Action 11

     As we agreed, Nikola's mother Biljana sent Nikola to Belgrade, to be our guest, on 14th February 2002. It was the first time for Nikola to travel alone. Before the very leaving for Belgrade Nikola was a little scared because it was the first time for him to go somewhere without his mother. Beside that he didn't enjoy driving. But God rules everything. At the bus station, when he was most afraid, the priest from his parish appeared. Nikola went to him every Sunday for the service. The priest was traveling to Belgrade, too. He comforted Nikola by saying him 'Do not worry, God is with you', so Nikola spent the whole trip to Belgrade sleeping peacefully.

     My family and I waited for him and took him to the shopping for new clothes and shoes. People recognized Nikola. A girl, who worked in a boutique, suggested to the owner of the boutique to give us one of the items we had bought for free. After the shopping we went for a short walk. The next day, on 15th February, (it is the state holiday from this year) was a great Christian holiday - The Purification of Virgin Mary, so my family, Nikola and I went to St Archangel Mihailo's church for the service. On that occasion Nikola took his Communion. We spent Friday and Saturday talking and playing. We started Sunday with the holy service, but this time in our parish church - Lazarica. At the end of the service many people recognized Nikola and wanted to talk to him. We went for the further sightseeing; we saw Kalemegdan and churches - Ruzica and St Petka. We went to the zoo then.

     On Monday we visited the Patriarchy and the museum inside of it. We were welcomed cordially. Three employees, one of them was the museum curator, Mr Miroslav Ilic, and the two ladies that worked there, collected a sum of money and gave it to Nikola.

     We went to see the chief of the cabinet of His Holiness, Serbian Patriarch Mr Pavle, and the proto-jacon Mr Lecic, because we wanted to get blessing from the Patriarch. Unfortunately, the Patriarch was very busy, but next time when Nikola would be our guest we would take him to the holy service held by the Patriarch. Late in the afternoon we started for Kragujevac. There were Nikola's grandparents waiting for us. After we had shared the impressions with them and showed them his new clothes, we went to see the monasteries- Draca and Divostin. We gave each other little crosses and pocketsize icons and in this way we made our friendship even stronger. Our son Luca and Nikola insisted on Nikola's stay in Belgrade to be longer as well as our stay in Kragujevac. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbuy till the next meeting.

(click the thumbnails if you want to see full pictures)