We, as a community of Orthodox Serbs in Chicago, who by God’s will have come to the American continent, are called to be salt to this land – a light and a support to one another and to this country that has become our home. The Lord Himself has called us to an apostolic mission, commanding us to carry the light of the Gospel to all nations.

Following the example of the rulers of the holy Nemanjić dynasty, and of Stefan Dečanski himself, as glorious benefactors who built not only churches of stone but living pillars of faith that have gathered their people for centuries – let us become patrons of this holy endeavor and inscribe our names not only in the foundations of the future church, but in eternity itself. For what we give to God, we give to our own salvation.