The actual day of the repose of our Mother Ana (Abbess from 1948 to 1975) was November 18th, but the commemoration was moved to Sunday, November 23rd. We can freely say that one of the miracles attributed to Mother Ana is the fact that, although we watched a blizzard begin the previous evening and feared the snow might hinder our guests’ arrival, by morning there was almost no trace of it. Only a whiteness upon the roofs remained, like a white ornament for our great day.
The Holy Liturgy began at nine o’clock, presided over by Archimandrite Father Sava, Secretary to His Eminence the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Žiča. Other guest priests arrived on time and throughout the Holy Liturgy. Monastics also arrived from the monasteries of Žiča, Ravanica, Blagoveštenje Rudničko, Nikolje Stragarsko, Pinosava, Stalać, Kovilj on Golija, Milentija, Lešje, and Voljavča near Kraljevo.
At the cemetery beside the church, Archpriest Branko Ćurčin from Novi Sad performed the ritual pouring of wine (prelivanje) and joined the others in prayer; he was also one of the lecturers for the grand commemoration held after lunch.
This day was also chosen for the presentation of the magazine BOGDAJ, named after the first orphanage for destitute children founded by Mother Ana in Bitola in 1935. The magazine serves as a memorial to spiritual, cultural, and historical heritage, with Oliver and Jelena Đorđević bearing the primary responsibility for its “birth” as editors-in-chief. The role of BOGDAJ is to continue and emphasize the legacy of Mother Ana and those like her within society and the Church. As an annual publication that has brought together the professional community, it shows great potential to continue on this and an even larger scale. Its presentation, as something entirely new in this region, drew significant public attention.
Following the broadcast of reports regarding the events of November 23rd, the sisterhood of Vraćevšnica Monastery hopes that further steps will be taken to fully glorify Mother Ana. For now, all those who have experienced miracles at her grave are kindly asked to contact the monastery so that their testimonies may be recorded.
From the Administration of Vraćevšnica Monastery
