Convocation of the Circle of Serbian Sisters of the Republika Srpska
With the Archhierarchal Liturgy in the church of St. Paraskeve in Ugljevik, officiated by His Grace Fotije, Bishop of Zvornik-Tuzla, the 11th Convocation of the Circle of Serbian Sisters of the Republic Srpska began under the sponsorship of the President of the Republika Srpska, Zeljka Cvijanovic.
“Active members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters observe the Serbian national and spiritual tradition. Church community and parish circles undertake missionary and humanitarian activities, that have a national and heroic dimension among Serbs. The members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters follow the path of myrrh-bearing women from the Gospel who served the Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples during the preaching of the Holy Gospel,” said His Grace Bishop Fotije, who was awarded a bishop’s encolpion and a charter of appreciation from the Circle of Serbian Sisters "St. Mary Magdalene" from Ugljevik.
The eleventh Convocationof the Circle of Serbian Sisters of the Republika Srpska, when representatives of 26 humanitarian societies were assembled, was held in an effort to establish a fund to help sick children. Parish priest of the Circle of Serbian Sisters from Ugljevik, protopresbyter staurophore Milan Topic, said that one of the most important topics of the convocation was establishment of a joint fund which would finance treatment of sick children.
“Today, our Ugljevik has become the Republika Srpska in a small, a big circle of love starting from warm Herzegovina, via Romania, flat Semberia and Lijevce Polje, Banja Luka and Kozara up to Mrkonjic Grad,” said Andja Srijemac, president of Ugljevik Circle of Serbian Sisters “Mary Magdalene”, which is the organizer of the convocation held under the sponsorship of the President of the Republika Srpska and with support of the Municipality of Ugljevik and the companies “Rudnik” and Thermal Power Plant of Ugljevik.
The mayor of Ugljevik, Vasilije Peric, expressed his pleasure that the Municipality hosted the Convocation: “We are grateful to the Circle of Serbian Sisters for the love and faith in Christ, but also for everything they have done to all people who need help, and for their activity and perseverance that encourage us to fellowship, unity and progress.”
A cultural and artistic program was held on the plateau in front of the Cultural Center, and later on a liturgical memorial service was officiated for the fallen fighters of the Army of the Republika Srpska in front of the Central Memorial Monument
Source: Diocese of Zvornik and Tuzla
(translated by Sanja Simic de Graaf)
