Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
March 11, 2003

With the blessing of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church the gathering of Serbian choirs from the Fatherland and Diaspora is going to be held in the Saint Sava's Memorial Church at Vracar on the feast of Vidovdan this year, under the name of VIDOVDAN 2003. This manifestation will be organised by the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Ministry of Religions of the Republic of Serbia and the Pilgrimage Agency of the Serbian Orthodox Church Philanthropy.

This first gathering of Serbian choirs from the whole world, which is to become a traditional annual event, will be distinguished the great jubilee of the Serbian culture - marking of the 150^th anniversary of work of the First Belgrade Singing Society.

The organisers wish to gather most of the Serbian choirs throughout the world, from the majority of the European countries, USA, Canada and Australia.

Therefore we invite Serbian choirs from Diaspora to participate in this manifestation. The choirs are required to prepare:

• Hymn to Saint Sava - which will be performed by all the choirs together;
• Compositions of Serbian composers, as the organisers choose; every choir from Diaspora will have at disposal between 5 and 7 minutes;
• Dostojno jest of Vojislav Ilic (all the choirs perform it).

On Sunday, June 29, all the choirs will sing at the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy pursuant to the notes of Stevan Mokranjac.

The notes and texts will be timely delivered to all the participants, as well the entire programme of the concert and visit.

It is our honour to invite all the choirs from Diaspora that want to participate in this Gathering, to send to the address info@spc.yu the following data:

• the name of the choir
• the name of the President and conductor of the choir
• the number of choir members
• e-mail address and phone number
• short history
• blessing of the authorised diocese bishop.

Pilgrimage Agency of the Serbian Orthodox Church Philanthropy will organise visits to monasteries and cities in Serbia, and, possibly, concerts in some of those places for the choirs from Diaspora.

The choirs which apply to participate will be informed of all the details immediately upon the application.

HISTORY OF SERBIAN MUSIC

Hundred and forty-five years of existence of the most significant Serbian choir

The Belgrade Singing Society, the oldest choir in Belgrade and Princedom of Serbia, was founded on January 1 (January 14 according to new, Gregorian calendar) 1853. This society was founded by a steward Milan Milovuk with nine more singing enthusiast.

After the Central Serbian Cultural and Publishing Society and the National Museum, the First Belgrade Singing Society is the third cultural institution of the Serbian people. The first patron and protector of the Choir was the Prince Mihailo Obrenovic, and after him all the Serbian kings and princes, up to 1945 continued that tradition. Since than the main patron of the Choir becomes Serbian Patriarch, meaning that now His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle performs that.