Krsna Slava-the celebration of the home Patron Saint-is the greatest characteristic of the national and religious life of the Serbian people. It is a beautiful and unique expression of the Orthodox faith that is deeply implanted in the Serbian Christian soul.

Krsna Slava is an exclusively Serbian custom. It is the most solemn day of the year for all Serbs of the Orthodox faith and has played a role of vital importance in the history of the Serbian people. Krsna Slava is actually the celebration of the spiritual birthday of the Serbian people. Christianity was accepted collectively by families and by tribes. In commemoration of their baptisms, each family or tribe began to celebrate in a special way to honor the saint on whose day they received the sacrament of Holy Baptism. The Mother Church blessed this practice and proclaimed Krsna Slava a Christian institution. According to the words of St. Paul (Phil. 1:2), every Christian family is a small church, and, just as churches are dedicated to one saint, who is celebrated as the protector of the church, so Serbian families place themselves under the protection of the saint on whose holiday they became Christians and to whom they refer to as their intercessor to God Almighty. To that protector of their homes, they pay special homage from generation to generation, from father to son, each and every year.

Because Krsna Slava is regarded as the anniversary of the baptism of the family into Christianity, it is an annual reaffirmation of the family to its baptismal vows and the renewal of its ties to the Orthodox faith and church.

The commemoration of Krsna Slava was always one of the most important expressions of the Serb's Orthodox faith. So they always celebrated their Krsna Slava, regardless of how dangerous the situation. Even when their state and freedom ceased to exist, the candle of their Patron Saint never was extinguished in their houses.

The Krsna Slava is a link for the Serbian people to their past and present, their ancestors and their descendants. The celebration of Krsna Slava requires an Icon of the family Patron Saint and several items that symbolize Christ and the believer's faith in his death and resurrection: 1) a lighted candle; 2) Slavsko zhito (specially made sweetened wheat); 3) Slavski kolach (special bread baked for the celebration); and 4) red wine.

The lighted candle represents that Christ is the Light of world. Slavsko zhito represents the death and resurrection of Christ. The wheat for Slava symbolizes resurrection and eternal life (St. John 12:24). It is prepared for the glory and honor of the Saint and for the repose of the souls of those departed members of the family who commemorated that Saint. Slavski kolach symbolizes Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life. The red wine represents Christ's precious blood, which is required to wash away man's sins.

Slava is celebrated even during a mourning period in the family. The zhito, kolach, and candle are signs of the union between the living and the deceased of the family.