Srecna Slava, Happy Saint Elijah

SRECNA SLAVA

Danas je moja porodicna slava Sveti Prorok Ilija a levo na slici je ikona koju je moj suprug uradio za nasu porodicu u Srbiji. Mi nazalost nismo ovog puta u Srbiji, ali zato cemo da proslavljamo u septembru kad se svi zajedno skupimo.
Sveti prorok Ilija je rodom iz Aronoba iz grada Tesvita. Po predanju, kada se Ilija rodio, njegov otac Sabah je video oko njega anđele koji ga povijaju ognjem i hrane plamenom, što je bilo znamenje njegovog plamenog karaktera i sile ognjene. Mladost je proveo u dubokom razmišljanju i molitvi, često sam u pustinji.


Today is my slava Sveti Prorok Ilija (on the left is Icon my husband painted for our family in Serbia). Unfortunately this year we can't be in Serbia with the rest of our family, but we will celebrate next month when we get there.
The slava (слава), also called krsna slava (крсна слава) is the Serbian Orthodox tradition of the ritual celebration, veneration and observance of a family’s own patron saint. The family celebrates the slava annually on the patron saint's feast day. The slava is regarded a Serbian tradition.

Saint Elijah was born in Aronoba from the city Tesvita. By legend, when he was born, his father Sabah saw angels around him that wrapped and fed him with flames and fire, which was a sign of his power and force of fire. He spend youth in deep thought and prayer, and often alone in the desert.
As Elijah was described as ascending into heaven in a fiery chariot. In many Slavic countries Elijah is known as Elijah the Thunderer (Ilija Gromovnik), who drives the heavens in a chariot and administers rain, storms, thunder and lightning bolts.