Circle of Serbian Sisters

History of the Circle of Serbian Sisters

The Circle of Serbian Sisters was founded in Belgrade on the Feast of the Assumption, August 28, 1903. The founders were Mrs. Nadezhda Petrović and Mrs. Delfa Ivanović.

The Rules or Statute of the Circle of Serbian Sisters were written by writer Branislav Nušić and journalist publicist Ivan Ivanić.

This represented a new and significant advancement for the Serbian society of that time, which was more inclined toward men. The primary role of this society was in charity and volunteer assistance to those who needed help.

The humanitarian program of the Circle of Serbian Sisters in peacetime consisted of material and moral assistance to the local population, as well as organizing various charitable actions for children. The Circle of Serbian Sisters became involved in the international women’s movement for equal rights with men from its very founding.

From 1906, the members of the Circle of Sisters began publishing the illustrated calendar “Vardar” which was published in an impressive circulation of 20,000 copies at that time.

Circle of Serbian Sisters in our Parish

In our parish of St. Simeon the Myrrh-Streaming, here in Miami, there exists a group of devout women who assist the work of the parish. Their work relates to that activity which in the church is called Diakonia, or service and care for everything that accompanies the Holy Services. Sometimes this is service and hospitality after the Holy Service, and sometimes it is decorating and adorning the temple, hall, or the icons themselves with flowers. For major church holidays such as Children’s Day, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Christmas, Epiphany, Saint Sava, church Slava, Easter, Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, Pentecost, Vidovdan, Transfiguration, Elevation of the Cross and similar occasions, the members of the Circle of Sisters help the parish priest and trustees to prepare everything for the celebration. If we were to seek similarity between the work of the Circle of Sisters and some service in the Church, then it certainly finds its similarity with the service of the devout Myrrh-bearing Women in the early Church. Therefore, the work of the Circle of Sisters in our parish is of special significance because, together with the parish priest, Church Board, and trustees, it represents the foundation upon which the life and all activities of our parish are built.

Board of the Circle of Serbian Sisters

The work of the Circle of Sisters is managed by the Circle Board, which is elected at the assembly of all Circle members for a period of one year.

BOARD OF THE CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS FOR 2017

Milena Simović, President

Secretary

Vesna Topolac, Treasurer

, Accountant

What is the Circle of Serbian Sisters?

The Circle of Sisters brings together Orthodox Serbian women who voluntarily:

  • work on preserving and nurturing Serbian religious customs, advancing the church community and Serbian tradition
  • work on preparing all church manifestations
  • activities for Christmas and Easter holidays (tying the Yule log, dyeing eggs, etc.)
  • activities for the church slava and other religious holidays
  • perform other tasks according to the needs of the church community
  • work on providing assistance to all parishioners who need help
  • participate in actions to strengthen the Christian family
  • their selfless work through preparing lunches, banquets, celebrations, humanitarian actions
  • visits to the elderly and infirm, sick and all those who needed help
  • many of them regularly participate in divine services
  • care for the cleanliness and arrangement of the holy temple.

All progress of our Church community cannot be imagined without the participation of worthy parishioners. The Circle of Serbian Sisters is always ready to help every church and national action for the progress and preservation of religious life of old and young generations. In the new environment and new living conditions, Serbian women and mothers recognize the need for joint work in preserving all values through the work of the Circle of Serbian Sisters. The members are aware that their work and effort is recorded and rewarded by the One whose rewards are eternal and everlasting, and therefore they do everything without great publicity, trusting in God and the Venerable Mother Paraskeva – Saint Petka, protector and intercessor, and the Venerable Mother Eugenia – Tsarina Milica, who encourage them even when sometimes strength and will