Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 20, 2004

MEETING OF SERBIAN PATRIARCH AND
SERBIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE AND MEDIA

His Holiness Patriarch Pavle received Mr. Dragan Kojadinovic, the Minister of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia and his closest associates, Mr. Vlajko Senic, Mr. Andjelko Trpovic, Mr. Dragan Selic and Ms. Mirjana Menkovic, in the Patriarch’s residence today.

Minister Kojadinovic informed Patriarch Pavle regarding the current activities of the Ministry of Culture and Media, especially those related to the protection of the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija. The goal of these activities, he emphasized, was for the Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija unanimously adopted by the Republic of Serbia Assembly to yield concrete results. For that reason a special Committee for Protection of Cultural Heritage was formed, which produced a status report on the state of cultural monuments and church buildings in the southern Serbian province as well s a plan for concrete activities. The intent is to creation conditions for monastery life as soon as possible, especially in monasteries that were destroyed during the March pogrom. Funds necessary to do this have been set aside. The Ministry of Culture has established direct cooperation with international institutions for the purpose of protecting this heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, especially UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

Patriarch Pavle expressed his satisfaction with the aforementioned activities of the Ministry of Culture and emphasized that, in addition to concern for the renewal and protection of holy shrines, all of us must keep in mind the exceptionally difficult position of displaced and expelled persons. In order to resolve these and other problems, it is necessary that every member of our state and society accept full responsibility and give his or her contribution to its resolution. That is the only way we can survive both biologically and as God’s people.

CHARTER OF THE SERBIAN YOUTH ASSEMBLY 2004

The fourth Serbian Orthodox Youth Assembly took place under the slogan “I believe in God and Serbdom.” The event, which brought together participants from the homeland and abroad, was organized by the Orthodox Youth of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, the Diocese of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, the Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic and the Dver Serbian Assembly Association.

This year’s working portion of the Serbian Orthodox Youth Assembly on the theme of Humanity and heroism – St. Peter of Cetinje and Karageorge – began on August 15 in Orasac with the commemoration of the two hundred year anniversary of the First Serbian Rebellion. It continued in the Seminary in Cetinje and the monastery of Ostrog, and completed its work in Trebinje on the feast of the Holy Transfiguration. Assembly participants visited the Dioceses of Milesevo, Budimlje and Niksic, and Sabac and Valjevo. Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Metropolitan Jovan of Povardarje and Veles, Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, Bishop Jovan of Dioclea and retired Bishop Atanasije (Jevtic) participated in the work of the Assembly, as well as eminent Serbian intellectuals from Serbia and abroad. We wish to specially emphasize the address of Mr. Sergei Yevghenyievich Sheblin, a senator of the Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament, who promised the further cooperation between Serbian and Russian Orthodox youth; as well as the presence of Mr. Alexander Vladimirovich Melnyk, the president of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called Fund. Representatives of Orthodox Youth from (FYR) Macedonia also took part in the Assembly.

The Assembly brought together 123 representatives from over 60 youth fraternal organizations and non-governmental associations of Orthodox-national orientations. Presenters opened many important topics related to the endangerment of Serbian national being: the “white plague” (low birth rate), issues of language and tradition, spirituality, secularism and globalism, as well as the technological and informational civilization.

With the intent of more actively engaging in the implementation of decisions that have been adopted between Assemblies, the Assembly will form working groups for the implementation of concrete projects.

After discussion of the Principles of Serbian Youth, a document concretely profiling the choices of the gathered young people at the beginning of the 21st century, the Assembly adopted the following nine points:

1. Fight for the biological and spiritual renewal of ourselves and our people and the people around us. As part of this principle, the fight against the “white plague” is the priority task of all social institutions in Serbia and abroad. The Serbian Youth Assembly commits itself to doing more to inform the people of the destructive influence of the “white plague” and infanticide (abortion), as well as to implement a program under the working name of Beba zna (Baby Knows) which seeks to fight against the “white plague” in a creative and positive manner by emphasizing the value of life. In connection with this program we hope for the blessing and assistance of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

2. The Serbian Youth Assembly commits itself to do everything to help their endangered brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as others in need: the poverty-stricken, the parentless, those expelled from their homes and disabled war veterans. Toward the end the Assembly, with the blessing of Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren, will help in the establishment of a Spiritual Center in Kosovska Mitrovica. As well, we will present Bishop Artemije a concrete plan for the renewal of the monastery of Zociste for his review, and offer assistance in its realization.

3. With the blessing of the appropriate Bishop, every youth association bases its work in the parish and diocese to which it belongs, and participates in synchronized work with other organizations on projects being implemented in all Serbian lands that have been adopted by the Serbian Youth Assembly.

4. We support the reinstitution of Church-People’s Assemblies, which would make decisions regarding all important issues for the survival of the state and the people.

5. We reiterate our insistence on resolution of the issue of the identification of victims of Communist terror and that the remains of Serbian victims be recovered, given proper religious services and buried wherever that has not already been done. According to the legal stipulation that crimes have no statute of limitations, those who physically and spiritually murdered tens of thousands of people in the name of Communism and “the new humanity” must be brought to justice.

6. We ask the state institutions of the Serbian people to follow the path of the Serbian Orthodox Church and all those who have risen up in defense of the Serbian language and Serbian script – Cyrillic, as one of the fundamental principles of national originality.

7. Aware that we live in the time of the technological and information civilization with all its advantages and shortcomings, we accept the computer and the Internet as a working tool. The issue of digitalized personal and other identity cards has been insufficiently explored; therefore, because of the dangers of abuse, the Serbian Youth Assembly supports the urgent initiation of a public debate on this topic to involve all relevant state institutions, respected intellectuals from this field and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

8. We appeal to the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church to consider the idea of the establishment of a National Institute. Gathering Orthodox experts from various fields, this Institute would be tasked with helping our people and the Church respond in timely fashion to the challenges that confront us in the globalization process.

9. We will work on establishing contacts and closer cooperation with Orthodox youth organizations throughout the world.

The Serbian Youth Assembly concludes this year’s session on Mt. Cer as part of the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Car. May St. Peter of Cetinje, Karageorge’s rebels and the heroes of Cer and Kolubara serve as our example of self-sacrifice in the fight for the freedom of their people and the Homeland. Glory to them and our thanks.

Monastery of Tvrdos
On the feast of the Holy Transfiguration 2004

Public Relations Office of the Serbian Youth Assembly

[Serbian Translation Services]