Father Rajko Kosic arranges flowers on the altar at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Whitehall in preparation for the celebration of Serbian Christmas on January 7th. The Serbian Orthodox Church uses the traditional Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. He wanted to make sure that everything looked just right as his parish was expecting a visit from HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine of Serbia. Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, to his right, are greeted upon arrival at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Whitehall at the beginning of Christmas Liturgy Friday morning. This was the second visit in 20 years to the cathedral for the prince and princess. Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review News Service

HRH Crown Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia were invited to share the altar at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Whitehall with Grace Bishop of Eastern America Dr. Mitrophan and church pastor, the Rev. Rajko Kosic, during Christmas Liturgy. The royal couple honored the local Serbian parish with their attendance. Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review News Service

Whitehall church hosts a service fit for royalty

By Stephanie Hacke SOUTH HILLS RECORD

They looked just like anybody else who had prepared for a Christmas service at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Whitehall. He was in a suit and tie. She, too, dressed the part.

The crowd of people watching their every move was the only indication they were special.

"They're here," several people in the cathedral entry whispered to their neighbors.

A visit from HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine of Serbia was a big event for all, even though no one knew exactly why they had chosen the Whitehall location.

"You don't get royalty very often in this country," said South Side resident Sally Stone, who has been a member of the Whitehall cathedral since it was built in 1971.

The prince and princess received the royal treatment. They were greeted as they exited their Escalade at the entrance of the Cathedral for the Orthodox Christmas morning service last Friday.

Two girls -- Milica Kosic and Jelena Winowich -- dressed in traditional Serbian attire, presented them with Pogaca bread and salt, and the princess received a bouquet.

The couple then were escorted to the front of the church, where they were given seats on the altar for the Christmas service. The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7, because they follow the Julian calendar that is 13 days behind the Gregorian one.

The Serbian Orthodox church has a deep history that is passed down through generations, Stone said.

For those who grew up in the church, the history, culture and detailed information about the royal family are well-known facts. They talk about the history of the royal family as if it were their own.

And the visit from the prince and princess served as a reminder of their past.

"To me, it symbolizes our native country. Although we are Americans, we have deep affiliation and interest in our native country," said North Hills resident George Topich. "I'm American, but I'm also Serbian."

Although this isn't the first time Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine visited the Whitehall Cathedral, church members who traveled from across Pittsburgh were excited by the honor.

"It's very, very exciting. It gets everybody geeked a little more for Christmas," choir director and North Hills resident Bob Topich said.

"It's a special day. It's exciting. I may never have this opportunity again."

Church officials learned about a month in advance that the prince and princess were coming to visit, said Whitehall resident and cathedral President Darlene Defebo.

Defebo and cathedral Vice President Paula Winowich spent the last month preparing for their arrival.

"They're very, very down to earth," Defabo said.

HELLO!, 17.01.2011.

BRIGA I DRUZENJE SA SRBIMA U AMERICI PRESTOLONASLEDNIK ALEKSANDAR I PRINCEZA KATARINA PROSLAVU I BOŽIĆ SA NAŠIM ISELJENICIMA

Stotine okupljenih vernika našeg porekla oduševljeno su pozdravili princa i princezu u porti crkve

Tokom dvodnevnog boravka u Pitsburgu princ Aleksandar i princeza Katarina sreli su se sa mnogim istaknutim predstavnicima srpske dijaspore, kao i predstavnicima srpskih i američkih medija, kojima su govorili o situaciji u našoj zemlji

Radi održavanja prijateljskih odnosa, prestolonaslednici, princ Aleksandar II i princeza Katarina proslavili su Božić sa našim ljudiina u Americi. Oni su zajedno sa Brankom Terzićem, članom Krunskog veća, i njegovomsuprugom Džudit prisustvovali svetoj arhijerejskoj liturgiji na Božić, 7. januara, u crkvi Svete trojice u Pitsburgu u Pensilvaniji. Liturgiju je služio episkop istočnoamerićki Mitrofan, uz sasluženje oca Rajka Kostića, parohijskog sveštenika. Stotine okupljenih vernika našeg porekla sa oduševljenjem su pozdravili srpske prestolonaslednike u porti crkve. Princu Alelcsandru i njegovoj supruzi Katarini veoma je prijao topao doček naših Ijudi, kao i želja dece koja žive u Americi, a srpskog su porekla, da se fotografišu sa njima. - Mojoj supruzi i meni bilo je veliko zadovoljstvo da posetimo Pitsburg i Alikripu tokom božićnih praznika i da ovaj veliki praznik obeležimo sa našim zemljacima koji tamo žive. Veoma smo ponosni na sve naše ljude koji su očuvali srpsku tradiciju i običaje. Imali smo sreću da ostvarimo kontakte sa velikim brojem divnih ljudi i njihovim porodicama.

Takođe, veoma nas je obradovao i susret sa vladikom Mitrofanom i sveštenicima Srpske pravoslavne crkve - izjavio je za magazin Hello! princ Aleksandar II Karađordević.

Sinovi naših prestolonaslednika Petar, Filip i Aleksandar tokorn novogodišnjih praznika boravili su u Americi, ali nisu bili u prilici da Božić proslave sa svojim roditeljima. Nekoliko dana kasnije, 15. januara, blizanci Filip u Londonu, a Aleksandar u Americi za svoje prijatelje upriličili su nezaboravne rođendanske zabave. Badnji dan i badnje veče naši prestolonaslednici princ Aleksandar i princeza Katarina takođe su proveli u druženju sa pravoslavnim vernicima u Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama. Prisustvovali su paljenju badnjaka u srpskoj pravoslavnoj crkvi Sveti Ilija u Alikvipi. Iste večeri uspeli su da posete i obraduje ljude našeg porekla u crkvi u Pensilvaniji, gde su takođe prisustvovali paljenju badnjaka. Posle tog svetog čina, princ Aleksandar II i njegova supruga Katarina pridružili su se velikoj procesiji koju su predvodili episkop iscočnoamerički Mitrofan i parohijski sveštenik Stepan Stepanov.

Prestolonaslednik Aleksandar i njegova nežnija polovina najviše su uživali u programu koji je izveo dečji hor parohije, sastavljen od pesama i igara iz Srbije. Posle svete liturgije naši prestolonaslednici bili su počasni gosti na večeri koju je u njihovu čast priredio profesor doktor Robert Fridlender, načelnik odeIjenja neurohirurgije na Medicinskom fakaltetu Univerziteta u Pitsburgu. Tokom dvodnevnog boravka u Pitsburgu princ Aleksandar i princeza Katarina sreli su se sa mnogim istaknutim predstavnicima srpske dijaspore, kao i predstavnicima srpskih i američkih medija, kojima su govorili o situaciji u našoj zemlji

PIŠE: JELENA POPOVIĆ

Blic 06.01.2011.

Princ Aleksandar za Božić u Alikvipu

Prestolonaslednik Aleksandar i princeza Katarina prisustvovaće proslavi Božića u četvrtak u pravoslavnoj srpskoj crkvi Sveti Hija u američkom gradiću Alikvipi.

- Kad smo rekli deci u nedeljnoj školi veronauke da dolaze pravi princ i princeza, njihove oči su se zacaklile i potpuno su zanemela -kaže Brajan Hajden, učitelj veronauke koji če koordinisati proslavom Božića. U Alikvipu se na Božić, 7. januara, okupi oko 300 do 400 duša, a za prinčevski par će biti organizovana i dečja predstava.