Information Service of PATRIARCH PAVLE RECEIVED BISHOP EMMANUEL, On December 16, 2002 His Holiness Pavle Serbian Patriarch received His Grace Emmanuel of Reghion (representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate) who is visiting Belgrade so as to participate in the work of the Round Table on Religious Freedoms in South-Eastern Europe, organised by the Federal Secretariat for Religions. Being the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the European Union in Brussels, Bishop Emmanuel conveyed cordial regards of His All-Holiness Bartholomew – Ecumenical Patriarch and of His Eminence Pantheleimon – Brussels Metropolitan to His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle. During the talks Bishop Emmanuel confirmed the significance of the contribution of the Orthodox Church as well as of other traditional religious communities in the development of the multiethnic and democratic societies, both here in Yugoslavia and in the whole of South-East Europe. The eminent guest pointed out the true significance of the initiative launched in the Vladaton Monastery, the aim of which is to support peacekeeping activities and cooperation among the Churches in this region. Bishop Emmanuel pointed out that the governments and international organisations should more seriously consider the contribution of religious communities in the area. Bishop Emmanuel also informed His Holiness about the activities which are planned within the Vladaton initiative, especially about the gatherings of the youths from south-eastern Europe the goal of which is the further promotion of cooperation and mutual respect. His Holiness Serbian Patriarch thanked the Bishop Emmanuel for the fraternal love shown to the Serbian Orthodox Church and expressed his hope that the Orthodox would represent their Church in a proper way in the contemporary world, being always worthy of their ancestors, so that Lord may acknowledge the Christians as the good administrators of His vineyard. |
