Today, though, Serbian Americans—and even more broadly, members of the Eastern Orthodox church—aren’t pleased to see the non-stop news reports about the country’s only Serbian Orthodox governor.
No local orthodox priests or church leaders from the Midwest diocese have spoken out against Blagojevich’s corruption charges yet, but out in the blog-o-sphere there’s some indication that members of the Orthodox community—just 0.6 percent of Americans according to Pew Forum statistics—are ashamed to see one of their own making negative news headlines nationwide.
I read comments such as “hey, at least the report didn’t say that Blagojevich is Orthodox!” and “It's a real shame that dirt bags like this one associate themselves with the Serbian Orthodox church! What a joke!!!”
As a child, Blagojevich attended Old Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church on the Northwest Side, where he sang and played in the orchestra along with his brother Robert, the Chicago Sun-Times reported in 2006. Old Holy Resurrection, in Logan Square, is one of about ten Eastern Orthodox Churches in that area, catering to the city’s Serbian, Romanian, Belarusian, Ukrainian and Greek Orthodox populations.
Blagojevich now lives in Ravenswood Manor, but he said during an interview for his run for governor that he currently doesn’t attend a single church regularly. Still, as the son of Serbian immigrants to Chicago, he remains an icon for the Serbian-American population and remains active in their religious community. Back in April, he visited a Serbian Orthodox monastery and parish in the Third Lake, a northern suburb.
If the charges hold, Blagojevich could spend his Christmas behind bars… if he’s still in jail on Jan. 7. Serbian Orthodox tradition follows the Julian calendar, which schedules holiday dates 13 days behind the typical Gregorian one.
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Kate Shellnutt
I’m a freelance religion reporter and blogger for the Little Things. I majored in religion and journalism as an undergrad, and I'm now completing my master's in journalism at Medill.
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This I pray from my fragile Slavic glass house.
God,... may Begich, Kunicich, and Vionovich walk with humility and character, and dress themselves only in woven fabric from worthy Balkan moral fibers, and represent the Serbian, Croatian, and Slovenian Community proudly.
I pray that I might find contentment in life, blessed in the arms of good company. May I foster: Honesty, benevolence, and empathy. May I find happiness in the simple things in life. May I value my character, more then I value the trappings of the material world. May I value my friendships as most dear. I pray for internal peace for all of my Slavic Brothers. May life keep me humble.
May I experience the pain of growth, a deeper understanding and forgiveness of myself and others, so that I might move on with life, with joy and a renewed spirit.
Dobro vejer moj Brata
This corruption is vulgar, disgusting and saddens me as a Serbian American! I grew up with a strong appreciation for my rich Balkan heritage. To see this of any American to commit such terrible crimes is disheartening but for our community it's one more suffering to add to a long list! Ugg!!!
My father has tried very hard to preserve the rich culture of the Serbian people and to over come the weight of the Balkan wars! It is very difficult to be witness to a leading figure in our country who should be fighting for justice and good to be such a corupt and selfish human being! I'm sure he was raise to honor his heritage and be proud of his culture and now all he has done in the eyes of the world is add to any disdain for the Serbian people!
Very sad...I wish the best for his girls that they learn from his mistakes and continue to be strong as Serbian Americans.
Dawn
As a Serbian American, I am ashamed. Being proud of great Serbian (and other Southern Slavic) Americans, such as Tesla and Karl Malden, or younger Milla Jovovich, for example, it makes me sad just the same that this talented politician is so rotten. It scared me to realize that he's probably just the one "who got caught" and that many other top American politicians are no better. Welcome to the jungle...
Thank you for your comment Dan. One of the things that I've found so stunning about the coverage and fallout from yesterday's arrest is that no one has offered up much to say on the Governor's behalf. Surely there much be things to say for him?
Orthodox Christianity is not a blood-born religion, a family tradition or an ethnic birthright. It is a committed relationship with Jesus Christ lived out in, with and through his Church founded 2,000 years ago, requiring each Orthodox Christian to mold his/her character to the ethics of his Gospel through a lifestyle of repentance rooted in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In other words, it has to be intentional, not merely inherited. Sure, Orthodox Christianity took root and built up marvelous spiritual capital in Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, but that does not guarantee those countries, cultures or ethnic groups are any more immune to temptation and sin than the rest of the human race. Just because people have a great treasure at their disposal, as part of their heritage, doesn't necessarily mean it they appropriate it or use it. Blagojevich is a caution against such nominalism when it comes to the inner fight between the darker demons and better angels of our nature, in which we must willfully and mindfully take part.
After that highly publicized corruption scandal Blagojevich was involved in it's understandable that his fellow Serbian/Americans are reluctant to be associated with him.
I just wonder what happened to the guy that caused him to become such a corrupt official. He keeps claiming his innocence but the evidence is so difficult to deny.
-Dino Delellis
Well, it looks like some people will continue to get away with things. I read recently that Blagojevich recently signed a book deal telling all.
And, what was that all about him hitting the media circuit instead of appealing in court?
Really amazing....
-Matt
Unfortunately this country's law is about money before what is right or the established rule of law. This guy had the money to buy his way out of criminal court.
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