Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
November 17, 2004

CONFERENCE ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHURCHES TO RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND INTER-NATIONAL COOPERATION IN SUBOTICA AND BECEJ
INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM HELD AT ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL FACULTY IN BELGRADE
MACDONALD’S GIFT TO CHILDREN – THE DEVIL!

CONFERENCE ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHURCHES TO RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND INTER-NATIONAL COOPERATION IN SUBOTICA AND BECEJ

The Serbian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Serbia sincerely support the integration of our country in the process of European integration. Within this context, the preservation of regional stability and the creation of a just democratic society where human rights are respected and all citizens, regardless of nationality, cultural background and religion have equality of opportunity for a life of liberty and progress represent a moral imperative.

In order to witness our common commitment to these principles, the Orthodox Diocese of Backa and the Roman Catholic Bishopric of Subotica in agreement and cooperation with the other Christian Churches in the same region (the Slovak Evangelical Church, the Evangelical Church and the Reform Christian Church) are organizing a Conference on the Contribution of the Churches to Religious, Cultural and Inter-National Cooperation on the Path to European Integration to be held from November 22-24, 2004 in Subotica and Becej.

Eminent representatives of the government, national councils, cultural institutions and non-governmental organizations will be participating in the work of the Conference as well as respected figures from public and cultural life. One of the goals of the Conference is the promotion of cooperation between local, state and international partners in order to create a cohesive and diversified society in accordance with European values and international standards.

Vojvodina has been and remains today – with the exception of a minor number of extremists – a region of love and inter-ethnic cooperation. On this basis it can serve as a model to many in Southeast Europe and even perhaps elsewhere in the world. On the other hand, it is clear that the dynamics of social development during the period of transition can also present certain challenges. Consequently, constant attention and appropriate reaction by social factors is necessary. For this reason, the Churches have decided to organize this Conference and witness to the mutual and productive dialogue and brotherly Christian cooperation that exist between the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the other traditional Churches of this region before institutions and figures in our society who can contribute to the further development of national and cultural cooperation between the peoples of this region, as well to common commitment to European values.

Conference program:

Monday, November 22, 2004 (Subotica)

4:00 p.m. – Visit to Orthodox church of the Ascension of Our Lord and Franciscan monastery

5:15 p.m. – Conference opening ceremony in the City Hall

6:20 p.m. – Premiere of the film I GIVE YOU MY PEACE

Tuesday, November 23, 2004 (Becej)

8:30 a.m. – Morning religious services

9:00 a.m. – First plenary session – Introductory remarks by His Grace Bishop Porfirije of Jegar; Rt. Rev. Dr. Andrija Kopilovic, the Prorector of the Institute of Catechism and Theology in Subotica; and Prof. Dr. Miroljub Labus, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia – Discussion

11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Work groups

Religious cooperation – Moderator: Fr. Andrija Kopilovic

Cultural cooperation – Moderator: Fr. Andrej Cilerdzic

National cooperation – Moderator: Zivica Tucic

European integration – Moderator: Jelena Markovic

4:30 p.m. – Conference reconvenes

7:00 p.m.- Introduction to the town of Becej

Wednesday, November 24, 2004 (Becej)

8:30 a.m. – Morning religious services

9:00 a.m. – Second plenary session – Work table reports

Reading of draft Declaration – Discussion

10:45 a.m. – Third plenary session – Discussion and adoption of Declaration

12:00 noon – Conference closes

INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM HELD AT ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL FACULTY IN BELGRADE

The Orthodox Theological Faculty of Belgrade University is organizing an international theological symposium on November 18-19, 2004. The symposium is being held on the occasion of the marking of two historical events: the 950th anniversary of the Great Schism (1054 A.D.) and the 800th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders (1204).

Symposium schedule:

On Thursday, November 18, 2004 after morning services, the opening ceremony will take place at 9:00 a.m. in the amphitheater of the Theological Faculty. The dean of the Theological Faculty and His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle will make introductory remarks.

Speakers during the first working session will be Bishop Dr. Atanasije Jevtic (Years of crisis, 1054-1204), Dr. Jure Zecevic (Fortieth anniversary of the removal of the anathema of 1054), Dr. Bogdan Dolenc (Difference between universal and eucharistic ecclesiology: Two approaches to the unification of the two Churches), followed by open discussion. The second work session will begin with Dr. Radivoj Radic (The divided Empire: Byzantium on the eve of 1204), followed by Dr. Ljubomir Maksimovic (Serbia and the consequences of the Fourth Crusade) and Dr. Mirjana Zivojinovic (Athos circa 1204). The first working day will conclude with discussion on these topics.

On Friday, November 19, 2004, the third working session will begin with Dr. Jovan Tarnanidis (The autocephaly of the Serbian and Bulgarian Churches in the diplomatic plans of Emperor Michael VIII the Paleologist and the Unionist conference in Lyon), followed by Dr. Milos Antonovic (Serbia and the Lyonese Union, 1274), Dr. Andrija Veselinovic (The fall of Constantinople in Serbian history), followed by discussion. The symposium will conclude at 12:00 noon and a summary and conclusion from this theological conference will be presented during the closing ceremony.

The committee for preparation and organization of the symposium, which is comprised of Protopresbyter Professor Dr. Radomir V. Popovic, Protopresbyter Professor Dr. Predrag Puzovic, Assistant Professor Dr. David Perovic, Assistant Lecturer Dr. Dragana Janjic and Assistant Trainee Vladislav Puzovic, invite all those interested to take part in this interesting thematic gathering.

The organizer and sponsor of the Symposium and the anthology from the Symposium is the Ministry for Religions of the Republic of Serbia.

MACDONALD’S GIFT TO CHILDREN – THE DEVIL!

On November 14, 2004 at a child’s birthday party held in the banquet room of MacDonald’s restaurant in the Belgrade quarter of Slavija, the children received a complementary gift. It was supposed to have been a nice gesture, no doubt. However, as the parent of one of the children who received this “gift” and an Orthodox Christian, I cannot help but think that this “gift” was not well-intended. The shock I experienced makes it somewhat difficult for me to describe the “toy” I am referring to but with God’s help…

Namely, a witch with horns stands above a grave and one presses a button, the tombstone, which looks like boiling lava, opens up and a beast with horns rises from it whose head shines with a red light (thanks to a little light bulb inside).

My initial horror only increased when I learned that every second child at the party received the same gift. Despite the urge to get this “thing” out of my house as soon as possible, I could not help but wonder who is passing out such “toys” to children and upon whose orders?

I recovered my wits and checked to see who had manufactured this thing. The lettering in English states that it was manufactured in China for the use of the MacDonalds Corporation.

The next question was what to do and how to react?

I decided to do the only thing I could that is reasonable: to cry out to the media so that someone who has the power can protect our children from the open SATANISM that is now openly being distributed even in restaurants.

[Serbian Translation Services]