The guest of the latest edition of the radio programme Hram, broadcast on Radio Belgrade 2 on Sunday, 25 May 2025, was catechist Branislav Ilić, editor of the missionary portal Kinonia and permanent associate of the Section for Electronic Mission of the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci. In the said broadcast, catechist Branislav spoke on the topic: “The Newly Glorified Saint – Saint Ana, Mother of Saint Basil of Ostrog.” The programme was authored and hosted by Dušanka Zeković.
In the introductory part of the programme, catechist Branislav spoke about the life of Saint Ana, the mother of Saint Basil of Ostrog, her role in the upbringing of the great wonderworker, the Most Holy Theotokos as a model for all mothers, as well as about the Church’s process of canonization and what the glorification of new saints means for us, contemporary Christians.
In the programme, catechist Branislav introduced listeners to the development of the veneration of the newly revealed Saint Ana, speaking of the miraculous signs and wonders that have occurred at the saint’s grave. In his own words: “The Church, as a caring mother, determined the right moment to include the mother of Saint Basil among the saints, for through the act of canonization, the Church does not create saints, but merely reaffirms what has already been recognised by the faithful. And the believers have long recognised Saint Ana as a beloved handmaiden of God, one who warms our cold hearts with her love, instilling within us the pure, Christ-like love which she once instilled in her son Stojan Jovanović, who would become the great saint and wonderworker of Ostrog, Basil.”
Given that catechist Branislav has for many years researched the sanctity of Saint Basil’s mother, he shared in the programme valuable insights concerning the spiritual portrait of the blessed and holy Ana.
The guest of Hram programmerecalled his first encounter with the saint, speaking about the gift of prayerful tears experienced at her holy grave. “It is no coincidence that the exact date and year of Saint Ana’s birth and repose remain unknown to us, along with many other details, for the Lord thereby directs our attention to the essence of her person—that we may be inspired by and follow the example of her virtuous, prayerful, and love-filled life in Christ,” said catechist Branislav. He added: “All present and future mothers have in the person of Saint Ana the example of true motherhood, for by her upbringing, her self-sacrifice, and her love, she led her only son—little Stojan Jovanović—on the path to sainthood, becoming the most glorious Saint Basil, who without ceasing glorifies God through his miracles.”
At the end of the broadcast, catechist Branislav Ilić expressed gratitude to the host for her invitation and hospitality, and gave the listeners the words of inspired counsel, with a prayerful wish that the prayers of the newly revealed Saint Ana and her son, the wonderworker of Ostrog, Saint Basil, may be with us all, guiding us toward the unwaning Day of the Heavenly Kingdom.
