Crown Prince Filip, Princess Danica Karađorđević, and their children, Prince Stefan and Princess Marija, received a ceremonial welcome yesterday at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. Hundreds of Serbs from Chicago and the surrounding area had the opportunity to greet them during the Divine Liturgy, as well as later at the Vidovdan luncheon and cultural program.
The day began with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Longin of Chicago, his vicar Bishop Serafim, together with the cathedral’s dean, Father Darko Spasojević, and priest Nikolaj Kostur.
After Holy Communion and an inspiring sermon delivered by Bishop Serafim in the packed church, the gathering moved to the crowded banquet hall, where generations of Serbian immigrants warmly welcomed the royal family.
A rich Vidovdan cultural and artistic program followed, beginning with a prayer and welcoming remarks by Father Darko Spasojević, who emphasized the importance of the monarchy and the Karađorđević dynasty in Serbian history and tradition.
“Recently, I watched a program on a Bosnian television station in which an elderly Muslim woman from Kosovo spoke about how respected the Karađorđević era was and how good life was under their rule. The king was a host who cared for all his citizens, regardless of religion or nationality. As we welcome his descendants into this church today, we can only hope that such times will return,” he said.
The program continued with performances by the Serbian Singing Society “Branko Radičević,” the musical group “Sestre Radović,” and the folklore ensemble “Oko Sokolovo.” For the first time, the ensemble performed the favorite song of King Peter I Karađorđević, the great-great-grandfather of Prince Filip, a gesture that visibly moved the heir to the Serbian crown.
A special attraction was the performance of young Prince Stefan with the “Branko Radičević” children’s choir, during which the young Karađorđević demonstrated a strong familiarity with patriotic and spiritual songs.
The grand finale of the program began with a speech by Metropolitan Longin, who spoke passionately about Serbian history and the blessings Serbia enjoyed during the era when it was a kingdom.
“I, like many Serbs I know, grew up in patriotic homes where the family patron saint was celebrated, where faith in God was cherished, and where the king represented something exalted and sacred—a father, statesman, leader, and protector. For me, this moment is deeply emotional. I am very happy that the young prince and his wife, the young princess, live in Serbia, in Belgrade, and share both the good and difficult times with their people,” said the Metropolitan, before continuing:
“We Serbian patriots are especially proud that both of our dynasties, the Karađorđević and Obrenović families, were people’s dynasties, born from Serbian noblemen and the struggle for liberation, unlike some others in the Balkans and Europe, where princes and kings were installed from foreign lands and non-Orthodox peoples. One of our own became our king!”
Prince Filip Karađorđević then addressed those gathered:
“It is a great honor for me to be here today with my family among you in this holy church, which for more than a century has represented the spiritual home of the Serbian people in Chicago and one of the most important gathering places for Serbs in North America,” the Prince began.
He went on to highlight the historical ties between Chicago and his family, emphasizing the significance of Vidovdan in Serbian history.
“The Serbian Orthodox Church, the Royal Family, and the Serbian people have throughout the centuries been united by a common mission: preserving faith, freedom, and national dignity. These ties were not born out of politics, but from a shared responsibility toward our people and future generations.”
He concluded his remarks with the words:
“A person who knows who they are will more easily know where they need to go. May God bless the Serbian people, wherever they may live. And may Vidovdan always remind us that we are strongest when united in faith, harmony, and love.”
His speech was met with thunderous applause from those in attendance.
The program concluded with a joint performance by all participants, followed by a photo session with Their Royal Highnesses.
The eventful day continued at the Monastery of Saint Sava in Libertyville, where Bishop Serafim introduced the royal guests to the monastery’s history and the role their ancestors played in its construction. He also served a memorial service for King Peter II Karađorđević, who died in Chicago and was originally buried in the monastery church before his remains were later transferred to the family mausoleum at Oplenac.
The bishop presented his guests with an icon depicting Saint Mardarije, Saint Sava, Saint Nikolaj, and the Great Martyr Ivanka Milošević, who was murdered together with journalist Dragiša Kašiković in Chicago in 1977 by communist agents.
Members of the Serbian Chetnik Movement also welcomed the Karađorđević family at the monastery, saluting the Prince and Princess and presenting them with the movement’s flag bearing the wartime slogan: “With Faith in God, For the King and the Homeland! Freedom or Death!”
The tour of Serbian holy sites concluded at the New Gračanica Monastery, where Bishop Serafim explained the vivid iconography depicting Serbian history from the adoption of Christianity through the Second World War and presented the royal family with a collection of books from the monastery bookstore.
Crown Prince Filip and Princess Danica will continue their visit to Chicago tomorrow. A meeting with leaders of Serbian organizations is planned, during which the Serbian Camp project will be presented. Beginning next year, the initiative is expected to bring together children and young people from both the Serbian diaspora and the homeland.
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Source: Antonije Kovačević