Serbiancultofthesaints

03/16/2026

"Stà cè biti bice"

Inat seems to be a popular topic for these online influencers that move to Serbia... Usually Americans with no roots in Serbia... In their fumbling way of explaining it...they fail to mention destiny. With that omission, Inat becomes impossible to explain.

To fully understand destiny in the Serbian mentality, one has to understand the concept of kismet.

Kismet is a Turkish word borrowed from Arabic.
Predestination or the phrase "written in the stars" is a better way to explain its meaning in English. The almost fatalistic realization that no matter what road you take, you cannot out run destiny. "Sta ce biti bice" ( "What will be will be"). Generally applied collectively. As in the foundational myth of Serbia "The Kosovo Covenant".
Framing the choice that Knez Lazar made as a martyr, dying in battle with the Ottomans, as the collective Serbian choice to have a spiritual kingdom rather than an earthly one. That post mortem, we choose to have a land of our ancestors. But still, to this day, fight to gain Kosovo back.

Kismet can also be applied to the individual.
Folk tradition holds that the sudjience (borrowed from Greek mythology , "The 3 fates") appear on the 3rd night of childs birth and attach destiny to the child's head. Determining factors like Wealth, Life Span, Health etc.

Inat is applied to the individual moreso.
Being more than simple hubris.
Inat is self knowledge combined with aggressive will and rentlentess drive. That fate can be altered and pushed to the side. However, you will turn around and still have to face her. One day.

Art by Alois Delug "The Norns" (1895)

03/13/2026

Vesna. Literally means Spring in Serbian.

But what if spring is not embodied as a person, such as Demeter of Greek mythology?

What if spring is a segment of time... That did once exist , is existing and will exist again? The time when the ground reanimates... Plants begin to grow. Trees grow new branches. Fertility is abundant. All of this carries the energy of youth. Making it a part of a cycle. Of regeneration.

03/06/2026

The 2nd Friday Akathist is about the Annunciation:

From Luke 1:26-38.. when the ArchAngel Gabriel spoke to Marija... And fore told the birth of Christ.
"26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her

03/05/2026

Part of the wider Orthodox Church, first written in Arabic around the end of the 1800s, is a hymn for Lazarus the Four days Dead.

Called "O, Bethany" or "Rejoice, Oh Bethany"...
It's sung in tone 6( ment for resurrection hymns) on Lazarus Saturday.

Lyrics are as follows :

Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany!
On this day God came to thee,
And in Him the dead are made alive,
As it is right for He is the Life.

When Martha went to receive Him,
Grieving loudly with bitter tears,
She poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him
With great sadness, wailing her lament.

She at once cried out unto Him:
"My most compassionate Lord, my Lord,
At the great loss of my brother Lazarus
My heart is broken, help me."

Jesus said to her, "Cease your weeping,
Cease your grieving and sad lament;
For your brother, My most beloved friend, Lazarus,
Very soon will live again."

Then He, the faithful Redeemer,
Made His way unto the tomb,
Where he cried unto him who was buried four days,
Calling him forth, saying "Lazarus, arise."

Come with haste, ye two sisters,
And behold a wondrous thing,
For your brother from the tomb has returned to life.
To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks.

To Thee, O Lord of creation,
We kneel down in reverence profound,
For all we who are dead in sin,
In Thee, O Jesus, are made alive.

03/04/2026

Community service will be held again tomorrow the 5th... For Sv. lazar the Four days Dead.
Lmk if you'd like to be a part of it.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and....

03/03/2026

The Akathist of Bogorodica is a service during the first five fridays during Pascha.

Each Friday, a bible verse is read during the service.

The first Friday (Which was last week, my bad) comes from John 15: 1-7:

The Lord said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."

02/24/2026

Free community service for Saint Lazarus will start this Thursday. Prayers for healing, continued healing, prosperity, and road opening will be recited along with offerings given.

Each participant will have their own candle and petition given during this service.

3 spots left.

Dm for info or reserve spot.

02/23/2026

Clean Monday begins the Pascha season.
Following Forgiveness Sunday.
A 40 day period in which No meat (or by product), dailry or eggs can be consumed. Cooked food and oil is limited to certain days.

Though it is common in the west, Due to the Greek Orthodox influence in the States, for the devout to have a prayer corner with icons that were prayers are said when waking or prior to sleep. Often a candle is lit while saying prayers.

