METROPOLITAN HRIZOSTOM: SAINT THECLA OF LIVING BRAVELY EXAMPLE

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 7 /SRNA/ – His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia has stated today that Saint Thecla serves as an example of how one should live bravely, decisively, and with dignity.

"May the Lord give us strength through the prayers of Saint Thecla to be spiritually strong in this time and place, not to be afraid, but to be brave witnesses of God in this city and the world we live in," said Metropolitan Hrizostom. In his sermon following the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy at the Old Church in Sarajevo, held in honour of the Saint Thecla, whose right hand is preserved in this Orthodox cathedral church, the bishop emphasized that this saint was truly chosen by God. The Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosnia noted that nearly 20 centuries have passed since Saint Thecla's martyrdom, yet her name and glory remain alive to this day. Goran Šehovac, the ceremonial host of the patron saint day celebration, stated it was a great honour to hold this role today. He added that no place of worship in the Federation of BiH should ever be forgotten. "I thank everyone who came. We must not neglect this, we must preserve our tradition and teach the younger generations to cherish family values. We must never give up on the Old Church in Sarajevo, nor in Blažuj, Pofalići, or any other place," emphasized Šehovac. The Holy Hierarchical Liturgy was attended by Staša Košarac, Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers, and Aleksandar Goganović, Deputy Minister of Defence in the Council of Ministers, along with numerous representatives of the political, cultural, and public life of Republika Srpska and BiH. After the ceremonial breaking of the feast bread, a procession was held around the church, during which the relics of Saint Thecla were carried. Saint Thecla lived during the time of the Holy Apostle Paul and was his companion in preaching the Gospel of Christ. She confirmed this Gospel and preaching through martyrdom, which is why she is called a Great Martyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles. The right hand of the martyr Thecla was brought from Antioch to Serbia by the first Serbian Archbishop Saint Sava in 1233. In 1733, Serbian Patriarch Arsenije IV Jovanović donated it to the Old Orthodox Church in Sarajevo. In 1873, Metropolitan Sava Kosanović of Dabar-Bosnia took her holy right hand to Russia, where a pearl glove with a bracelet was crafted for it. The Old Church in Sarajevo’s Baščaršija was built in the 14th century. Eight centuries ago, it became part of the then Diocese of Dabar, founded by Saint Sava, which is continuity that has remained unbroken to this day within the Metropolitanate of Dabar-Bosnia. It has been declared a national monument of BiH and is considered the oldest and one of the most valuable cultural-historical monuments in Sarajevo. The Old Church is renowned for its remarkable and unique architecture. Inside, there is an iconostasis of exceptional artistic value, while the church treasury holds ancient and valuable relics known throughout the artistic and Christian world.