| Information
Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 30, 2004
200-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST SERBIAN UPRISING CELEBRATED IN DOBRUN MONASTERY
IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
 The
two-day celebration of the First Serbian Uprising in Republika
Srpska began with Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the courtyard of
the monastery of Dobrun on Saturday, August 28, 2004 on the monastery’s
patron saint’s day, the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy
Mother of God. His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabro-Bosnia
served the Holy Liturgy with the concelebration of ten priests
and three deacons. After delivering his sermon Metropolitan Nikolaj
cut the slava cake and with the present faithful consecrated the
monastery refractory, the Museum of Karadjordje and the Metropolitans
of Dabro-Bosnia, the monastery fountain and bridge over the Rzav
River, the endowment of Mira and Slobodan Pavlovic. The Pavlovic
family presented the monastery of Dobrun with the bridge and 4,700
meters of water lines. Engineer Miroslav Neskovic designed the
bridge.
 The
holiday festivities began with the arrival of His Holiness Serbian
Patriarch Pavle, the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and
the members of the royal family. Immediately upon the arrival
of His Holiness all present went to Visegrad Hospital where Princess
Katherine Karadjordjevic presented an incubator, defibrilator
and EKG machine to the hospital as part of the Let Us Breathe
Life into Serbia campaign. In the afternoon a literary event took
place in the Culture Center in Visegrad and the following works
were presented: an anthology of works from a scientific conference
on the First Serbian Uprising – ANRS, poetry about the First Serbian
Uprising by Dr. Ljubomir Zukovic, and Schematism of the Diocese
of Dabro-Bosnia by Professor Predrag Puzovic. At 19 hours a concert
by the military orchestra began in the Culture Center in Visegrad,
followed by a formal academy with welcoming remarks by Republika
Srpska parliamentary speaker Mr. Dusan Stojicic. “Gathered on
the occasion of the two hundred year anniversary of the beginning
of the Serbian national revolution, an event whose grandiosity
transcends its national framework, from the perspective of the
present moment, here and now, we have the duty to ask ourselves:
Where and how far have we gone in the past two hundred years in
the battle for the sovereignty of the Serbian people and, as His
Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle recently stated in one of his
wise sermons, have we as a people finally matured to the level
demanded and required by present times?”
 On
Sunday, August 29, 2004 His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle served
Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the concelebration of His Eminence
Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabro-Bosnia, His Grace Bishop Vasilije
of Tuzla, His Grace Bishop Nikanor of Banat, His Grace Bishop
Jovan of Sumadija, His Grace Bishop Pahomije of Vranje, His Grace
Bishop Filaret of Milesevo, His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje
and Niksic, His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, His Grace Bishop
Maksim of Hum, His Grace Bishop Marko of Dremvic and in the presence
of His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Bihac and Petrovac, and a large
number of priests and deacons. Present were Republika Srpska president
Dragan Cavic, Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency member Borislav
Paravac, Republika Srpska parliamentary speaker Dusan Stojicic,
Republika Srpska prime minister Dragan Mikerevic and the ministers
of the Republika Srpska government, the supreme rabbi in Bosnia
and Herzegovina Jozef Atijas, Serbian prime minister Vojislav
Kostunica, Serbia and Montenegro defense minister Prvoslav Davinic,
Serbian minister for capital investments Velimir Ilic, Serbian
minister for religions Milan Radulovic, and several thousand faithful
from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
 After
Holy Hierarchal Liturgy and a brief address by His Holiness the
Patriarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabro-Bosnia delivered
his sermon. “As a symbol of gratitude to God for the First Serbian
Uprising today we are unveiling a monument to Karageorge and opening
Karageorge’s palace – the Museum of the First Serbian Uprising
with prayers to the Living God for him and all those who shared
in his efforts in this great historical event and turning all
this over to our younger generations for safekeeping and further
creation that is good and beneficial to the Serbian people.” The
Museum of Karageorge and the Metropolitans of Dabro-Bosnia was
then formally opened and the speaker at the opening ceremony was
Professor Rados Ljusic. “Not just in Karageorge’s age but even
today it is not easy to be the first among Serbs. Karageorge bore
the burden of being the first among Serbs with pride. That is
why Karadjordje is described as a typically epic figure, a hero
and a military leader. His weakness was discernible in undeveloped
political doctrine but he surpassed it with the powerful chord
of a state founder and resurrector of a restored Serbia. As such
he launched the course of Serbian history down its heroic path.
