Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 5, 2004

SERBIAN ATHLETES TO HAVE A PRIEST AT ATHENS OLYMPICS

By decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Greek Church and with the blessing of the local hierarch, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, among those carrying out a spiritual mission in the Olympic village in Athens is Protopresbyter Nenad M. Mihajlovic, a native of Serbia. Orthodox participants in the Olympics from Serbia and Serbian lands are warmly greeted and welcomed by Father Nenad, who is available around the clock to all Serbian Orthodox Olympians and members of their expert teams to offer prayer and spiritual support throughout the length of their stay in Olympic Athens. Father Nenad is a graduate student at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens.

The assistance and support of the Greek Orthodox Church from the beginning of the organization of the Olympics have been of great importance to the spiritual strength of both participants and organizers. The comprehensive engagement of the Church in organizational tasks as well as in spiritual care for participants in the Olympics represents an invaluable experience. Archbishop Christodoulos has already published “the ten Olympic commandments in this regard”, i.e. a letter sent to all churches in the Greek capital emphasizing ten points to guide priests during the Olympics. The letter emphasizes that churches are to be neat, that bells are to be rung regularly and that appropriate brochures for tourists interested in the Orthodox heritage of Greece should be made available.

All this gives us the hope that the Serbia and Montenegro Olympic Committee may follow the example not only of democratic Greece but also of most modern countries in the world, which have priests and religious leaders as part of their Olympic teams.

PUBLIC COMMUNIQUE
OF THE DIOCESE OF BUDIMLJE AND NIKSIC
RE: FALSE INFORMATION

The Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic has issued the following public communique regarding false information that Frs. Zdravko Djurovic and Marko Djurkovic of the Serbian Orthodox Church have joined the so-called Montenegrin church. At a fraternal meeting of clergy of the hierarchal deputy’s office of Niksic held on August 4, 2004 in the presence of Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic claims by some media that some priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church had joined the so-called church of Miras were dispelled.

Frs. Zdravko Djurovic and Marko Djurkovic attested of their own free will and in accordance with their canonic responsibility that they have not joined the anathemized group of Miras Dedeic and remain loyal to the canonic and recognized Serbian Orthodox Church. In connection with the aforementioned rumors and unrest among the faithful, we note that primary responsibility lies with officials of the ruling parties who have placed themselves in Dedeic’s service during the forming of his circle of supporters in Niksic. We reiterate for the sake of all people of sense that Dedeic bears the burden of unforgivable removal from office and irresolvable distancing from the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, and that all those who share in his lot take upon themselves the same damnation. The Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic will take canonic measures against all those who undermine the conciliarity and unity of the Church regardless of who they might be.

[Serbian Translation Services]