Half a Century of the Saint Sava Serbian School in Vancouver

Source: Dragana Kuzmanovic Lekic

Edited by: Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada

Celebrating five decades of nurturing new generations in faith, language, and a living connection to their people and the Church

For a full fifty years, every Sunday, the youngest members of the Serbian Orthodox community in Vancouver have gathered under the auspices of St. Sava Church to learn their language and the Cyrillic alphabet, to become acquainted with the history and culture of their people, and, above all, to grow within the life of their Church. The St. Sava Serbian School was founded with the blessing and desire to provide children of Serbian Orthodox families growing up far from the homeland of their ancestors with an opportunity to know and cherish what their parents and forebears were, created, and preserved at great cost. Over the course of its fifty-year history, numerous generations of students have passed through its classrooms. Many of those who once sat at its desks as children now bring their own children to the school, and some even their grandchildren.

Classes are held on Sundays in the church facilities. In addition to Serbian language and Cyrillic, students receive religious instruction and music education, learn traditional songs and customs, and become acquainted with the history of the Serbian people and their Church. Throughout the year, winter and spring camps are also organized, giving the children opportunities for fellowship, learning, recreation, song, and prayer. Within the life of an Orthodox community, a school is much more than a place of academic instruction. Its particular value lies in the fact that the formation and education of children takes place in the immediate presence of the church and within the life of the parish community. In this way, language, culture, and historical memory are not separated from the Faith, but are passed on to children as part of a unified and living tradition, a sacred inheritance received from previous generations and entrusted to them to pass on, in turn, to those who will come after them.

The name of St. Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop and Enlightener, holds a special place in this mission. His work is inseparable from the enlightenment of the Serbian people in the light of the Christian Faith. Through his life, St. Sava demonstrated that true education is not merely the acquisition of knowledge, but the transformation of the whole person and the orientation of one’s life toward goodness, truth, and Christ. For this reason, the work of the St. Sava Serbian School is about far more than preserving a language or cultural tradition. Alongside the Serbian language and Cyrillic alphabet, children are introduced to their Church, its feasts, saints, and the spiritual and cultural heritage of their people. What is learned in childhood does not remain merely in memory; it becomes part of a person’s character and shapes their relationship with God, family, Church, and neighbour.

Fifty years of the school’s life have been filled with countless memories: first letters written, songs learned, St. Sava celebrations, friendships, and fellowship that have often lasted far beyond the school years. Through the school, generations of children have grown, each carrying in their own way a part of its heritage into their families and the wider community. The anniversary was therefore an opportunity to give thanks for all those who, over the past five decades, have contributed through their efforts to the life of the school: the clergy who have cared for it and offered their blessing and support; the teachers who have devoted their time and knowledge; the parents who have brought their children; the benefactors who have supported its work; and all the students whose presence and joy have given meaning to its mission.

Speaking on the occasion of the anniversary, the parish priest and rector of St. Sava Church, Fr. Vuk Milisic, emphasized the importance of the school for the life of the parish community and expressed gratitude to all who, throughout the decades, have contributed their effort and love to its mission. Reflecting on the generations of children who have passed through its classrooms, he also spoke of the lasting importance of what children receive during these formative years and carry with them throughout their lives. The anniversary was also an opportunity to reflect on the responsibility of the Church and the family in the formation and upbringing of the youngest members of the community. At a time when children are growing up in an increasingly complex and diverse social environment, helping them become rooted in the Faith, in family life, and in the life of the Church represents an invaluable and irreplaceable responsibility. A Church school can be an important support to parents in this task, while also providing a place where children learn to understand their Faith and heritage not merely as something belonging to the past, but as a living part of their own lives. The fifty-year history of the St. Sava Serbian School is a significant milestone not only for the parish in Vancouver, but also for our entire diocesan community. Its continued life bears witness to the dedication of several generations and to their determination to preserve, even far from the historic homeland, a living connection with the Church, the Serbian language, and the heritage entrusted to them.

With gratitude to all who have contributed to the life of the school over the past fifty years, we offer our prayer to the Lord that He may bless its continued work, its students and teachers, their families, and all those who support it. May the St. Sava Serbian School continue in the years to come to be a place where new generations learn to love God and His Church, to respect and preserve the language and tradition of their forebears, and to pass on with gratitude all that they have received to those who come after them.

May God grant a blessed and joyful anniversary to the St. Sava Serbian School!