Prayerful remembrance of the killed in the Croatian military operation “Storm” 20 years ago

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, celebrated memorial service for the killed in the operation “Storm”, in the church of Saint Mark in Belgrade, yesterday, on 5 August 2015.

The central prayerful gathering on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the persecution and the suffering of the Serbian people in the Croatian military operation “Storm” was held in the church of Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark in Belgrade yesterday, on 5 August 2015. His Holiness Irinej celebrated the memorial service (panichida, parastasis) for the murdered Orthodox Serbs exactly 20 years ago, when up to 2.000 Orthodox  Serbs lost their lives on their urgent way to Serbia, having been expelled from their native lands what is Croatia today.

His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren - members of the Holy Synod of Bishops -, clergy of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac, as well as a huge number of faithful from the Serbian capital, relatives of the suffered and mudrerd, and members of refugee associations of the Serbs from the Krajina area - prayed for the departed souls. Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Mr. Aleksandar Vulin, was present on behalf of the Serbian Government. The commemoration was attended by Ambassador of Great Britain Mr. Denis Keefe as well.

At the end of the memorial service Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral held a sermon.

Exactly at noon, all bells from all churches in the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac sounded, and lots of people walked in a procession from the church of St. Mark through central city streets to “Sava Center” in New Belgrade, where the Memorial Academy “Storm – not to forget the crime” was held. Serbian Patriarch Irinej attended this sad event, and delivered an address. President of Serbia Mr. Tomislav Nikolic as well ministers of the Serbian Government and other political and cultural dignitaries were present; President Nikolic spoke as well.