Libertyville, Illinois, April 29, 2026
Drone shot of the St. Mardarije Center, under construction. Photo: stsavamonastery.org
A fundraising luncheon held on Sunday, April 26, at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago easily exceeded its goal for the completion of the St. Mardarije Spiritual and Cultural Center at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois.
His Grace Bishop Serafim, vicar of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gračanica and Midwestern America, presided over the Divine Liturgy and delivered a presentation on the center’s progress and completion goals, the diocese reports.
The event surpassed its initial $50,000 goal, reaching a total of $75,000. All funds will go directly toward the final stages of the St. Mardarije Center construction.
The afternoon featured various musical performances.
Photo: newgracanica.org
The St. Mardarije Spiritual and Cultural Center is part of a $6 million campaign launched last June to renovate the monastery’s historic camp building, which has been closed since 2015 due to safety concerns. The building originally served thousands of children from its establishment in the 1940s.
St. Sava Monastery was founded by two Serbian-American saints and is home to the incorrupt relics of St. Mardarije.
The restored facility will function as an official visitor’s center with a diocesan bookstore and library, host the return of St. Sava Camp for youth ages 6-18, and serve as a venue for diocesan events, retreats, liturgical workshops, and parish meetings.
The monastery is accepting donations online at stsavamonastery.org or by mail to St. Sava Monastery, PO Box 519, Libertyville, IL 60048, with checks payable to St. Sava Monastery and “Camp Renovation” noted in the memo line.
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