Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Oktober 13, 2004

SERBIAN PATRIARCH PAVLE
RECEIVES SERBIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TADIC

On Wednesday, October 13, 2004, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle received Republic of Serbia President Boris Tadic, together with Mr. Srdjan Saper, Professor Dr. Vojislav Milovanovic and Mr. Branko Radujko, political advisor for Balkan issues, in the Belgrade Patriarchate with an emphasis on Kosovo and Metohija.

The primary topic of discussion was the upcoming elections in Kosovo and Metohija. President Tadic presented his position on Serb participation in the elections and emphasized that in these times we must consider the arguments of both sides, presented in recent days in connection with the upcoming elections. However, President Tadic nevertheless emphasized that it is necessary for Serbs to participate not only in elections but also in institutions in Kosovo and Metohija. He also added that he, as President of the Serbian state, had set a condition for the International Community that all institutions in the south Serbian province must be formed and begin working in the next three months or Serbian representatives in those institutions will return their mandates. His Holiness carefully listened to the President and then emphasized that he is aware of the political demands confronting the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. Since the Church does not concern itself with politics, it is acting only in a pastoral and evangelical manner with respect to these fateful moments for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija in order to preserve peace and justice in the region. At the end of the conversation Patriarch Pavle thanked President Tadic for finding the time to visit and hold a sincere and open discussion.

PATRIARCH PAVLE RECEIVES DELEGATION
OF WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle received the delegation of the World Jewish Congress in the Belgrade Patriarchate on Wednesday, October 13, 2004. The delegation was headed Mr. Israel Singer, the governing board chairman of the World Jewish Congress, Belgrade rabbi Isak Asiel, Mr. Aleksandar Singer, and representatives of Jewish communities from Serbia and the world. The Serbia and Montenegro ambassador to Israel, Dr. Krinka Petrov, also accompanied them. Welcoming the guests with the Serbian Patriarch were His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa; Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic, consultant to the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Protodeacon Momir Lecic, and Deacon Nebojsa Topolic.

The main topic of discussion was the unity of all the faithful in the modern secular world. What we share and what is common to all faithful peoples in the world – and Patriarch Pavle emphasized that we share our common forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as the Maccabean scholars – must help us endure the challenges of modern times. Historical events and difficulties shared by the Serbian and Jewish peoples were also emphasized during the course of the discussion.

Bishop Irinej and Rabbi Isak Asiel, as well as Mr. Israel Singer, described the joint efforts of the Jewish community and the Serbian Orthodox Church in world institutions, and emphasized that the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within the borders of Serbia remains a critical question. The destruction and devastation of all holy shrines was condemned with emphasis on the devastation of holy shrines in Kosovo and Metohija. Also mentioned were efforts to improve the working conditions of the Jewish municipality in Belgrade and Serbia.

HIS HOLINESS THE SERBIAN PATRIARCH RECEIVES
PRINCE DJORDJE KARADJORDJEVIC

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle received His Royal Highness Prince Djordje Karadjordjevic, the son of HRH the late Prince Tomislav and HRH Princess Linda Karadjordjevic, in the Belgrade Patriarchate. The young prince received the blessing of His Holiness for his studies at the Serbia and Montenegro Army Military Academy in Belgrade. Accompanying Prince Djordje at the Patriarchate was Mr. Aleksandar Pavic, the director of the Prince Tomislav Karadjordjevic Foundation, and Major-General Vidosav Kovacevic, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Serbia and Montenegro Army General Staff. General Kovacevic emphasized that the Serbia and Montenegro Army was proud that a descendant of the great Serbian leader Karageorge was following in the footsteps of his forefathers and studying at the Military Academy, representing a return to our roots. His Holiness greeted the young prince and blessed his decision, congratulating him on continuing on the path of his great ancestors. Like a father, the Patriarch urged him to do his utmost for his personal success and for the honor of his family, the Church and the entire Serbian people.

OLD FAITH IN A MODERN WORLD

On October 11, 2004 the Svetosavska Omladinska Zajednica Studentskog Grada (SOZ SG - St. Sava Youth Community of Belgrade’s University Town) organized a lecture event by Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic, consultant to the Holy Assembly of Bishops, on the topic “Old Faith in a Modern World”. At the same time Fr. Irinej opened and blessed the beginning of the winter semester of lectures of SOZ SG within the lecture cycle “The Church and Youth”.

The audience was transfixed by the inspired presentation of Fr. Irinej, as well as his responses to the numerous questions posed. The small auditorium of the Studentski Grad Culture Hall was filled over capacity.

''Amen'', the word with which the lecturer completed his presentation, was not the end but only the beginning of a new discussion with Fr. Irinej, as intimate and sincere as the first half of the evening. After the lecture Fr. Irinej visited the Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center in Studentski Grad, which also includes an Orthodox library of significant scope and content.

For the past ten years students in Belgrade’s Studentski Grad have organized activities that tie in with the missionary work of the Church among youth, primarily among students, as well as the preservation of faith, tradition and national culture. Their work takes the form of organizing lectures on theological, cultural and educational, and other topics of interest to young people; promotion of books and magazines by the Church and other publishers; organization of concerts of spiritual and traditional folk music; preparation of the television program “Two Millennia of Christianity” on TV Studentski Grad; organization of pilgrimages; as well as the maintenance of a lending library of over 1,200 books and other media available to students.

The next lecture arranged by the SOZ SG is expected to take place in November and will be dedicated to the great teacher and zealot of Orthodoxy, St. John Chrysostom, who is also the patron saint of the Orthodox students of Studentski Grad.

[Serbian Translation Services]