Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
July 14, 2004

ST PETER’S DAY FESTIVITIES IN BIJELO POLJE

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic in Bijelo Polje on the eve of the feast of St. Peter in the auditorium of the Cultural Center a spiritual academy was held on the topic “Echoes of the First Serbian Rebellion in the Bijelo Polje region”. Speaking at the academy was Dr. Jovo Medojevic, assistant professor at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Kosovska Mitrovica. In the continuation of the program participants included the Sts. Peter and Paul Church Choir and the Hristofanija tercet from Sombor.

After Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, which was served on St. Peter’s Day by Bishop Joanikije and his clergy, St. Peter’s Day festivities took place. After the traditional St. Peter’s Day assembly, a large number of the faithful gathered in front of the church and at about 5:00 p.m. a festal religious process started out from St. Peter’s church to Nikoljac led by Bishop Joanikije and Bishop Filaret of Milesevo and the clergy.

Source: Publika, July 13, 2004

SPIRITUAL ACADEMY IN STUDENICA

For nine days in July this year as well in Studenica the thirteenth Summer Spiritual Academy for Musical Youth is to be held. By way of note, 13 years ago the Summer Spiritual Academy of Musical Youth was established according to the principles of “choir Sundays”. A small team then comprised of music expert Dr. Snezana Nikolajevic, musical youth coordinator Miodrag Pavlovic and academician Dimitrije Stefanovic developed the concept for the project out of the desire to bring the richness and authentic values of Serbian spiritual music, art and culture in their essential forms closer to young people in a modern way. The Summer Spiritual Academy has retained this concept throughout this entire time, adding new and fresh content to it each year. This year for the first time a foreign conductor will be introduced at the Academy, Gennady Dmytryk from Russia. The idea of the Summer Spiritual Academy from the very start has been tied to Studenica Monastery, which because its history, beauty and adherence to the spirit of the teachings of St. Sava has been an ideal site for this unique spiritual school. The brotherhood of the monastery wholeheartedly accepted its program, and the Academy is taking place with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Zica and Hieromonk Tihon, the Abbot of Studenica. At this year’s Academy the Mixed Choir of the Abrasevic Cultural Artistic Society under the direction of Milovan Pancic; the Holy Prince Lazar Mixed Choir from Lazarica Church in Krusevac and conductor Ruzica Veskovic; the choir of the First Belgrade Singing Society under the direction of Svetlana Vilic; and the Serbian Chamber Choir with conductor Djordje Pavlovic will be presented. The final concert of choirs attending this year’s Summer Academy will be held on Monday under the direction of Gennady Dmytryk.

Source: Politika daily, Belgrade, July 14, 2004

RELICS OF HOLY MARTYR MOMCILO GRGUREVIC TRANSFERRED

The relics of holy martyr Momcilo Grgurevic, who was murdered in 1945, were dug up on July 12, 2004 for the third time from the churchyard in Celebici and transferred to the church of St. Nicholas in the hamlet of Rijeka. His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabro-Bosnia conducted the transfer of the relics of St. Momcilo with the concelebration of a large number of priests and hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and many faithful arrived from all parts of Republika Srpska, Serbia and Montenegro – mostly from Pljevlje – as well as many Serbs living abroad. The residents of Celebici say that while many served their mission as priests in the Tetimska parish, no one enjoyed the reputation and respect of Momcilo Grgurevic. He was born in 1906 and, as a true fighter for the faith of Christ, he was the first to be felled by the Ustashe mob. Metropolitan Nikolaj confirmed that during the war Presbyter Grgurevic defended not only Serbs but also Muslims from violence. However, his young life ended tragically in November 1945. According to one version, he was wounded and a trio of partisans comprised of two Muslims and a Serb slit his throat; according to another version, Momcilo was wounded but still alive when he was murdered with a hacksaw. The ruling atheists refused to permit a suitable funeral. The priest’s head was severed from his body and thrown into the building of the municipal assembly at that time; it was courageously removed by a woman parishioner and united with the body. He was buried without a religious service outside the churchyard near a mass grave of innocent residents of Celebici who had been executed. It was not until 45 years later that Momcilo’s youngest son, Vasilije, was able to properly bury his father’s earthly remains, said Fr. Borivoje Kosoric, who alone risked his life and first served at the grave of holy martyr Momcilo. Although many believe that his proper place is in the church in Celebici, where he was finally buried in 1990, St. Momcilo’s remains were transferred to a wooden church in Rijeka.

Source: Vecernje Novosti daily, Belgrade, July 14, 2004

Troparion, Tone 4

Your life was a prayer, holy martyr of Christ.
You spread Christ’s love and peace through prayer and deed,
Praying for those who hated and persecuted you.
You constantly and devotedly prayed for the God of the Orthodox people to which you belong
And taught them to always follow Your Path. Finally you sacrificed yourself
For your Christ and were therefore honored by the death of His Baptist.
Even as they set out to behead you, holy martyr Momcilo,
You prayed for your enemies like your protector and
Christ’s First Martyr: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Kontakion, Tone 2

You are celebrated for your love toward Christ and faithful
Divine service in His Church. You are celebrated for you always
Followed the Savior who calls on us to follow Him and live
In light. You are celebrated for you perished like the early Martyrs
Of His Church. Even as the Godless murders separated your head from your body
You prayed to the Crucified Christ on the Cross, and in prayerful joy
Heard the words of the Angel from the grave: “He is risen.” Hence we pray to you,
Holy martyr Momcilo, to pray to the Christ-God for us, His sinful servants.

NEW TELEVISION PROGRAMS ABOUT ORTHODOXY IN RUSSIA

The (Russian) Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography wishes to initiate several television projects in cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church to be based on an explanation of the history of Christianity. At a meeting with several eminent cultural workers and initiators of this project, including Nikita Mihalkov, Mikhail Shvydkoy and Aleksandar Golutvin, His Holiness Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All-Russia spoke of the need for such programs on television in order to spread the good word among the younger generations. The series of programs will begin with descriptions of Palestine and Italy at the beginning of the Christian period in the history of humankind and will continue with a description of the historical events in the Russian Orthodox Church.

[Serbian Translation Services]