bishop Dionisije should be recognized as the leader of the entire American-Canadian area. However, in 1976, the United States Supreme Court made a different decision. They ruled that the Illinois court's decision went against important parts of the United States Constitution, like the First Amendment. This amendment protects religious freedom.
The Last Yugoslav King's Resting Place
Peter II of Yugoslavia was the last king of Yugoslavia. After he was exiled by Josip Broz Tito, he lived at the monastery for a time. King Peter II passed away at the church in 1970. He had wished to be buried there. More than 10,000 people came to his funeral. His remains stayed at the monastery until 2013. In that year, his body was returned to Serbia.
Other Features of the Monastery
The monastery property also includes a cemetery. The Saint Sava Monastery is recognized as an important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
- Serbs in USA
- Serbs in Canada
- Serbs in South America
- St. Pachomious Monastery
- New Gračanica Monastery
- Monastery of St. Paisius, Safford
- St. Xenia Serbian Orthodox Skete
- St. Archangel Michael Skete
- Saint Petka Serbian Orthodox Church
- St. Nilus Island Skete
- Trinity Chapel Complex better known as Saint Sava Cathedral in Manhattan, New York