Even though the state created by the First Serbian Uprising temporarily
succumbed to Turkish force in 1813, the idea of a state resurrection
remained, the dignity of the people was restored and ‘the sweetness
of freedom’ as the guarantee and inspiration to the generation
of the Second Uprising and another Serbian leader – Milos Obrenovic.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency member Borislav Paravac opened
the Museum. This was followed by a formal academy where Prince
Alexander Karadjordjevic unveiled the monument and said: “I am
happy to be with you here today in the monastery of Dobrun in
Republika Srpska. We stand proudly beside this splendid monument
to my great ancestor, Karageorge. Today we must also remember
all those throughout this region who lost their lives in recent
times…” Svetomir and Svetozar Radovic made the monument to Karageorge.
It is 4.2 meters high and weighs 1,350 kilograms.
On
the occasion of the 200-year anniversary of the First Serbian
Uprising the Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosnia established the Order
of St. Petar Zimonjic of the first and second degree (gold and
silver). Immediately after the award was established Metropolitan
Nikolaj presented this honor to 17 eminent figures and institutions,
including Republika Srpska president Dragan Cavic, Republika Srpska
prime minister Dragan Mikerevic, director Slobodan Mileusnic on
behalf of the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Professor
Rados Ljusic, the Vujic Valjevo company, and the Military-Medical
Academy in Belgrade in gratitude for saving the lives and ensuring
the recovery of Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Jeremija Starovlah and
his son, catechist Aleksandar, who also attended this prayerful
and festive gathering in Visegrad and the monastery of Dobrun.
MEMORIAL
SERVICE HELD AT GRAVE OF MILEVA EINSTEIN
 More
than half a century has passed since the death of Mileva Einstein-Maric,
scientist and wife of Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein. The
place of her eternal rest had been forgotten until it was rediscovered
thanks to the efforts of Petar Stojanovic,  representative
of the Nikola Tesla Memorial Center from Saint Gallen. On Sunday,
August 29, 2004 Presbyters Oleg Batof and Ignatios Papadelis,
representatives of the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches, served
a Memorial Service at the grave of the wife of the famous scientist.
It
is known that Mileva Einstein passed away on August 4, 1948 in
Zurich and that her funeral service was served by a Russian priest.
CELEBRATION
OF THE DORMITION OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN GRACANICA
On August
28 the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God (Assumption
of the Holy Virgin) was celebrated in all churches in Kosovo and
Metohija. The day was especially festive in the monastery of Gracanica,
where this important religious holiday is celebrated as the monastery
patron saint's day.
Bishop Artemije
of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy
in the church of the Most Holy Mother of God with the concelebration
of Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan and the priests, monks and nuns
of the Diocese in the presence of a large number of faithful.
In his festal sermon Bishop Artemije addressed those present as
follows: "Today's holiday, the great feast of the Dormition
of the Most Holy Mother of God, is similar to Easter for just
as on Easter the Lord was resurrected from the dead and ascended
to the heavens so the Holy Mother of God on today's great feast
reposed in the Lord. She died as human nature dictated but she
also ascended to the heavens to be with her Son in the highest
of heavens."
"If there is any human being that fulfilled all the commandments
of the Lord it was the Holy Mother of God. From early childhood
She dedicated her life to the Lord thus becoming worthy of being
the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnate
and by doing so serving in the salvation of all of humanity. Because
she bore Jesus Christ Our Savior, she became worthy of being the
protectress and intermediary before her Son of all of humanity,
and truly she prays before her Son for the entire world and especially
for those who call upon her in prayer. The Holy Mother of God
ascended to be with her Son and to mediate before him on behalf
of all of humanity.
