Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Oktober 11, 2004

BOMB EXPLODES IN YARD OF CONSTANTINOPLE PATRIARCHATE

A home-made bomb exploded overnight in front of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul) sources reported on Thursday, October 7, but no was hurt in the explosion. The bomb was lobbed from the street over the fence wall and exploded in the garden. Several windows were shattered and the roof of a nearby cathedral was damaged. In early September about 1,000 people, primarily Turkish ultra-nationalists, demonstrated in front of the Patriarchate and burned a puppet representing His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinopole.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR KING ALEKSANDAR I KARADJORDJEVIC SERVED AT OPLENAC

On Saturday, October 9, 2004 in the church of St. George at Oplenac, His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija and His Grace Bishop Profirije of Jegar served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the concelebration of Archimandrite Makarije, the elder of the monastery of Banja near Priboj, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Zivorad Jakovljevic, the hierarchal deputy of Kolubara, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Miladin Mihailovic, the hierarchal deputy of Oplenac, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dragoslav Senic, the hierarchal deputy of Jasenica, Protonamesnik Tihomir Andjelkovic, Protonamesnik Slobodan Bogojevic, Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic, consultant to the Holy Assembly of Bishops, Priest Radovan Maric, Priest Aleksandar Petrovic, Deacon Vladimir Rumenic and Deacon Rajko Stefanovic.

His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija will serve Liturgy for the deceased at 9:00 a.m. and a short memorial service at 10:30 a.m. in the church of St. George the Great-martyr in Oplenac in the presence of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II, and with the concelebration of His Grace Bishop Profirije of Jegar. At 11:00 a.m. academician Matija Beckovic will speak in front of the church at Oplenac about the King and his death followed by the opening of an art exhibition in the Royal Villa.

After the service a short memorial service was held in memory of the late Serbian King Aleksandar I Karadjordjevic. The memorial service was attended by Crown Prince Alexander II Karadjordjevic and Princess Katherine, Princess Linda, the widow of the late Prince Tomislav, and their sons Djordje (a cadet of the 129th Class of the Serbia and Montenegro Military Academy) and Mihailo, the clergy and monastics of the Diocese of Sumadija, representatives of the Royal Council, the diplomatic corps, the city of Paris, the Serbia and Montenegro Army, Police and Gendarmerie, and figures from cultureal and public life in Serbia and Montenegro and abroad. Parish Priest Dr. Marko Colic represented the Roman Catholic Church on behalf of Monsignor Stanislav Hocevar. The memorial service was also attended by several hundred faithful.

After the memorial service Bishop Porfirije addressed those present as follows: “We are gathered here in this holy church for Holy Liturgy, which means we are gathered here under the wing of the Kingdom of Heaven for Holy Liturgy itself is the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth... We are gathered here today to serve a memorial service for the late King Aleksandar. We know that he has fulfilled the commandment of God and that there is no greater love than to give one’s life for those closest to us. The life of King Aleksandar of blessed repose was filled with love towards those closest to him and his people... His love was in response to God’s love and that is why we pray to God for the repose of his soul, and the repose of the souls of all our fathers and forefathers, our brothers, who triumphed over death and gave us eternal life.”

The faithful were excited upon exiting the church to welcome Their Royal Highnesses. Those present were addressed by academician Matija Beckovic and Crown Prince Alexander. An exhibition was then opened in the house of King Peter I, including exponents such as the crown, robe and scepter of King Peter I, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Serbia of 1888, the war diary of King Peter I, the admiral’s uniform of King Aleksandar in which he died, and many others.

FIRST REUNION OF ALUMNI OF ST. SAVA SERBIAN ORTHODOX SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN LIBERTYVILLE

The last days of September will be remain in the memories of both present students of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology in Libertyville, Illinois, U.S.A., and alumni of this institution. Namely, the Alumni Association of St. Sava Seminary organized the First Alumni Meeting with the goal of bringing together former graduates, present students and friends of St. Sava.

The St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School has existed for 18 years and in that period 50 students have graduated, almost all as deacons or priests who are now serving in the United States and Canada, as well as in Europe. For some time there has been a desire to form an association that would bring together former and current students, and professors and friends of the school. At the same time there was a desire to have an association that would take part in the work of the school as its integral part. The goal of the Alumni Association is the promotion and affirmation of this School of Theology among Orthodox schools throughout the world, working with and assisting the students, and the enhancement of the spirituality and educational character of the school. Furthermore, every U.S. education of higher learning has such an alumni association. The desire to form one at St. Sava Seminary was finally realized at last year’s Church-People’s Assembly in Alhambra, California, U.S.A. A group of former students met with Presbyter Mile Subotic, who invested tremendous effort in order to make the founding of the body possible. First, His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher was asked for his blessing. The organization was formed and officially began its work on November 29, 2003. An initial letter was sent to all former graduates. Bylaws were prepared following the model of neighboring schools of theology and the organization began work under the name of the Alumni Association of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology. Soon there appeared a desire for a first reunion of alumni, which was realized thanks to the great dedication of our alumni. The organization board consisted of two members: Presbyter Radovan Jakovljevic and Mr. Sasa Nedic.

The First Alumni Reunion of St. Sava Seminary began on Thursday, October 24, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. with religious service in the monastery of St. Sava. The first lecture was held by the Rt. Rev. Protopresbyter Miroljub Ruzic, a former professor of Patrology, on “St. Paul the Apostle as Cross-Bearer and Model of Restraint”. Through his rich pastoral and theological experience, Father Miroljub brought us closer to the Apostle Paul, whom he picturesquely described as the servant of the Almighty and the honorable pastor of his flock. After dinner and a brief interlude, those attending had the opportunity to ask questions. Father Miroljub was kept late into the night answering questions asked students who sought answers to them as future emissaries in the field of the Lord.

At the beginning of the second day morning services were held with a canon in continuation to St. Nikolaj of Zica. After breakfast the second lecture began on “A pastoral mission among prison inmates”. The lecturer was the Rt. Rev. Protopresbyter Dr. Rodni Torbic of the church of St. George, who spent twenty-five years among prison inmates as missionary and confessor. Questions from the audience and a brief interlude were followed by lunch. This concluded this two-day long reunion.

On behalf of the Alumni Association we would like to thank all those who were able to attend this unique event, which is of great importance for our School of Theology. We would also like to thank the professors, guests and donors, alumni and the honorable clergy from the Chicago (Illinois, U.S.A.) area, as well as the students who enhanced this seminar by their presence.

Deacon Damjan S. Bozic

[Serbian Translation Services]