Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 24, 2002

Under the auspices of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church organises a charitable concert within the launched drive "Let's Animate Serbia" and on the occasion of the Paschal feast. The concert is going to be held on May 10, 2002, the day of incineration of Saint Sava's relics. The participants in the programme are numerous: folklore group from Greece, chanter Pavle Aksentijevic, opera singers: Jadranka Jovanovic, Zivan Saramandic and Olilver Njego, pianist and violinist: Nada and Jovan Kolundzija, and the Choir of the Faculty of Theology conducted by Predrag Miodrag. The funds collected from the sale of tickets shall be used for purchase of incubators for maternity hospitals in Serbia - His Grace Pahomije, Orthodox Bishop of Vranje, Member of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church said at today's press conference in the Patriarchate Palace in Belgrade.

Bishop Pahomije explained that the goal of this drive, launched by the Holy Synod last year, was to buy incubators for each maternity hospital in Serbia so as to prevent mortality of the prematurely born children, i.e. increase natality. According to the data which Bishop Pahomije stated, 220 incubators are needed for maternity hospitals in Serbia. Six incubators were bought last year and thirty-three more are planned for this year, through this drive "Let's Animate Serbia".

"Statistic data are shockingly dreadful. In 2000, 72 600 children were born and 109 000 people died in Serbia, without Kosovo and Metochia. Last year 74 000 babies were born and 114 000 Serbian citizens died. Around 2 500 newborns die annually. Unless we do something about it, in 10 years we will face enormous problems", Bishop Pahomije said.

Bishop Pahomije also mentioned that the Church could play a great role in the campaign for the increase of birth rate in Serbia. An example is the Diocese of Vranje Bishop Pahomije is in charge of where there are certain aid programmes for families with more children. Other drives are also planned within a special service Physicians of Love. "It is important for us to get organised. It is easy to talk about it, however, something more concrete should be done. But, the realisation of this programme requires money that the Church does not have in sufficient amount right now. We hope that the return of the property taken from the Church will enable us to engage more in this problem", said Bishop Pahomije and also stated that in the future, before deciding about possible abortion, mothers would be given the opportunity to talk not only with the physician but with a priest too.