"Through
the years we have gathered here to celebrate the Holy Mother of
God, and not only on this date but every Sunday and every day
of the year her name is celebrated in churches and monasteries
throughout the world. The Church has established a fast in anticipation
of this feast of the Holy Mother of God so that through fasting
and prayer we may become worthy to greet and celebrate this great
holiday in suitable fashion," said Bishop Artemije at the
end of his sermon.
After Holy
Liturgy and a festal religious procession around the church Bishop
Artemije and Bishop Teodosije cut the slava cake. After the cutting
of the cake Bishop Teodosije addressed the faithful with these
words: "For the salvation of our own souls, let us pray to
the Most Holy Mother of God that she may lead us, too, to her
Son and Our Lord through her prayers, and that she may protect
us from all evil and every temptation here in this world.
"Let
us thank God for giving us this day and for giving us the honor,
despite the difficult circumstances in which we live, of celebrating
Him and of praying to the Most Holy Mother of God for she is our
advocate before the throne of the Lord. She constantly prays for
humanity, offering as sacrifice heartfelt prayers, offering her
sighs and tears for humanity and especially for those who suffer,"
said Bishop Teodosije in his sermon.
Traditionally
on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God a
fair is held in Gracanica. This year there was also an exhibition
of honey and a football (soccer) tournament. The Trnka Beekeepers
Society organized the first exhibition of honey and apiary products
held in Gracanica and the opening remarks were by the head of
the Kosovo district, Dragan Velic. The football tournament was
dedicated to the memory of Dimitrije Popovic, the Serbian youth
recently gunned down in downtown Gracanica.
BISHOP
LUKIJAN CONSECRATES NEWLY BUILT PARISH HOME
IN VINKOVCI
 Bishop
Lukijan of Osijecko Polje and Baranja served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy
with the concelebration of several priests and deacons in a temporary
church today in Vinkovci on the occasion of the official appointment
of a parish priest in Vinkovci and the consecration of the newly
built parish home.
 During
the Holy Liturgy Bishop Lukijan ordained Protonamesnik Predrag
Azap to the office of protopresbyter. Protopresbyter Predrag Azap
is a priest who tirelessly and patiently negotiated with representatives
of the Croatian government and the ministry of construction and
renewal in order to have a beautiful parish home built on the
foundation of the old one. In addition to a priest’s apartment,
the home contains a conference room for religious education and
the office of the church parish.
The beautiful
singing of the Sveti Jovan Zlatousti Choir from Brsadin enhanced
this liturgical and prayerful gathering.
After
services Bishop Lukijan with his priests and faithful took part
in a religious procession down the streets of the city to arrive
at the parish home where he performed the consecration of the
new home. The ceremony was followed by a festive luncheon for
all present.
SIXTH
ARTISTS’ COLONY HELD IN DERONJE
In memory of holy martyr and painter Rafailo
 The
traditional Holy Martyr Rafailo Artists’ Colony in Deronje began
on Saturday, August 28 and will continue until next Wednesday,
September 3. Staying and working in the colony, as in previous
years, will be painters of landscapes and icons.
On Sunday,
August 29 the painters visited the monastery of Bodjani. On Monday,
September 1 a traditional children’s art colony will be organized
in the courtyard of the Orthodox church.
On the final
day, September 3, at 9:30 a moleban will be held for the Reverend
Holy Martyr Rafailo of Sisatovac and Deronje in the church of
the Holy Archangel Michael.
An exhibition
will be opened at 11:30 in the atrium of the Vuk Karadzic Elementary
School.
This
art colony is organized annually by a group of founders in honor
of Father Rafailo, a monk, painter and holy martyr from Deronje,
who has been added to the calendar of saints of the Serbian Orthodox
church. Local residents of Deronje honor him as their protector
and patron.
[Serbian
Translation Services]
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