For the glory and honour of the New Martyrs of Jasenovac
Eucharistic gathering in the monastery of Jasenovac. Prayerful commemoration of the New Martyrs at the place of the tomb in the concentration camp of Jasenovac. Consecration of the restored Bishop’s Palace in Pakrac, residence of the Serbian Bishop of Slavonia. Audience with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mrs. Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic.
On the second day of the visit to the Dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia, on September 10th 2016, His All-Holiness Bartholomew of Constantinople and Patriarch Ecumenical together with His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej celebrated, on the occasion of 75th anniversary of the beginning of suffering of the Holy Martyrs of Jasenovac, the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the monastery church of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist in Jasenovac.
In prayerful presence of several hundreds of believers who came from all areas of Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Republic of Srpska, many Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Polish Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church concelebrated. The Primates officiated a commemoration rite (panichida) for the suffered Martyrs on the place of the tomb in the Jasenovac concentration camp.
The rite of consecration of the partly restored Bishop’s palace in Pakrac gathered several hundreds of believers who welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej and Their Eminences and Graces, Hierarchs.
In the afternoon, the President of the Republic of Croatia Mrs. Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic received in audience His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Their Eminences Metropolitans Genadios of Sassima and Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana. They stated the importance of dialogue as a way of solving problems and conflicts, as well as avoiding wars and bloodsheds. They pointed out specifically the importance of interreligious dialogue today when the modern society is being faced with growing extremism.
photo: Nenad Stikovic
