|
Information
Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
November 25, 2004
MAIN
CELEBRATION OF 165-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
OF JEDINSTVO SERBIAN SINGING SOCIETY FROM KOTOR
Jedinstvo
Serbian Singing Society from Kotor will hold its main celebration
on the occasion of its 165 anniversary through a series of events.
On Wednesday, November 24, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. an exhibition called
“A View from Mt. Lovcen: Photographs of Kotor” by Zdravko Velimirovic
will open in the Stari Grad Gallery. On Friday, November 26, 2004
in the Music Hall the Jedinstvo Serbian Singing Society from Kotor
website will be introduced as well as the CD “Crtice” about the
first composers and choirmasters of the 19th century prepared
by Professor Dr. Darko Antovic. On Friday, December 3, 2004 at
6:00 p.m. the Society will hold a concert in the Music Hall in
honor of its anniversary, as well as that of the Academy of Music
in Cetinje and the School of Music in Kotor.
JEDINSTVO
CHOIR FROM BANJA LUKA TO HOLD CONCERT
IN BELGRADE’S ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL
On
Friday, November 26, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. the Jedinstvo Choir from
Banja Luka, directed by Nemanja Savic, will hold a concert in
Belgrade’s Orthodox Cathedral (Saborna crkva). The broad repertoire
of this world-renowned choir includes both spiritual and secular
music; during this performance the choir will also be introducing
some new works.
RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA WILL BE SERIOUSLY HINDERED BY DRAFT
LAW ON RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
Religious
minorities and the Kosovo office of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are seriously concerned by a
draft religion law being discussed by Kosovo's government. Fr
Sava of the Orthodox Decani Monastery told Forum 18 that they
had neither heard of the draft law, nor been given copies of it.
The unsigned draft received by Forum 18, dated 12 November, is
in Albanian, English and Serbian.
Despite declaring
in the preamble that the aim is to define "unique legal provisions,
which will provide equal rights and obligations to religious communities,
without any discrimination", a number of provisions in the
draft law appear to violate international human rights norms.
Although
Article 8 recognises the right of religious communities to choose
their own leaders, Article 9 part 2 declares: "The religious
community leader should be a citizen of Kosovo." It remains
unclear what constitutes a "citizen of Kosovo". Given
that both the Serbian bishops were born outside Kosovo (both Bishop
Artemije and Bishop Teodosije were born in central Serbia), would
that bar them from leading the Orthodox Raska and Prizren diocese?
Source:
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=457
SINGH:
THREE ETHNIC ALBANIANS SENTENCED FOR BURNING MEDIEVAL SERBIAN
CHURCH IN PRIZREN
 The
international court in Prizren has sentenced three ethnic Albanians
to a sentence of two years in prison or five years probation for
torching and looting the Serbian Orthodox church of Bogorodica
Ljeviska (Holy Virgin of Lyevish) in Prizren, UNMIK police spokesman
Neeraj Singh advised in Pristina.
Speaking at
a press conference, Singh said that the two-year suspended prison
sentence for Bekim Moskov, Ibrahim Buleci and Talat Pula took
into account their guilt for inciting ethnic hatred, causing general
danger and great material damage.
The UNMIK
police spokesman also said that the district court in Pristina
had reduced the charges against ethnic Albanian Mehmet Morina,
who is accused of murdering Zlatibor Trajkovic from Kosovo Polje
and attempting to murder his wife during the March violence, to
attempted murder.
It is the
judge’s opinion that not enough evidence exists Trajkovic’s death
resulted from the fact that Morina struck him over the head with
a metal bar and consequently the original charge of murder has
been changed to attempted murder, said Singh.
Trajkovic
and his wife were attacked by a group of Albanians on March 17,
2004 in front of St. Sava School in Kosovo Polje, said Singh,
adding that Zlatibor was first struck with the metal bar and then
set on fire and thrown into a ditch, and that his wife also sustained
serious physical injuries.
The police
report states that Trajkovic’s death resulted from multiple causes,
said Singh, explaining that analyses determining whether he was
burned alive or whether his body was set on fire were not done.
