Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 21, 2004

IOCC TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS IN KOSOVO

IOCC has been closely monitoring the events in Kosovo since violence erupted there in mid-March. IOCC staff members, based in Belgrade, have been consulting with the Church, the UN, the US and others working to provide emergency assistance to folks displaced by the senseless rampage. They have also been assessing refugee needs. Several of the Belgrade staff recently returned from Kosovo where they found that many of the most urgent emergency-related needs have been met by the Red Cross and other Kosovo-based organizations. They also report, however, that there are still displaced families and individuals in certain areas who are not receiving adequate emergency assistance and need additional help. IOCC is procuring needed goods and planning immediate distribution of family hygiene parcels, linen sets, milk powder, wheat flour and other foodstuffs, baby food, and diapers.

At the Baltimore office, IOCC staff has been mobilizing funding from various sources to ensure immediate responses to the urgent conditions uncovered by the Belgrade staff. Senior IOCC staff are engaged in active conversations with various representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church both in the States and in Serbia to explain IOCC's relief initiatives and to receive blessings and support for the project. IOCC's director, Dean Triantafilou, has also discussed the situation at length with Fr. Irinej Dobrijevic who is now based in Belgrade and was visiting in the States recently.

IOCC offers its profound appreciation to its active supporters and other organizations that provide direct relief to our brothers and sisters in Serbia-Montenegro for their generous gifts. Please continue to support the important and urgently needed relief work of IOCC.

IOCC Board of Directors

FIRST LITURGY IN HOLY ARCHANGELS MONASTERY
AFTER A MONTH OF EXILE

One month after an Albanian mob torched the monastery of Holy Archangels near Prizren, the first Holy Liturgy was served in the burned ruins of the monastery. In a tent temporarily serving as a chapel for the monks who returned to their holy shrine, Holy Liturgy was served on St. Thomas Sunday (April 18 / April 5) by priest-monk Varsanufije (Barsanuphios). Following the return of Abbot Herman Vucicevic with Red Cross workers from Strpce on April 16, the rest of the brethren, who spent the last month in exile in the nearby village of Sredska waiting for permission to begin the restoration of their monastery, have also returned.

"VОSTАNI SЕRBIЈЕ" IN TORONTO

On Saturday, April 17, 2004 on the occasion of the celebration of the bicentennial of the First Serbian Uprising and the creation of the modern Serbian state, a large concert under the name of "Vostani Serbije" (Rise Up Serbia) was held in Toronto. The concert was organized by the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada and the General Consulate of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in collaboration with Serbian national organizations and associations.

In addition to the representatives of the Consulate in Toronto, who worked tirelessly for months on the preparation of this grand event, special thanks also goes to Bisa Scekic and Mihailo Mihailovic, producer Sasa Lukac and Milan Vasic, who designed the promotional material.

Many eminent artists from Serbia, including mezzo-soprano Jadranka Jovanovic, pianist Nikola Rackov, singer Snezana Beric, baritone Oliver Njego and actor Mihajlo Janketic, as well as representatives of the Serbian community in Canada, including violincellist Denise Djokich, violinist Marc Djokich, the Kyr Stefan Choir and the Oplenac Serbian Cultural Artistic Society performed before some 1,500 guests in the beautiful Centre for the Arts in Toronto.

In addition to many key representatives of the Serbian community and the diplomatic corps, many members of the Canadian artistic and political scene were also present, including Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, the Honorable Justice Roy McMurtry, the Honorable Senator Norman K. Atkins, the former Canadian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Mr. James Bissett, businesswoman Rebecca MacDonald and others.

It is difficult to find the right words to describe this evening, which will certainly be recorded in the annals of the Serbian diaspora in Canada.

From the very beginning of the event, there was a positive energy and desire by all to appropriately commemorate this important date for all Serbs.

The artists who delivered top notch performances once again demonstrating that they are world-class professionals, the exceptionally elegant costumes and perfect organization all contributed to making us proud that we are Serbs and that we were shown in our true light on this evening.

The concert "Vostani Serbije" began with the performance of the outstanding Kyr Stefan Choir of the St. Sava Church in Toronto directed by Jasmina Vucurovic. The exceptional quality of this choir was confirmed last year by its participation in last year's Vidovdan Assembly of Serbian choirs from Serbia and abroad.

The choir was followed by a series of performances by Belgrade opera stars Jadranka Jovanovic and Oliver Njego, as well as Snezana Beric, accompanied by pianist Nikola Rackov.

Also worthy of note are two young Canadian artists of Serbian origin, violincellist Denise and her brother, violist Marc Djokich, who have performed before appreciative audiences throughout North America. Among the many honors they have received is the Grand Prix at the Irwin M. Klein International String Competition.

At the end of the concert the Oplenac folk ensemble performed several Serbian folk dances. Oplenac was founded 17 years ago and today has 270 members. The ensemble has toured Serbia, the United States and Canada. Oplenac has been awarded a medal by Serbian Prime Minister Dr. Vojislav Kostunica for its contribution to the promotion of Serbian culture.

Ivаnа Djоrdjеvic