The new issue of the magazine “Home of St Sava” has been published recently, which is the only Serbian magazine in the African continent. It is edited in the only temple of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Africa – St. Apostle Thomas in Johannesburg. Ljiljana Sindjelic Nikolic has more on the subject.
The magazine “Home of St Sava” is printed in the Cyrillic alphabet, with few articles in English as well. The team that prepares the journal, headed by archpriest Panteleimon, who is the prior of the temple of St. Apostle Thomas, is very proud of their parish magazine, because this distanced church municipality is among the smaller ones. “We could not achieve this without the joint effort, good will and unity here in Johannesburg”, say the contributing editors.
Editor-in-chief Panteleimon speaks about the significance of the magazine, and underlines that it is published in the conditions of the fully secular life, in the environment that is for the most part deprived of the desire for spirituality, poor in faith and where the crisis of the spirit is greater than the economic one. This hard working monk has revived this parish in the south of Africa, and he stressed it is especially important that such church magazine is published by the Serbian people. That way, they have become missionaries, affirming and promoting their faith, history, culture, customs and traditions, but particularly their language and alphabet, no matter where they are.
The magazine reports on all important events in the African soil, related to the Orthodox Church. There are also texts about the missionary and educational work, the functioning of the school “St Sava”, painting workshop “St Apostle Thomas in Johannesburg”. A special feature was dedicated to the “Centennial of Orthodoxy in South Africa” and the celebration that was held on that occasion, attended by all the Serbs who live there. Another article touched upon the baptism of the local native population in the Orthodox Church. Father Paneleimon has very good relations with the native population. Whenever possible, he takes gifts to the orphanage named after St Sava, and helps them in life and finding faith.
Let us also mention the feature on the house of St Sava in Africa, built according to the idea of the temple prior and realized owing to the aid of dedicated parishioners. In the big churchyard there is a playground for the children, and the house adapted to children. Little tables, stools, toys and crayons – a true place for play and associating, where the Serb children can gather and be close to their church. Archpriest Panteleimon reminds that today, more than ever, a healthy family is needed, in which the children are joyful and happy. “The soul can only be fed by faith, proper education and striving for honesty, righteousness, virtue and love for good, for the kin and good deeds”, concluded father Panteleimon.