Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
September 30, 2004

SOREN JESSEN-PETERSEN AND GENERAL YVES KERMABON
VISIT VISOKI DECANI MONASTERY

On Wednesday, September 29, 2004 UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen and the KFOR commander, French general Yves Kermabon visited Visoki Decani Monastery. On behalf of Bishop Teodosije, Protosingel Sava Janjic received the eminent guests and met with them for an hour-long conversation in the monastery library. Topics addressed included current problems faced by the Decani monks, who have lived for the past years in complete isolation and without freedom of movement. Also discussed was the necessity for greater concern for the protection of the Orthodox Christian cultural and historical heritage which since 1999 has been exposed to unprecedented destruction, as one could especially see during the course of the tragic violence in March.

After the meeting, during contact with representatives of local media, Mr. Petersen expressed the firm position that valuable cultural and historical monuments such as Visoki Decani Monastery are the responsibility of everyone in Kosovo and Metohija because the road to a democratic society and Europe is also confirmed by a responsible approach toward cultural and religious heritage.

Father Sava thanked the eminent guests for their visit, emphasizing that in the age we live in we all have the responsibility of protecting cultural and historical monuments that have survived for centuries to our time. "The monastery of Visoki Decani is the first cultural monument on the territory of Kosovo and Metohija to be included on the UNESCO list of world heritage cites. Thus, we are all responsible for protecting this holy shrine and other monuments for the future as a living testimonial of the European cultural identity of this region," said Fr. Sava.

After visiting the monastery Mr. Jessen-Petersen and his associates visited the municipality of Decani where he met with Decani mayor Ibrahim Selmanaj.

SPIRITUAL AND MUSICAL PEARL OF SERBDOM

Coronation and Anointment
of His Majesty
King Petar I Karadjordjevic of Serbia

Arranged by STEVAN STOJANOVIC MOKRANJAC

On the occasion of the centennial celebration of the coronation and anointment of King Peter I Karadjordjevic, the Information and Publishing Service of the Serbian Orthodox church has issued a CD reproducing the music from the coronation ceremony by the Bishops, clergy, deacons and choir during the coronation in St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Belgrade and the anointment in Zica Monastery of King Petar I of Serbia of blessed memory.

This work of Stevan St. Mokranjac has never been publicly performed and was composed on the basis of Serbian folk music. Now for the first time it is available to every music lover and serious fan of spiritual and classical music.

The CD includes the liturgical order of the coronation and anointment of the Serbian Orthodox Church including the bells of the cathedral in Belgrade, Psalm 101, the address of Metropolitan Inokentije to HRM the King, the confession of faith of HRM the King, Antifoni, The Lord Is God (with verses) and Save, O Lord (troparion), Parimia, Prokimen of the Apostles, Apostle, Holy Gospel, Prayer upon the donning of the royal robe by HRM the King, Prayer upon genuflection, We Praise You, O God, Many years to HRM the King, the anointment of HRM the King, the communion of HRM the King, etc.

The CD jewel case depicts the ruler’s royal insignia - the Crown, the Orb, the Scepter, the Cloak (purple robe) and the Clasp - and a photograph from the anointment of HRM King Peter I Karadjordjevic on October 9, 1904 in Zica Monastery.

The Information and Publishing Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which is presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, and his deputy, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa, has entrusted the musical performance of this work to the Madrigal Choir of the Faculty of Musical Arts in Belgrade directed by Professor Aleksandar S. Vujic.

This edition was realized according to concept of Mr. Sava J. Miric, the secretary-general of the Association of Serbian Choirs. This CD is also issued in memory of the 90th anniversary since the death of the greatest Serbian composer, Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac.

Soloists: Nenad Ristovic, chanter – tenor and Deacon Vlada Rumenic – bass.
Metropolitan’s voice – Dimitrije Stikic, King’s voice – Savo Topalovic
Expert consultants: Protodeacon Vlado Mikic and Nenad Ristovic
Tonemaster: Djordje Petrovic
Producer: Aleksandar S. Vujic
Design: Ana Konvenc-Vujic
Technical preparation: Marko Markovic

Editor of this edition: Dusan Stokanovic

On behalf of the Information and Publishing Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church Bishop Irinej of Backa presented the first copy of this special CD edition to HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic.

All those who would like to obtain a copy of this previously hidden spiritual and musical pearl of Serbdom can order it through the Information and Publishing Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church for the price of 500 dinars. Take advantage of this opportunity to order this unique work by the great Stevan St. Mokranjac.

[Serbian Translation Services]