Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
November 18, 2004

INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM OPENS AT ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL FACULTY OF BELGRADE UNIVERSITY

On Thursday, November 18, 2004 after Holy Liturgy, the opening ceremony of the International Theological Symposium at the Orthodox Theological Faculty of Belgrade University took place. The Symposium was convened on the occasion of the anniversary of two historical events: the 950th anniversary of the Great Schism (1054) and the 800th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople into the hands of the Crusaders (1204). The dean of the Theological Faculty, Protopresbyter Dr. Vladan Perisic, and, on behalf of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral gave the introductory remarks. The Metropolitan emphasized that the theme was very interesting and that all participants in the work of the Symposium were faced with a great task.

Dr. Ioannis Tarnanidis of the Theological Faculty in Salonica and Dr. Milos Antonovic of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade chaired the first working session. The first speaker was Dr. Jure Zecevic on the “Fortieth anniversary of the removal of the anathema of 1054”. The presenter analyzed the meeting of Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople and Pope Paul VI on the Mount of Olives, an event that was interpreted as an expression of mutual understanding and love. The second speaker was Dr. Bogdan Dolenc on the “Difference between universal and Eucharistic ecclesiology: Two approaches to the unification of the two Churches”. This professor of the University of Ljubljana analyzed the Eucharistic ecclesiology of the East, highlighting Nikolay Afanasyev as the main representative of this school, and Metropolitan Ioannis of Pergamos as the greatest theologian of this age who interprets ecclesiology in this manner. At the conclusion of his presentation, Dr. Dolenc listed the most important themes from the Second Vatican Council related to ecclesiology.

An open discussion then ensued that inspired both lecturers and the audience. The topic of discussion was the Roman primacy; the teachings of both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches with respect to this problem that has shaken the Church for more than a thousand years were presented. Protopresbyter Dr. Radovan Bigovic emphasized that the problem reconciling the one and the many is a great one, and asked whether it was possible to call an Ecumenical Council of all Churches so that such an assembly could examine the role of the first, who by his authority should unite the many? Metropolitan Amfilohije examine the dimension of Peter’s primacy from two aspects, the human and the divine. He posed the question how to distinguish between the human and divine aspects of Peter’s primacy and went on to recall the words of Serbian Patriarch Pavle, who said that two primacies exist: the human (in time) and the divine (in the eschaton), and that the eschatological needs to be an icon for this primacy in time. Finally, Dr. Jure Zecevic emphasized that all that is necessary is to eliminate the bias that we are in different camps so that we can overcome all differences, even though they are hardly simple. The method of drawing nearer is extremely important, as well as that both Churches rest on common truths and faith in the Resurrected and Living Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator and the Savior.

PATRIARCH ALEXEY II OPENS FIRST CONFERENCE
OF ORTHODOX MEDIA

On Tuesday, November 16, 2004 His Holiness Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All-Russia opened the Faith and Word first international conference of Orthodox media in the church of Christ the Savior in Moscow. “We call on all journalists and people working in the media to use their love of truth to help in presenting the Church to the world as the Body of Christ. We should not forget that journalists influence the formation of public opinion and that they influence the souls of all people.” Patriarch Alexey appealed to all journalists to nurture better relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, and to write about its present situation and all the problems confronted by the clergy and faithful in Russia. He emphasized the need for a pan-Russian church publication and especially, in this time of modern technical achievements, a national church radio and television program in order to discuss the Orthodox position on all problems of secular society.

The opening of the Conference was attended by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, as well as representatives of local Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Also taking part in the conference was the operational editor of the Serbian Patriarchate’s publication “Pravoslavlje”, Branimir Nesic.

ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN RECEIVES ORDER
OF ST. SAVA OF THE FIRST DEGREE

With the blessing of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, on November 16, 2004 Alexander Solzhenitsyn received the highest award of the Serbian Orthodox Church – the Order of St. Sava of the First Degree. His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and His Grace Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina (retired) visited the great writer in his home and presented him with the highest recognition of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The ceremony was attended by Archimandrite Antonije (Pantelic), administrator of the Podvorye of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow, and Protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov, secretary of the Section for Foreign and Inter-Church Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In his remarks addressed to Mr. Solzhenitsyn, Metropolitan Amfilohije said that with this award the Holy Synod of the Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church expresses the deepest respect of the Church of St. Sava and the Serbian people to the Russian writer as an “uninterrupted witness to truth, good, repentance and calm as the only path to salvation”.

Mr. Solzhenitsyn thanked His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Synod of Bishops for honoring him in this manner. He stressed that he interpreted this honor as a visible sign of the centuries-old shared spirituality of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, which spring from the same spiritual roots. This communality of Churches in the source of the mutual love of our two peoples. Mr. Solzhenitsyn also said that during the time of the bombing in spring 1999 he was with our people wholeheartedly, and shared our fears and sorrow, made worse by the feeling of helplessness because of the inability to help.

Our two peoples have passed through difficult challenges, and a time of spiritual confusion; that is why it is important that we endure and preserve our spirit, concluded Mr. Solzhenitsyn.

PATRIARCH PAVLE WELCOMES RAPPROACHMENT OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ABROAD

The Serbian Orthodox Church welcomes the rapprochement of the Russian Church Abroad and the Moscow Patriarchy, said His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia during a recent visit to Moscow.

"The Serbian Church has been calling recently on senior officials of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad to come back and embrace the Mother Church," he said.

After the 1917 revolution in Russian, the Serbian Church helped Russians who sought refuge in Serbia, most of whom moved to Western Europe, America and Australia after World War II, Patriarch Pavle said.

Source: Interfax

PRESENTATION ON THE ROLE AND POSITION
OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

On Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the large auditorium of Kolarceva Zaduzbina, “the School for Orthodox Principles in Counseling” of the Orthodox Pastoral and Counseling Center is organizing a lecture on “The role and position of women in the Church”.

The lecturers will include His Grace Bishop Porfirije of Jegar, nun Fotina, and psychologist Aleksandra Jankovic, a psychotherapist. The moderator of the discussion will be Professor Dr. Vladeta Jerotic.

CELEBRATION OF DJURDJIC IN LANCASTER

The church of St. George in Lancaster, central England, festively celebrated its patronal feast of the Renovation of the Church of St. George (Djurdjic) on Sunday, November 14, 2004. His Grace Bishop Lukijan of Osijek Polje and Baranja officiated at the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the concelebration of local parish priest Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Slobodan Radojicic and Father Obren Jovanovic of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, who is on a one year study visit to London.

In his sermon Bishop Lukijan urged the numerous guests who gathered to guard the tradition of their fathers like the apple of their eye and loyalty to their holy Orthodox Church. He gave several examples from his rich monastic experience and archpastoral work. The Bishop then consecrated and broke the slava cake with the parish priest, the slava host and the faithful. The slava host this year was Gojko Micic and his family; next year it will be Mladen Tatic and his family. After the hospitable slava banquet, the festivities ended joyously with performances by the folklore groups Tromedja from Lancaster and Gracanica from Darby.

[Serbian Translation Services]