Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
June 15, 2004

CHOIRS AMONG THE FRESCOES

The “Choirs among the Frescoes” Festival of Spiritual Music, to be dedicated this year to Chilandar Monastery and the Serbian holy shrines destroyed during the March pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija, will be held from May 16 to July 2004 in the Gallery of Frescoes in Belgrade. The festival will be opened for the tenth time by the Men’s Chamber Choir of the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which this year marks 85 years since its founding, and by the Braca Baruh Choir, which celebrates its 120th year of existence.

Upon the conclusion of the festival, winners will be awarded the Vojislav Ilic award in two categories: best choir for performance of Orthodox spiritual music and best director. Awards will be presented by the Academy for Arts and Conservation of the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

FORUM ON ORTHODOXY

Mr. Goran Radenkovic and his guest, architect Taylor Hostetter, will discuss the “In the heart of Chilandar – Chilandar in our hearts” computer project in the Vuk Karadzic Cultural Hall, located at Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard number 77?, on Thursday, June 17, 2004, at 6:00 p.m., as part of the Forum on Orthodoxy. A computer projection of the architecture and frescoes in Chilandar Monastery will be shown on this occasion.

EXHIBITION ON RELIGIOUS LIFE IN THE ARMY FROM THE FIRST SERBIAN UPRISING TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR

On June 14, 2004 His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija opened the exhibition “Religious Life in the Army from the First Serbian Uprising to the Second World War” in the Military Museum in Kalemegdan. This exhibition was conceived as a unique portrait and story about the unity of the people, the Church and the army, which was at its height during the period of fateful events and the battle for freedom.

The unity of the clergy and army at a time when one went into battle with faith in God and the homeland was absolute. The First Serbian Uprising, as well as the wars that the Serbian Army waged for the liberation of the homeland during the 19th century, began with a blessing. The Army fought with spiritual strength and readiness to bear sacrifices for the highest of goals.

The exhibition’s creator, Mrs. Dusanka Maricic, placed considerable effort into selecting photographs and works of art documenting the true story of the role of faith and the clergy in the creation and strengthening of the modern Serbian state and its army.

PATRIARCH RECEIVES GENERAL BISHOP OF EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF THE A.C. IN SLOVAKIA

On June 14, 2004 His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle together with His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa received the General Bishop of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia Dr. Julius Filo, who was accompanied by his closest community associates as well as by Bishop Samuel Vrbovski of the Evangelical Church of the A.C. in Slovakia in Serbia and Montenegro.

In his welcoming statement His Holiness emphasized that inter-Christian meetings during these difficult times are very important because the people care about peace and freedom, and Christians pray each day for freedom and peace that comes from the Lord. We should keep this in mind as Christians and human beings, and toward this goal all heralds of peace and God’s love are welcome.

Introducing his associates and Bishop Vrbovski from Novi Sad, Bishop Filo thanked the Patriarch for his welcome and emphasized that for some time they have wanted to express their fraternal love and respect to the Serbian Patriarch. The guests greeted His Holiness in the name of the Christians in Slovakia where, in addition to the most numerous Roman Catholic Church, there are also about 370,000 members of the Evangelical Church of the A.C. and about 50,000 Orthodox Christians. Expressing his sympathies to the Serbian Patriarch and the Serbian Church for the bombing of the Serbs in 1999 and the recent persecution against the Serbs and Serbian holy shrines in Kosovo and Metohija, Bishop Filo emphasized that these events caused great sorrow to the citizens of Slovakia, and that Christians throughout the world should not remain indifferent toward this great suffering.

Bishop Samuel Vrbovski of the Evangelical Church of the A.C. in Slovakia from Novi Sad, speaking on behalf of his faithful, expressed his sympathies to the Serbian Orthodox Church for the suffering of the Serbian Church in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the recent fire at Chilandar Monastery on the Holy Mountain. Bishop Vrbovski said that his Church would also actively join in the collection of funds for the full restoration of the burned monastery. The faithful of the Evangelical Church of the A.C. in Slovakia, who have lived in this region for more than 250 years, want to rejoice with the Serbian Church at the restoration of this greatest of Serbian holy shrines. At the conclusion of the meeting, Bishop Filo presented His Holiness with a valuable monograph on the beautiful churches of Slovakia.

BICYCLISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GATHER IN FRONT OF ST. SAVA CATHEDRAL
Patriarch’s blessing and prayer service for contestants

A large number of bicycling fans gathered on the plateau in front of St. Sava Cathedral to welcome the participants in the 44th consecutive “Through Serbia” Bicycle Race to take place in six stages from June 15 to June 20, 2004, along a path from Belgrade to Pozarevac. The ceremonial parade after the cultural and arts program included 22 teams comprised of 110 bicyclists from 20 states: Austria, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong, Croatia, Albania, Hungary, Japan, Mongolia, Thailand, Germany, Russia, Slovenia, the Ukraine, Turkey, the USA, Wales and Bulgaria.

At the start of the race the Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Services, Dr. Bojan Dimitrijevic, wished all contestants luck and promised that the organization would be successful in justification of the high regard for Serbian sports throughout the world. Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Cedomir Vuckovic served a prayer service for a safe trip and the health of all the participants.

CONSTRUCTION OF CHURCH IN SAVINAC CONTINUES

Construction of the church of St. Sava recently resumed in Savinac near Pozega in the Diocese of Zica. Last year local residents of Visibabe managed to complete the foundation with their donations and by the end of this year, they hope to complete initial construction work. The edifice of the church of St. Sava will be 17 meters high.

[Serbian Translation Services]