Slava

 Slava is a unique traditional custom that exsists only in Serbian Ortodox Christianity. It is celebartion of family's saint patron. Every Serbian Ortodox family has it's protector - a saint. Slava is the celebration of that saint. The feast is being organised with family, neighbours and friends to celebrate slava. On the day of slava there is a special candle that is burning during the day. Also, a special type of nicely decorated bead is prepared - it called slava cake. Besides that, slava always includes a lot of food, drinks, music and good mood! Institutions and sometimes even companies have their slava. In 2014 slava is registered by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

In 2018. Serbian Post started issuing stamps about slava, dedicated to saints that are commonly celebrated as family patrons.

2018.

Saint Stephen (Sveti Stefan - 9/January)
Saint John the Baptist (Sveti Jovan - 5/January)

Both stamps depict icons of saints, slava cake and home sacuntary lamp.

2019. Saint Sava (Sveti Sava, 27/January). Saint Sava is one of the most importnat Serbian saints because the Serbian Ortodox Church became independent after his recognition as the Archibishop. The stamp depicts modern icon of Saint Sava.

     

2020. Feast of the Annunciation (Blagovesti - 7April). The Ortodox holiday of the Feast of the Annunciation is also being celebrated as slava. The stamp depicts icon "Feast of the Annunciation" from Visoki Dečani monastery from XVI century.

2021. Saint George (Sveti Đorđe - Đurđevdan (Đurđic) - 6/May). The stamp depicts famous motif of Saint George killing the dragon.

2022. Saint Cyril and Methodius (Sveti Ćirilo i Metodije - 24 May)

               

2023. The Holy Prophet Elijah (Sveti Ilija - Ilindan - 2/August)

2024. Venerable Mother Paraskeva (Sveta Petka - Petkovica - 27/October).

2025. Saint Michael the Archangel (Sveti Arganđel Mihailo - Aranđelovdan - 21/November). St. Michael the Archangel is the third most common slava in Serbia.