Serbia has to be Serbia. Morning and Evening prayers are said in front of the families Icon of their patron saint. Slowly. With purpose. Eyes open. No candle.

Morning prayers begin with "Otce Nas" (Our Father).

Otce Nas
________

Otce nas,
ize jesi na nebesjeh da svjatitsja imja Tvoje,
Da pridet cartvije Tvoje,
Da budet volja Tvoja,
Jako na nebesi I na zemliji.
Hljeb Nas nasushnij,
Dazad nam dnes I ostavi nam dolgi nasja,
Jakozei mi ostavlijajem dolznikom nasim.
I ne vovedi nas vo iskuhenije,
No izbavinas ot lukavago.

Our Father,
Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy will be done on earth as it in heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread,
Forgive our trespasses as we have forgiven those who have trespassed against.
Lead us not into temptation but deliever us from evil.

Glory be into the Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy Spirit, now and forever, unto ages of ages.
Amen...

02/21/2026

Rose Hips
(Shipak in Serbian)

Yes. This and Evening primrose are touted for anti-aging, hydration , skin brightening and wrinkle decreasing effects. Normally homemade beauty aids are put in oils... Like Olive oil.

But Rose Hips are best used for regulating emotional imbalances, reliving stiff joints, regulating hormones and prevention from cancer or diabetes. Also can be used for cleaning out a mild case of endometriosis. Those are treated best with teas. Or a salve that combines rose hip, primrose and Hawthorne that is spread over the abdomen. Because it can stop the spread and inflammation of endometriosis... Can also therefore be used for menstrual cramps. Can be made into jelly or jams to be consumed.

Be sure to remove the small hairs and seeds.
Extremely high doses will cause diarrhea.

To work shipak... Attracts love. Healing of the self. Because of the deep red color produced when boiled or cooked... (Though nothing really replaces blood.. not even wine) It can used in place of blood. So work with domination or protection. Truthfully, this is best used in glamours that everyone is always babbling about. Fresh if possible... So its the most potent.

Any questions, feel free to dm me.

02/17/2026

**collective reading***

The High Priestess + Eight of Cups

There is something to be said on relying on intuition.
To know when the path has closed off.
That it's perfectly ok to pack up and leave a situation or a practice that no longer fulfills you.. that literally blocks you from your destiny.
Do not turn around. Take your suitcase with you and walk a completely different road.

An element of time is present... Not that its a loop.. but more something that pulls back and forth to various points. Is it the ghost of a memory or the same situation?
Is it a new emotion or a memory? Have you met this person before? Is time fickle or has time blurred?
It's not confusion but a question of is reserance only part of the here and now ? Or has it always been.

Healing is not an overnight process.
And truthfully, you may never be fully healed.
You may always have stagnant fractures around.
But that is ok. Intention matters at this point.
But you can progress. Go forward. Feel better.
Starts with leaving behind what no longer works.

Recommended plants are rose hip and Hawthorne.
Leaves and flowers put in a tea.
Helps folks with uteruses to balance and regulate emotion and deal with grief.

If you would like a longer, more indepth personal reading.
DM me or send me an email for appointments.

02/14/2026

Bamboo (Bambusa Vulgaris. Tibisi. Bambu)

Young Bamboo shoots are edible ... Though have to be boiled at least 20 minutes prior to eating to remove carcinogens.

Medical Uses: Antibacterial, diuretic, regulates menstruation, high blood pressure, pneumonia, various gastrointestinal disorders (like ulcers .. helps to remove water from abscesses in the stomach, etc) , diarrhea, various skin conditions including eczema-- used to stop flare ups. Traditional Chinese medicine has a number of uses for bamboo. Be it neurological disorders, convulsions, a stomach that is too hot, hiccups or insomnia.

Uses for "work": A common suggestion is to grow bamboo at the of the home and back for defense. Powered stalk (good luck with that, btw😂) is used in cleanses to break hexes when paired with things like cascarilla. Powered is also used to attract and command attention in places like bussinesses, political meetings, salons etc... when placed the corners of the room.
Also known to turn fortune around and bring luck.
Removes negative negative energy.

A plant that is also commonly syncretized with San Lazar. Footnote : In Cabrera's "El Monte" .. Tibisi might be known in the states as Dogwood fern.. which is a bamboo type of plant common to Cuba but not the same thing.