Singh added that the investigation into the incident is still
not complete because out of the whole group that attacked the
Trajkovices only Morina has been arrested.
Singh
also said that the trial of two ethnic Albanians for the murder
of Dimitrije Popovic, which occurred on July 5, 2004 in Gracanica,
began in Pristina on November 16, 2004.
According
to Singh, Labinot Gashi and a juvenile are charged with the murder
of Popovic and the attempted murder of a group of youths.
FEAST
OF HOLY KING STEFAN OF DECANI, PATRON SAINT AND FOUNDER, CELEBRATED
IN VISOKI DECANI MONASTERY
 The
feast (Slava) of the patron saint and founder of Visoki Decani
Monastery was celebrated on Wednesday, November 24, 2004, in the
presence of several hundred faithful from Kosovo and Metohija
and other parts of Serbia and Montenegro. With the concelebration
of some twenty members of the clergy from several Dioceses of
the Serbian Orthodox Church, Holy Hierarchal Liturgy was served
by His Grace Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina (retired)
and His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan with the blessing of
His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija,
who was unable to attend for health reasons.
After Holy
Hierarchal Liturgy all guests were invited to take part in the
traditional Slava banquet luncheon in the monastery's great dining
hall. The celebration in Decani was also attended by senior officials
of the UN Mission and KFOR: UNMIK deputy chief Francesco Bastagli,
KFOR deputy commander major general Wolfgang Kopp, and general
Rossmanith (MNB SW Commander). Also present were representatives
of the U.S., British and Italian offices in Pristina. On behalf
of the Serbian royal family of Karadjordjevic, Princess Linda
Karadjordjevic and her son George also attended the feast.
 Contributing
to the festive atmosphere by their Orthodox chants and song were
members of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Archdiocese of
Ochrid (FYROM), as well as numerous guests from all parts of Serbia.
The guests
were first addressed by the slava host, Bishop Teodosije, who
thanked everyone present for coming on behalf of Bishop Artemije,
who was unable to attend. "We thank the Lord for this day
and this joy because we have felt once again, as always in the
past, that this holy shrine connects us in true Christian love,"
said Bishop Teodosije. "We especially welcome the members
of Kfor who have guarded and protected us for the past five years,
and without whose efforts this celebration today would not have
been possible," said Bishop Teodosije.
On behalf
of the UNMIK chief, his deputy, Mr. Francesco Bastagli, thanked
the hosts and expressed his wishes for peace and prosperity to
all present. "After the many wonders wrought by the Holy
King, we hope that today he will give vision and insight to all
in Kosovo and everywhere where decisions regarding Kosovo are
made so that all communities can live in peace and tolerance,"
emphasized Mr. Bastagli, conveying the greetings of UNMIK chief
Soren Jessen-Petersen, who is presently on a visit to the United
States.
Bishop
Atanasije then gave a sermon in which he spoke of the meaning
of the Cross, which consists of a vertical part (love toward God)
and a horizontal part (love toward our neighbor). "God came
into the world and became incarnate to make us divine, He became
flesh to make us incorruptible, He suffered on the Cross to make
us immortal. It is this faith that has sustained us and which
all of us, and especially our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and
Metohija, must maintain in order to stay and survive in our homes
and our holy shrines," said Bishop Atanasije, dedicating
his choicest words to the children of Kosovo and Metohija and
the whole world, who represent the greatest gift of humanity.
GIFT
FOR CHILANDAR FROM VIENNA
 The
Serbian Center, the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox parish in Vienna
and numerous Serbian clubs and organizations from Vienna have
organized a large philanthropic event on Saturday, November 20,
2004 called “A Gift for Chilandar” with all proceeds to be sent
to help in the restoration of our holy shrine, damaged this year
in a great fire.
