Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
May 3, 2004

ESTONIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VISITS SERBIAN PATRIARCH

On Monday, May 03, 2004, His Beatitude the Serbian Patriarch Kyr Pavle received Mrs. Kristiina Ojuland, the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and accompanying officials in the Patriarch's residence on an official visit.

His Beatitude the Serbian Patriarch Kyr Pavle warmly welcomed his eminent guest and the members of the delegation, and congratulated the Estonian people on their acceptance into the European Union. The Patriarch also called on the Estonian state leadership, on its part, to contribute to ensuring a peaceful life, justice and freedom for all people, in Kosovo and Metohija and throughout the world.

The minister expressed her joy at the opportunity to meet with the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church and emphasized that both she and the Estonian government would make every effort to enhance relations between Estonia and Serbia-Montenegro. Above all, she expressed gratitude for the wise and spiritual thoughts and guidance of the leaders of the Serbian Church.

Mrs. Ojuland then visited the Orthodox Cathedral, the Serbian Orthodox Church Museum and Library, as well as the construction site of St. Sava Orthodox Cathedral in the Belgrade quarter of Vracar, where the Estonian delegation was welcomed by Master builder Dr. Vojislav Milovanovic.

The capital of Estonia is Talin. The surface area of this country is 45,226 square kilometers and the total population numbers 1,408,556. In terms of population density, it is the 150th most inhabited country in the world. The Estonian national currency is the kroon and the language spoken is Estonian.

DAYS OF ST. BASIL OF OSTROG EVENT TO BE HELD IN NIKSIC

The seventh Days of St. Basil of Ostrog Event is currently being organized in Niksic. This year the entire festival will be dedicated to Russian culture. The immediate reason for the choice of theme is the consecration of the image of the Most Holy Mother of God, the gift of Russian sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov, who is to be decorated with the Order of St. Sava.

A delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church will visit Niksic from May 11-13, 2004, with the blessing of His Holiness Aleksii II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The delegation will be headed by His Eminence the Archbishop of Ryazan and Kasimov Kyr Paul, who will be the guest of His Grace the Bishop of Budimlje and Niksic Kyr Joanikije and take part in the Days of St. Basil of Ostrog.

PROGRAM FOR DAYS OF ST. BASIL OF OSTROG EVENT
May 5-12, 2004

May 5 –"Chilandar Builds Us – Artists For Chilandar" art exhibition and fundraising event – Niksic – Dom Svetog Vasilija Ostroskog (St. Basil of Ostrog Home) Gallery – (Proceeds from sales will go toward the restoration of Chilandar Monastery) – 8:00 p.m.

May 6 – Berane – Djurdjevi Stupovi Monastery – Holy Archierchal Liturgy, begins at 9:00 a.m.
– Religious procession – 5:00 p.m.
– Njegusi – Holy Archierchal Liturgy begins at 9:00 a.m.

May 7 - Lecture – Dom Svetog Vasilija Ostroskog Auditorium – Niksic
– Dr. Milos Vukicevic – Syntax of false epilepsy motif in Dostoevsky's novel "The Brothers Karamazov", 6:30 p.m.
– Dr. Bogdan Kosanovic – Karageorge and Russia, 8:00 p.m.

May 8 – Lecture – Dom Svetog Vasilija Ostroskog Auditorium – Niksic
– Dr. Radoje Golovic – Metaphysics of the heart in Russian philosophical culture: B. P. Viseslavcev – 6:30 p.m.
– Dr. Branislav Kuljanin – The Eastern question in Russian philosophy – 8:00 p.m.

May 9 – Exhibition of books, photographs and church artifacts – Russian artists of the 17th – 20th centuries, Nikola I Gallery, King Nikola's Palace – 8:00 p.m.

May 10 – Promotion of the Anthology of Serbian Poetry of the 20th Century – "From Century to Century" – in the Russian language – Dom Svetog Vasilija Ostroskog, at 8:00 p.m.

May 11 – Spiritual academy dedicated to Russia, Scena 213 – 8:00 p.m.
– introductory remarks by Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic
– welcoming remarks of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Belgrade, Vladimir Ivanovski
– homily of the Archbishop Ryazan and Kasimov Kyr Paul

The continuation of the program will include features by the Berjoska Ensemble from Herceg Novi, which will perform Russian folk songs and dances, Jelena and Ivana Zigon, the St. Stanko of Ostrog Choir from Niksic, Vera and Ljudmila Batunova and reciters.

May 12 – Feast of St. Basil of Ostrog
– Holy Archierchal Liturgy, 9:00 a.m., St. Basil of Ostrog Cathedral
– Festal religious procession – through streets of Niksic – 6:00 p.m.
– Consecration of the image of the Most Holy Mother of God in front of the Cathedral at 7:30 p.m.