“Endowed by God, Treasured by the People!”

TO ALL CLERGY AND MONASTICS
TO ALL CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATION EXECUTIVE BOARDS
TO ALL MISSION PARISH COUNCILS AND MONASTERY ADMINISTRATIONS
TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL AND AUDIT BOARD
TO THE FEDERATION OF THE CIRCLES OF SERBIAN SISTERS
OF THE HOLY DIOCESE OF EASTERN AMERICA

Most beloved Clergy and Faithful,

Joy and peace to you at the beginning of this New Ecclesiastical Year of the Lord’s Grace!

On the basis of a decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church No. 42/Min. 13, at its regular meeting of May 9^th, 2019, with exceedingly great paternal joy and distinct pleasure, We herein invite you to the Official Celebration of the 800^thAnniversary of the Autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the 130^thAnniversary–to the day–of the Birth of St. Mardarije of Libertyville and All America, to be held in the presence of his Holy Relics, on Friday, November 1st& Saturday, November 2^nd, 2019at the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 41 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02140, per the following schedule:

• FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1^ST:
  • 6:00 PM –  7:00 PM            Great Vespers and Blessing of new Ilitia
  • 7:00 PM –  8:00 PM            Festal Dinner
  • 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM           Film Presentation on the Life of St. Mardarije of Libertyville and All-America and Gala Program

• SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2^ND:
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM           Consecration of new Antimensia
  • 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM         Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
  • 1:00 PM –  2:00 PM            Gala Banquet
  • 2:00 PM –  4:00 PM            Celebratory Program

ATTENDANCE

All parish clergy and ordained monastics are requiredto attend, given that we will be consecrating new Antimensia for the churches and chapels of our parishes and monasteries. Kindly encourage your faithful to join us in this rare sojourn on the “Path that leads to Life” (cf. Troparion to St. Sava)by honoring Saints Sava and Mardarije in our common unity as their spiritual children.

Further, we herein request that at least one representative from each Church-School Congregational Board and Mission Parish Council be present at this official celebration.

All members of our Diocesan governing bodies and representatives of the Federation of the Circles of Serbian Sister are kindly asked to attend this once in a life time event, which will consist of a very rich and diverse program. We anticipate hierarchs and clergy from our Sister Orthodox Churches to join us in this celebration!

ALL ROADS LEAD TO BOSTON! WELCOME! WELCOME, INDEED!

RESERVATIONS

For reservations* visit the official 800^thAnniversary Celebration Website and pay by credit card:

https://stsavaboston.org/800yearsautocephaly

Or, mail your reservation check to:
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church
41 Alewife Brook Parkway
Cambridge, MA 02140

Be certain to include a letter with a description of your reservation (number of people attending, what days, and lunch choice for Saturday (meat, fish, vegetarian) etc).

For any further questions, please contact Stanislava Ristanovicat reservations@stsavaboston.orgor at +1 (617) 674-4035.
 
*Cutoff date for reservations is October 20th, 2019.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

2. Hyatt Place Medford/Boston 
   116 Riverside Ave, Medford, MA 02155 -
   Reservations:+1 (781) 395-8500 
   1.5 miles from St. Sava Cathedral
   $161 plus tax “Saint Sava Group”
3. AC by Marriott Hotel Cambridge
   10 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA
   Reservations +1 (617) 876-6190
   1.2 Miles from St. Sava Cathedral
   $169 plus tax “Saint Sava Group”
   
   
4. Homewood Suites by Hilton
   1 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02474
   Reservations: 844-263-4951
   0.3 miles from church - 5 minute walk 
   $249 plus tax “Saint Sava Group”

Active links for hotel reservation are posted on the official 800^thAnniversary Celebration link:
https://stsavaboston.org/800yearsautocephaly

Lord, make us worthy to behold Your Light set before us by Saint Sava and kept burning by Saint Mardarije, in a pure confession of faith, love and unbounding joy, so that we may heed the directives of Ecumenical Patriarch Manuel I, in the Grammatonissued to the newly-consecrated Archbishop Sava:

“LISTEN TO HIM, ALL OF YOU WHO ARE IN CHRIST,
TRUE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS!”

YOUR HUMBLE INTERCESSOR BEFORE THE THRONE OF SAINT SAVA,

         +IRINEJ

BISHOP OF EASTERN AMERICA
THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH