Balkans, late 19th century. It is with this place that the name of Nikolai Velimirovich is connected. A small poor country, exhausted by cruel wars. Recently liberated from the Turkish yoke, Serbia is striving for Europe. Peasant Serbia is faced with the acute issue of eliminating illiteracy and further steady movement in step with the times.
Valevo and Lelich
A hundred kilometers southwest of the Serbian capital of Belgrade lies the town of Valjevo, yesterday a center of small-scale handicraft production. Today it can already boast of the first industrial enterprises, a railway line, and a power line. A gymnasium opens in the city, theatrical performances are organized for the first time. Village Lelich - not far from Valevo on the slope of Mount Povlen. In the most turbulent period of Serbian history, immediately before the first and second Serbian uprisings, Anthony Jovanovich moved here from the Bosnian Srebrenica at the beginning of the 19th century. During the struggle for independence, he stands out for his love for the Fatherland and God. Bythe end of the second Serbian uprising, he was elected an elder. Anthony had two sons - Sima and Velimir. From them came two branches of a single family - Simovichi and Velimirovichi.
Childhood of Nikola Velimirovic
Nikola Velimirovic, future bishop, was born on December 23, 1880. Little Nikola graduated from elementary school in Lelic. The abbot of the local monastery taught him love for the Fatherland and talked about the glorious and difficult Serbian past. Nikola's teachers insisted that after graduating from elementary school, he continued his studies at the gymnasium. At the end of the 6th grade of the gymnasium, Nikola tries to enter the military academy, but to no avail. As a result, he becomes a seminarian in Belgrade.
Difficult years of study
He lives in the most difficult material conditions, but he graduates from the seminary among the best students. Some help is his participation in the distribution of the "Christian Herald" and the patronage of Archpriest Alexa Ilich, around whom a kind of circle gathers. Alexa and her followers criticize the negative phenomena of the higher hierarchy and seek solutions to church problems. Nikola writes and publishes her first texts in the Christian Herald, full of youthful fervor and uncompromisingness.
Working as a teacher
According to the rules of that time, after graduating from the seminary, Nikolai Velimirovich had to first work as a teacher. He receives distribution to his native places, to the village of Drachich. In Dracic, the young teacher brought with him not only a seminary diploma, but also such a serious illness astuberculosis of the skin, acquired at the time of a half-starved life in the damp and dark corners of rented housing. Doctors recommend him to go to the sea. A stay at the Savina Monastery was reflected in one of his early works.
Study Abroad
And soon Nikolai Velimirovich was destined to say goodbye to dear Serbia. For some time he was still a teacher in Leskowice, when suddenly the news came that he had been awarded a scholarship to study abroad. He goes to study in Switzerland. A decent scholarship allowed him to travel outside the country. He listened to the lectures of the best professors of theology at various universities in Germany. Having passed his final exams in Bern, Nikola defended his doctoral dissertation there.
In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. There was great revolt among the Serbs, but on that occasion war was averted. At that time, Nikolai Velimirovich was already in England. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford, and defended his doctoral dissertation already in Geneva in French.
Homecoming
And now the return to Belgrade. Two diplomas, two doctoral degrees. Meanwhile, it was not the warmest welcome. Officials from education and the metropolis are not only in no hurry to open all the doors to him, but also do not recognize his diplomas, forcing the doctor to graduate from the 7th and 8th grade of the gymnasium twice and take the final exams.
During this period, Nikolai Velimirovich Serbsky for the third time finds himself on the verge of life and death. The first time this happened was when its stillrobbers tried to kidnap the baby. The second time, already in his school years, he was miraculously saved by a high school student, when he was already choking in the river. And when, upon arrival in Belgrade, he buried his brother, who died of dysentery, he became infected as a result. After three days in the hospital, the doctor said that his condition was such that he could only hope in God. Dr. Nikolai Velimirovich took this quite calmly. After a brutal six-week illness, he made a full recovery.
Monastic vows
Right from the hospital, he went to the metropolis and said that he wanted to fulfill his vow - to take tonsure. Metropolitan Dimitry sent Dr. Velimirovich to the nearest monastery, where, after two weeks of obedience, he was tonsured on December 17, 1909. He received the monastic name Nicholas.
The Great Gift of the Preacher
It has long been rumored in Belgrade that Dr. Velimirovic has the great gift of a preacher. When reports appeared in the capital's press about Hieromonk Nikolai's forthcoming sermon, the entire high society hurried to take their seats from the early morning. On the Day of Saint Archdeacon Stefan, the entire Belgrade elite gathered in the church. People listened to every word of the preacher, not hiding their admiration. For many, the word of God sounded for the first time then in all its heavenly majesty.
After such success, Metropolitan Dimitry sent the hieromonk to study in Russia. Already after the first academic discussions with students and professors, the young Serbian scientist and theologian became known in St. Petersburg. Thanks to the local metropolitan, Nikolai gets the opportunity to travel around Russia. Acquaintance with the great country, its people and shrines gave him immeasurably more than being within the walls of the academy. Under the influence of Dostoevsky and other Russian religious thinkers, Father Nikolai begins to develop the idea of the all-man as opposed to Nietzsche's superman. Hieromonk Nikolay is appointed junior teacher at the Svyatoslav Theological Seminary.
Now from the pen of the hieromonk, large-scale works are published, which are first printed in magazines and then published as separate books. Nicholas continues to study philosophy, theology, and art. Gives sermons. He writes a lot and actively participates in the cause of national unification. In 1912, his books "Nietzsche and Dostoevsky" and "Podgorny sermons" were published. The preacher the 20th century has been waiting for has finally arrived.
