Celebration of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia

The great Christian holiday the Presentation of Our Lord is also the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia.The Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the church of the Ascension of Our Lord in Orashac, served His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral withthe concelebration of His Grace  Bishop Jovan of Shumadija, priesthood and deacons.

Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral held a speech during the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, which was attended by HRH Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic and Princess Katarina, the vice-president of the Serbian government Jovan Krkobabic, minister ofagriculture Sasa Dragin, minister of education Dr Zarko Obradovic, minister of trade Slobodan Milosavljevic, and minister of faith Dr Bogoljub Sijakovic.

At the Holy Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral held a speech before thefaithful and all Serbian people, pointing out the significance of the holiday of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord at the Temple, because in symbolic meeting at the actual historical moment of the Presentation of Our Lord, it is the whole truthful history of  mankind. The holiday of the Presentation of Our Lord is a holiday of human nature, a holiday of Man, and hence the great wisdom and inspiration of our ancestors who just on this holiday of the Presentation of Our Lord passed and confirmed the Constitution of the Principality of Serbia in 1835. That constitution was actually one sprout, one small ray that shined from this meeting of God and man, the meeting of mercy of God and truth of God, justice and peace. In those hard times of liberation of the violence, our ancestors brought the Constitution, so as to, according to it, fix everyday life of the state and the people of that time.

After the Holy Liturgy, Their Graces Bishops, priesthood and people went in the procession to  the Maricevica`s gorge, where was held the commemoration to Karadjordje and all rebels suffered for the freedom of the Serbian people. The commemoration and the cultural program was attended by the highest state and military dignitaries, among them were Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia Mirko Cvetkovic and President of the Serbian Assembly Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic.

After the Holy Liturgy, the prayer for peace and progress of the Republic of Serbia and for the salvation of all citizens who are living in Serbia, the independent state and recognized by the world, began celebrations which all the present reminded of the greatness of the Serbian statesmen,soldiers, peasants, professors and pupils, workers and scientists, who presented their Homeland and Church proudly through history. Then there was paid the state and military tribute to all the suffered for faith and Fatherland with a ceremony of laying laurel wreaths in Maricevica`s gorge andthe cultural program.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic held a speech pointing out that the Government of Serbia took the responsibility for solving the problem in Kosovo and Metohija, reminding that the declaration of independence of Kosovo endangered the  international law, safety and security in this region.