The celebration of the 109th anniversary and the 32 year anniversary since the consecration of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana will begin Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. with Divine Liturgy and a banquet following that is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.
Special guest speakers at the banquet will include His Grace Bishop Longin and Stevan Micic – the 2023 Gold Medal World Champion Wrestler representing Serbia.
Schedule Anniversary Celebration – November 26, 2023
- 10:00 a.m. – Divine Hierarchial Liturgy, followed by Memorial Service and laying of Memorial Wreaths
- 12:30 p.m. – Anniversary Banquet and Program at the St. Sava Event Center, Merrillville, Indiana
- St. Sava Hymn, Posting of Colors, and National Anthem – S.S.S. Karageorge Choir
- Welcoming and Introduction of Guests
- Greetings and Introduction of Special Guest
- Keynote Speaker Stevan Micic
- Special Presentation by His Grace Bishop Longin
About Keynote Speaker Stevan Micic
Stevan Micic was born April 4, 1996, in Mesa, Arizona, to parents Stevan and Lori Micic. Stevan grew up in Northwest Indiana, and graduated from Hanover Central Hight School in Cedar Lake, Indiana in 2014. That same year he was named the Indiana state recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
After high school, Stevan attended Northwestern University for one year and then went to the University of Michigan for his undergraduate and graduate degrees, where he was very active in wrestling.
At the end of 2018, he had a collegiate wresting record of 74 wins and 13 defeats. He was three-time Indiana state wrestling champion. Steven competed for the USA at the 2015 Junior World Championships in Salvador, Brazil, winning a bronze medal. In 2018 he joined the Serbian National Wrestling Team, winning two bronze medals at the European Championships.
At the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, he won a gold medal. Stevan is the first wrestler representing Serbia to win a medal in men’s freestyle wrestling at the World Wrestling Championships.
Saint Sava Church is prod to recognize Stevan Micic as a contributing member of the parish and as the guest speaker for the Church’s 108th Anniversary celebration.