Participation in the First Balkan War
In the winter of 1912, the First Balkan War begins. Serbia, along with other Orthodox countries, stands for the final liberation of the peninsula from the Turkish yoke. Although he was not subject to mobilization, St. Nicholas Velimirovich of Serbia, together with the army, was sent to the front. He not only encourages and consoles the people, but personally, as a volunteer nurse, provides assistance to the sick and wounded. In 1913, after the victorious and successful wars for Serbia, the holy Council of Bishops, its participants unanimously proposed to raise Father Nicholas to the empty throne of the bishop. To everyone's surprise, Nikolai declares that he cannot acceptthis choice both because of his understanding of the full responsibility of the episcopal ministry, and because of the unhe althy situation that has developed around him.
1914 - a new book of his Sermons, relating to the time of the Balkan wars - "Above sin and death" is published. The book went on sale just before the First World War. European civilization is entering a period of severe crisis, and Serbia is faced with the question of survival. On the very first day of mobilization, Hieromonk Saint Nicholas of Serbia Velimirovic, whose works are already known all over the world, arrives in Belgrade and places himself at the full disposal of the military command. At the end of hostilities, Father Nikolai returns to the monastery.
Participation in propaganda in favor of Serbia
Unprecedented successes at the beginning of the war attracted the attention of all Europe to the small Balkan country. When Germany came to the aid of Austria-Hungary, dark days came for Serbia. There was no real help from the French army. In April 1915, the head of the Serbian government sent Father Nikolai to England with the aim of propaganda in favor of Serbia and the Serbian struggle. After England, he goes to America, where he impresses the public with his truthful sermons. In the summer of 1915 Nikolai returned to London. The huge English cathedrals could not accommodate everyone who wanted to hear his speeches. It was possible to enter only with a pre-purchased ticket. In recognition of his cumulative labors on English soil, the archbishop awards him with a special certificate and pectoral cross.
Vladyka of the Dioceses of Zhich and Ohrid
In March 1919, the Holy Bishops' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Nikolai Bishop of the Zich diocese, and later in the same rank he was sent to Ohrid. Vladyka Nicholas was not deprived of a sense of humor and knew how to use this quality both when communicating with people and in some of his sermons in order to achieve greater persuasiveness and power of influence. However, for his contemporaries, he was above all an exceptional and mysterious personality. The people in Ohrid loved and respected him very much. During his stay in South Serbia, present-day Macedonia, Nikolai Velimirovic published books one after another: “Thoughts of Good and Evil”, “Ohrid Prologue”, “Missionary Letters”, “Religion of the Intelligentsia”, a collection of hymns “Spiritual Lyre”, “War and the Bible”, “Royal Testament”. In Ohrid, Vladyka did a lot to restore the ancient monasteries. At the same time, he began building a church in his native Lelich.
Upon his return to the Zhichsky diocese, Bishop Nicholas immediately set about restoring the old and building new churches and monasteries. He now has another title, Lord Restorer.
Participation in World War II
When the Germans occupied Yugoslavia in 1941, Bishop Nikolai was placed under house arrest in a monastery. He was constantly taken for interrogations. The grief that befell the Serbian people left an unhealed wound in the heart of the lord. His he alth deteriorated sharply, but he always stood during interrogations, although the German officers offered him to sit down. In the monastery, priests visit Vladyka andmonks, which causes suspicion among the Germans, and they reinforce the guards. When the sisters go out and enter the cells with lit candles, the sentries decide that this is a secret alarm. However, a search of the monastery yields no results. It is not known how all this would have ended if Hieromonk Vasily had not brought the award sheet received by Vladyka back in 1935 from Hitler himself for the restored German military cemetery during the First World War. Then the general interrogating Vladyka ordered to let him go.
Detention and concentration camp
At dawn on December 3, 1943, German soldiers entered the monastery right during the service and took away Bishop Nicholas of Serbia. There, Vladyka was awaited by a real prison regime - without the right to visit, without permission to leave the courtyard, which had been turned into a place of detention. Only on Sundays and major feasts was the prisoner admitted to the monastery church and allowed to serve the liturgy.
In September 1944, the Germans sent Vladyka to the Dachau concentration camp in a freight car. Great were the sufferings of the Serbian people during World War II - mass executions, huge sacrifices suffered in the fight against the invaders, and the highest hierarch of the Serbian church languished in a concentration camp. Sick and exhausted, he shared the fate of other prisoners. Soon he was transferred to the prison infirmary. But nevertheless, numerous petitions were crowned with success - Vladyka leaves the camp and, under escort, is sent for treatment to Bavaria, and then to Vienna.
Long years of emigration
Speaking of life storySt. Nicholas of Serbia, one cannot but dwell on the difficult last years of his life. After the defeat of the Nazis, Bishop Nikolai chooses the thorny path of emigration. In 1946, with bad he alth, he arrives in America, farther and farther from his native Serbia. In the very first year, Saint Nicholas was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Columbia University. Not only Orthodox Christians, but also other denominations in America consider Vladyka Nicholas an apostle and missionary of the New World. He continues his literary and preaching activities.
Later Nicholas retires to the Russian monastery of St. Tikhon. There he teaches at the theological seminary, then becomes its rector. Maintains contact with compatriots at home - writes letters, encourages, teaches, sends help. He writes to his nephew: “I cannot live and be silent. At home, they won’t let me do this, and I’m already too old for prison.” Many in Serbia have already forgotten him, but the communists continue to call him a traitor and enemy of the people. He was deprived of citizenship of socialist Yugoslavia from the very first days.
The books of St. Nicholas of Serbia are read in secret. Vladyka writes and preaches until the last hour of his earthly life. On Sunday morning, March 18, 1956, in the monastery of St. Tikhon, during the prayer before the Divine Liturgy, St. Nicholas Velimirovich peacefully reposed in the Lord. The whole world said goodbye to the great personality.
