SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024….FOUR special EVENTS I REMEMBER
September 3, 1949---75 years ago my mother, father and I travelled on board the military transport- S.S.McRae, from Bremerhaven, Germany arriving in NY Harbor that day.
Sept. 30th, 1972 - 52 years ago, was the Feast day of Faith, Hope, Charity and Sophia in the Orthodox Church. That day I was introduced to my future husband, Vladimir, by his brother Leonid K. Borowski, who invited me and my girls to their family celebration.
October 22, 1937- 87 years ago today - my relative- Fr. Nikolai Iosifovich Dorokholskii, was Arrested by the NKVD ourside Odessa in the USSR, and never returned home. He is, in fact, a New Martyr of the Russian Orthodox Church.
102 years ago - on October 20, 1902- my dad, Sergei Sergeevich Dragicevic (a Serbian name and spelling) was born - in Voznesensk,Russian Empire.
My dad, left, standing behind me, was dressed in a white coat like other service personnel aboard ship. All adult men travelling as passengers to the US, were given duties during the 9 day crossing from Germany to New York Harbor. I am 9 years old, excited to be on board this large military vessel travelling to the US!
I met Leon Borowski at St. John Baptist Cathedral in D.C. the summr of 1972 after moving to the Maryland/DC area. Leon was a very hospitable man. He invited us to his family’s feast day celebration of Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity celebrated on September 30th. My two girls -- Vera (Faith), Nadia (Hope), and Leon’s wife, Nancy (also Hope,) celebrated their feast day. A few weeks after that propitious and happy occasion, Vladimir and I on the left of photo above, his brother Leon and wife, Nancy, attended the festive annual Russian community Cadet Ball in New York City. I sewed dresses for my future sister-in-law- Nancy (her choice of pattern and fabric) and my own gown for this event. You can see how happy we all were! A wonderful night to remember. The following New Year’s Eve, Dec 31, 1972, Vladimir proposed; and April 3, 1973 we were married in Virginia by a justice of the peace. Later in 1978-Sept 25th, we were married by Fr. Victor Potapov in the DC Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. All very happy memories. Memory eternal to these beloved people: my husband Vladimir, his brother, Leon, and Leon’s wife, Nancy. My girls and I are forever grateful to all of you! May your memories be eternal!
Fr. NIkolai (Nicholas) Iosifovich Dorokholskii (1871 -1937) was grandfather to my second cousin, Nikolai Lvovich Dorokholskii (1938 - 2022). He was one among thousands and thousands Orthodox clerics and faithful executed for their faith by the communist regime in soviet Russia between 1917 and the 1940s. Fr. Nikolai’s story is worth telling more fully in a following blog.
A dear friend and journalist, Alla Kisina, wrote about him and others in an article in Russian, online in 2017: https://pravoslavie.ru/104763.html
October 20th is the feast day of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus celebrated in the old style calendar (7 October new style), by the Russian Orthodox Church. . My father, Sergei Sergeevich Dragicevic (1902 - 1991) was born on this very day in Voznesensk, Russian Empire.
It was a custom among Russian families to name their child after the saint of the day they were born. There was also a custom to name the firstborn boy after his father. In this case my dad met both criteria. His father was also Sergei.
This particular St. Sergius, and St. Bacchus were Roman soldiers distinguished for their service to the Roman emperor in the 3rd century. Until, that is, it was discovered they were Christians.
More about my dad from his journals in future blogs.
Am very grateful for all my dad's efforts and sacrifices on my behalf over the years. Memory eternal to you, my dear!
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