St Thomas of Acon

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The plan was perfect, almost too perfect. Four members of Old Olavians Chapter No 5758 would jet from the UK to Belgrade, reunite with their Serbian Brethren in William Preston Chapter No 766, and conduct the Exaltation of six Royal Arch Masons. Months of Zoom calls, meticulous preparation and cross-border coordination had built toward this single December evening.

Then came the airport announcement that every traveller dreads. "I'm sorry, sir, but the flight is overbooked." Companion Kane Benham watched his travelling companions, Excellent Companions Jason Pearson and Philip Clare, board their Belgrade-bound flight on December 19th while he stood stranded at the gate.

Minutes later, he was rerouted through Frankfurt, his arrival pushed past midnight. The Michelin-starred restaurant reservation? Gone. The welcoming meal with his Brothers? Missed. But Kane would make it to the Temple on time, exhausted, hungry, yet absolutely determined.

A Meeting Months in the Making

This wasn't a spontaneous visit. Long before any luggage was packed, Excellent Companion Nemanja Nikolic, Scribe E of William Preston Chapter, and Excellent Companion Zoran Milosevic, the Chapter's Director of Ceremonies, had been burning the midnight oil – literally, given the time zones. Through screen-lit Zoom calls spanning autumn into winter, they'd coordinated with their Old Olavians counterparts, refining every detail of the ceremony.

And what a challenge they'd set themselves: conducting the entire ceremony in English, not just passable English, but word-perfect English. For the Serbian Companions of William Preston, this meant mastering complex ritual passages in what was, for all of them, a second language. Native Serbian speakers would deliver ancient English phrases with the precision and reverence they deserved.

Excellent Companion Richard White and his partner had taken the scenic route, arriving on December 16th to explore Belgrade's cobblestoned streets and fortress views before the main event. By the time Jason and Phil landed on the 19th, Richard was already the resident tour guide. And Kane? He stumbled off his Frankfurt connection just after midnight, grabbed whatever sleep he could manage, and showed up ready to serve, even if his stomach was still dreaming of that Michelin star he'd never met.

The Exaltation: Perfection in a Second Language

December 20th, 2025. As the afternoon meeting approached in Belgrade, the Temple doors opened for what would prove an extraordinary gathering. Six candidates stood ready: Companions Haris Ibrahimpasic, Milko Stimac, Zoran Ekmescic, Branimir Hackenberger, Nebojsa Dordevic, and Zvonimir Stankovic. For them, this wasn't just another meeting, it was their elevation into the mysteries of Royal Arch Masonry, guided by a unique collaboration between British and Serbian companions.

All those Zoom rehearsals? Every single minute proved its worth.

The ceremony unfolded in flawless English, not a word out of place, not a phrase stumbled over. To witness Serbian Companions deliver complex English ritual with such precision and grace was nothing short of remarkable. These weren't simple greetings or casual conversation; these were the intricate, formal passages of Royal Arch ceremony, each word carrying weight and meaning, each phrase steeped in tradition.

For the Old Olavians visitors, it was humbling. Here were their Serbian brothers, conducting ritual in the visitors' native tongue with a level of care and accuracy that would impress even the most seasoned English Chapter. The dedication required to achieve such perfection, memorizing not just meanings but pronunciations, cadences, and the subtle rhythms of English ritual speech, spoke volumes about William Preston Chapter's commitment to excellence.

The six candidates journeyed from Craft Masonry to Royal Arch in an atmosphere of profound respect and international fellowship. Words spoken with Serbian accents carried the same ancient meanings they'd carried for centuries. Rituals practiced across hundreds of miles came together seamlessly in that Belgrade temple, proving that dedication and brotherhood recognize no borders.

More Than Miles, More Than Words

As the ceremony concluded to well-deserved applause, the festive board awaited, though for poor Kane, who'd missed the previous night's feast, it couldn't come soon enough. The conversations flowed as freely as the fellowship. Richard shared Belgrade sightseeing recommendations. Kane's Frankfurt odyssey became the night's comic relief, his near-miss growing more dramatic with each retelling, his rumbling stomach adding authenticity to the tale.

The six newly Exalted Companions basked in the glow of their achievement, surrounded by mentors from two nations who'd literally spoken the same language to make this night possible. And what a language lesson it had been, not just for those learning English ritual, but for everyone present learning the deeper language of brotherhood that needs no translation.

This wasn't just about a ceremony successfully executed, though that achievement alone deserved celebration. It was about what happens when Companions see challenges – linguistic, geographical, logistical – as obstacles to overcome rather than excuses to settle for less. When months of preparation and language practice become moments of perfection. When an overbooked flight becomes just another bump in the road that brotherhood smooths over.

The Universal Tongue

Perhaps that's the real lesson here: Freemasonry's truths are so universal that they shine through in any language, spoken by any tongue, in any corner of the world.

William Preston Chapter No 766 didn't just host their Old Olavians brothers, they honoured them by mastering their language. Old Olavians Chapter No 5758 didn't just visit, they participated in something extraordinary: proof that dedication can bridge any divide, that preparation can overcome any barrier, and that when good men commit themselves to excellence, even speaking in a second language becomes a masterclass in brotherly love and mutual respect.

And somewhere in that Belgrade festive board, between the toasts and the laughter, Kane finally got his meal. It might not have been Michelin-starred, but it was served with something far more valuable: the warmth of international brotherhood and the satisfaction of a mission accomplished against all odds.

This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 60 – Spring 2026.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in Arena Issue 60 here.

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