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On December 12, 2015, on the feast
of the Holy Martyrs Paramon, Philemon
and the newly canonized St. Mardarije of
Libertyville, Mother Ana (Radetic), Abbess
of St. Archangel Gabriel Monastery, New
Marcha, passed away in the Lord at the age
of 94.
Mother Ana was born January 12,
1922 of parents Milan and Ana Radetic
in Lackawanna, New York. Her parents
emigrated to America prior to World War I,
the father from Sisak and her mother was
from Bjelovar. Bringing with them from
their homeland their love for their faith, the
parents of Jovanka (Mother Ana’s name prior
to her tonsure), Milan, Djordje, Vladimir
and Aleksandar brought up from early age
in the spirit of our holy faith. She listened to
the sermons of St. Bishop Nikolai from her
youth, as he would frequently serve at the
church in Lackawanna, and was taught by
his example. She regularly attended church
services in her local parish and sang in the
church choir.
Bishop Sava Vukovic had a special
place in her spiritual life since he gave her
the blessing to embark upon the monastic
path. He appointed Jovanka as a novice to
the Nikolje Monastery (of Ovcar) where
she familiarized herself with the monastic
rules. After a year at Monastery Nikolje
she learned the monastic rule, to read
Church Slavonic, to chant and to speak
Serbian. With the blessing of Bishop
Sava and Bishop Vasilije Kostic of Zica,
the “Sister America” (as Bishop Vasilije
would affectionately call her) transferred to
Monastery Vracevsnica. Under the vigilant
eye of Mother Ana she grew in obedience
and was more determined in her decision to
receive the monastic tonsure and learned to
write in Cyrillic.
During this entire time the sisters
in Nikolje and Vracevsnica prepared the
novice Ana for her return to America and the
start of her monastic life on this continent.
Also included in her preparation were all
the household duties which had not been
done in that manner in America for at least
fifty years, but which needed to be accepted
by an American.
Her memory of having to meet with a
state official every three months to extend
her stay in Serbia is interesting. He was very
strict and unkind the first time he received
her while each time afterward he was
warmer and more courteous so much so that
In Memoriam: Mother Ana (Radetic)
1922 - 2015
he even offered her a position. Once, feeling
sorry for her, he asked her: “Comrade, how
is it you come from America, that developed
and wealthy country, to these woods and
barren land?” She replied, “I am not a
comrade but a sister and I have come here
to learn.”
Just as she had grown accustomed
to the Serbian customs and way of life a
letter arrived from Bishop Sava that sister
Jovanka return to the Diocese of Eastern
America where she would be tonsured.
Since there was no women’s monastery
in the Diocese, Bishop Sava tonsured the
novice Jovanka at St. Stephen’s Church
in Lackawanna on November 12, 1973,
giving her the name Ana in honor of St. Ana
the mother of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The newly tonsured Sister Ana was given
obedience at the diocesan residence in
Richfield where she attended the daily
church services with Bishop Sava and had
household chores. After the diocesan center
moved to the suburbs of Pittsburgh Sister
Ana stayed in the newly established New
Marcha Monastery (the former diocesan
residence). Soon she was joined by Mother
Evpraksija Paunovic and a few other novices
as well as Fr. Simeon Grozdanovich. Per the
needs of the church Sister Ana was taken
to the new diocesan residence where she
completed the household chores. During this
time a large number of young people from
Pittsburgh (who never had the opportunity
to see a monastery) came to listen to her talk
about the monasteries in Serbia and life in
the monasteries. Many of these people are
monastics and clergy in both the Serbian
Church and other jurisdictions. Per the needs
of the church she also lived in Johnstown
and Columbus. In Columbus she worked
with Prota Mateja Matejic in organizing the
St. Stephen of Dechani parish there.
Per the needs of the church Sister Ana
was sent back to the diocesan residence
in Edgeworth. There she was one of the
closest workers for Bishop Christopher
Kovacevich of Eastern America, together
with current Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic) of
the Metropolitanate of Australia and New
Zealand.
After being in Edgeworth for twelve
years she went back to New Marcha
Monastery. Under very difficult financial
conditions she worked hard to improve
life in the monastery. Besides daily church
services she worked alone in maintaining
the large monastery grounds. The Catholic
nuns (whose monastery is across the street
from New Marcha) helped her greatly,
spending much time and energy helping with
anything she needed. Abbess Alexandra of
Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City
had much love and cared much for Sister
Ana.
The 90s brought both spiritual and
material blessings to the monastery.
With the blessings and effort of Bishop
Mitrophan and the work of Sister Ana, the
monastery living quarters were covered
and reconstructed. The brotherhood and
sisterhood grew during that time, but they
were also sent, per the needs of the church,
to other places.
As a result of her love for God and her
monastic vows Sister Ana reported in the
year 2000 that Gertrude Stanojevic donated
$250,000 during the construction of the
monastery church. When Bishop Sava
Vukovic, her spiritual father, heard the news
he sent her a “hierarchical” prayer rope,
while Bishop Mitrophan proclaimed her a
great benefactor of New Marcha Monastery
at the consecration of the monastery church
in 2001. The Holy Synod of Bishops granted
her the Order of St. Sava in the third degree
in 2004.
This story would be all too simple if we
were not to mention the physical condition
Continued on Page 16
The Path of Orthodoxy Winter 2016 • 13