 Numerous
guests gathered in the Markova Koliba Restaurant to listen to
music from their native land and give their donation for the restoration
of the Serbian monastery on Holy Mt. Athos. Books and photographs
of Chilandar were available for purchase and scenes of the most
beautiful of Chilandar’s icons were shown on the screen. The gathering
was attended by many eminent guests, including Serbia and Montenegro
ambassador to Austria Mihajlo Kovac and his wife; Serbia and Montenegro
ambassador to Slovakia Miroslav Kopecni; Miodrag Jaksic, Serbian
assistant minister for emigrant affairs; Stana Bozovic, assistant
minister for trade, tourism and services; Ratka Vusurovic, advisor
to the ministry for trade, tourism and services; Aleksandra Kojic,
ministry for culture and media secretary; Vanja Vulevic, ministry
for culture and media director; Silvana Hadzi-Djokic; ministry
for culture and media director; Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Drago
V. Govedarica, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Djordje Knezevic, Protpresbyter
Sretoje Dusanic, and many others.
 On
behalf of the ministries, Mr. Miodrag Jaksic, Serbian assistant
minister for emigrant affairs, presented commendations for engagement
on nurturing motherland and emigrant relations, protection of
national, religious, cultural and language rights of our people
living abroad, and assistance to the people of Serbia to Milorad
Mateovic, Zlatko Miloradovic, Milun Nikolic, Petar Djokic, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor
Djordje Knezevic, Zoran Kalabic, Olga Danilovic and Milenko Soskan.
Commendations were also presented to representatives of several
Serbian cultural and arts societies in Vienna, including "Branko
Radicevic", "Stevan Mokranjac", "Jedinstvo"
and "Bambi - Pozarevac".
On Sunday,
November 21, 2004 a philanthropic concert was held in the Jesuitenkirche
in Vienna and all proceeds from the sale of tickets, books and
pictures would be sent to help in the restoration of Chilandar
Monastery. The primary initiator and organizer of this concert
and a general campaign to assist our holy shrine is Roman Catholic
theologian Philipp Harnoncourt, a professor of theology in Graz,
and the brother of Nikolaus Harnoncourt, the renowned conductor
of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. A faithful pilgrim of Chilandar
Monastery, he visited the Holy Mountain many times and was a good
friend of Fr. Mitrophan of blessed memory.
After the
fire, which razed the monastery dormitory, he and his friends
decided to join in fundraising efforts for the monastery’s repair
to demonstrate solidarity “for a world renowned center of spiritual
life according to the Orthodox tradition”. Upon the marking of
his own 50 year anniversary as a respected theologian, Professor
Harnoncourt proposed to all those wishing to offer a gift on this
occasion to instead offer a donation for Chilandar. He was selflessly
supported in his fundraising efforts by Austrian choral conductor
Erwin Ortner, painter Herwig Zens and Dieter Dorner, the editor
of the cultural program on Steiner television, also regular visitors
to the endowment of the Nemanjic dynasty on the Holy Mountain.
On Saturday,
November 20, 2004 the Arnold Schoenberg Choir directed by Erwin
Ortner held a concert of spiritual music in that was exceptionally
well attended. The next day the same choir performed works by
Bach, Schnittke, Messiaen, Reger, Vaskrs and Verdi in Vienna’s
Jesuitenkirche with an exclusive solo performance by violoncellist
Franz Ortner, the director’s son. The choir concluded the concert
with “Our Father” by Igor Stravinsky sung in Church Slavonic,
which was warmly greeted by all present. Guests in the overflowing
cathedral that day included Serbia and Montenegro ambassador to
Austria Mihajlo Kovac and his wife, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor
Drago V. Govedarica and Peter Djokic, the president of the Serbian-Austrian
Association.
Professor
Harnoncourt was pleased to inform us that so far about 80,000
euros in assistance have been collected and that it is his hope
to continue this humanitarian campaign in Serbia with the support
of Serbian conductor Dimitrije Stefanovic.
Text
and photo by Miodrag Mecanovic
[Serbian
Translation Services]
Copyright © 1999-2004 by
The Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
11000 Belgrade
Kralja Petra I no.5
+381 11 3282 596
e-mail
|
