May 5-9, 2012--Visit from the Leonards

This week Elder and Sister Leonard from the Frankfurt Office came to visit and to train us.  We learned to navigate through the humanitarian records on our computers.  We visited the Roma Kindergarten to see the results of our last project and to talk with the Red Cross workers about a hygiene project.

We went to a Red Cross reception where the Church and others were recogized for aid during the severe snow storm in February.

Head of Montenegro Red Cross, the Secretary General, and Marta who translates for us at the Roma Kindergarten.

Browns, the U.S. Ambassador, and the Leonards

We took the Leonards to respond to Father Luka's (the English speaking monk at Monastery Kom) invitation to visit him at his residence--the Dajbabe Monastery.

Dajbabe Monastery was built in 1897 around a cave that was used as a church in the 3rd century.

A mosaic of Simeon Popovic

--Born in Cetinje, Montenegro in 1854

--Attended seminary in Kiev, Russia

--Returned in 1888

--Built Dajbabe Monastery in 1897, resided there, and painted religious paintings on the cave walls of the original church

--Died in 1941--is now a Saint

The cave was small like the church at Monastery Kom.  I tried to imagine being there in the 200's.

We visited with Father Luka.  He told us that he went from being in a rock band to being a monk.  He still brings up songs all during the conversation.  We visited for 3 hours.  We told him our genealogies (German, Welsh, Scandinavian, American Indian, etc.)  It was quite a contrast to Montenegrins who have stayed in one place and can trace their lines back for hundreds of years.

We were talking about people getting along and how the conflicts are always close to home.  Father Luka said, "That is why the Savior said, 'Love thy neighbor.'"

We asked if there were any Orthodox orphanages or soup kitchens for the homeless that we could support.  He directed us to visit the Bishop of the Orthodox Church of Montenegro in Cetinje.

On our last afternoon we took Leonards to see the oldest Orthodox Church in Podgorica and the newest Orthodox Church in Podgorica.

(This picture was taken in Feb.)

This is the St. George Church.  The oldest part of it (small again) was built between the 10th century and the 16th century.

The rock walls gave off the same cool damp air like the cave church at Dajbabe.

This is the Cathedral of the Resurrection.  The building began in 1993, and it is still being built.  The Russian Patriarch Alesksey laid the founding stone.  The gold crosses on top were also donated by Russia.

The main level is unfinished, but the lower level is finished and has regular services, funerals, and weddings.