The Serbian Orthodox Church today celebrates SAINT NIKOLAJ OF ŽIČA AND OHRID, commemorating the day on which the RELICS OF BISHOP NIKOLAJ VELIMIROVIĆ were transferred from Libertyville, United States, to the Lelić Monastery in Serbia.
Nikolaj Velimirović was born on December 23, 1880 (Julian calendar) / January 4, 1881 (Gregorian calendar) in the village of Lelić near Valjevo. His education began at the Ćelije Monastery and continued at the Valjevo Gymnasium. Chosen by the Church for further studies, he opted for theological education in Europe over Russia, attending the Old Catholic Faculty in Bern and later continuing in Germany, England, Switzerland, and eventually Russia.
Throughout his life, Nikolaj participated in peace conferences, ecumenical church meetings, global Christian youth gatherings, and pan-Orthodox consultations. His theological influence spanned continents and generations.
On September 14, 1944, Bishop Nikolaj and Patriarch Gavrilo were taken by the Nazis from Vojlovica to the Dachau concentration camp. After the war, Nikolaj emigrated to the United States in 1946, where he died in exile. His body was first interred at St. Tikhon’s Monastery, and later transferred to the Saint Sava Monastery in Libertyville, where he was buried near the altar on March 27, 1956, in the presence of thousands of Orthodox Serbs and other faithful.
Years later, on May 12, 1991, his RELICS WERE RETURNED TO SERBIA and laid to rest in the church of the Lelić Monastery, which was his endowment.
In May 2003, at the spring session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Nikolaj was CANONIZED AS A SAINT.
A towering spiritual figure of the 20th century, Saint Nikolaj strongly condemned pagan rituals and superstitions, urging Christians to embrace TRUE FAITH AND THE AUTHENTIC TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH. One such deeply rooted custom he warned against is the tying of a RED THREAD around a child’s wrist to “protect” them from evil forces.
In his writings, Saint Nikolaj denounced this practice as superstition and paganism:
“This is superstition. Faith in blind chance. In other words, this is paganism! Today’s Christians have reduced their faith to a piece of paper — a baptism certificate! By their actions and such practices, they prove how far they are from the truth of the Gospel and how they seek help from unknown forces.”
He criticized the replacement of the baptismal cross with charms like the red thread, which many parents place on their newborns out of tradition, claiming it protects them until baptism — a belief he saw as dangerously misguided.
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In church tradition, children are meant to be BAPTIZED ON THE 40TH DAY, yet this is often delayed due to various superstitions — whether it’s a leap year, a distant godparent, or a recent death in the family. During this time, many rely on the red thread as a substitute for the sacrament’s protection.
“It’s a shallow way of thinking,” Saint Nikolaj warned. “Instead of turning to God and the Church, people follow the inventions of fortune-telling grandmothers.”
Through his firm words, Saint Nikolaj reminds believers of the importance of faith, sacraments, and church teachings, rather than cultural rituals detached from Christian doctrine.
At a time when society is confronted with challenges and uncertainties, his legacy calls for a return to CORE CHRISTIAN VALUES. It is only through TRUE FAITH, HOLY MYSTERIES, AND PRAYER that one finds REAL PEACE AND PROTECTION, not in the red threads of folklore, but in THE LIVING FAITH OF THE CHURCH.
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