Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
February 2, 2005

COMMUNIQUE
OF THE METROPOLITANATE OF MONTENEGRO
AND THE LITTORAL REGARDING TV B92’S “INSIDER” PROGRAM

Following the statement of Vladimir Beba Popovic made on TV B92’s “Insider” program on the evening of January 31, 2005 and subsequent inquiries by many journalists and papers, we wish to give the following commentary. We had hoped that over the course of the last several years Beba [“Baby”] Popovic might have grown a little more mature and finally left the stage of infancy. However, his most recent statement on TV B92 shows that not only has Beba remained infantile but also continued to be a baby, and a malicious and deceitful one. In his accusations against Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral there is nevertheless one good thing: What was known before has now become obvious to all, i.e. that the attacks and besmirching of Metropolitan Amfilohije in connection with his speech at the funeral of the late Djindjic did not originate from the Government of that time; indeed, how could it have when the Government invited him to the funeral through the Ministry of Religions, and His Holiness Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Synod blessed his giving of the eulogy (facts of which then Minister of Religions in the Government of Serbia, Mr. Milovanovic, is best aware). All the false commotion then as now was the work of Beba Popovic. To call the eulogy over the late Zoran Djindjic as he lay in state “a shameful act” after his murder was referred to with deep piety as a “wound to the heart of Serbia” can only be done by a person who has either lost every moral criterion or never acquired one.

Certainly the problem does not lie solely with individuals such as Popovic. The appearance of this man and everything he represents, the son of a native of Podgorica emigrant to Pomoravlje, a former waiter on Belgrade’s floating nightclubs [on the Danube River] who today owns an admirable estate not only in Serbia but also in Montenegro, on TV B92 says more about the television station and its sponsors and policy makers than about him personally.

Beba’s mud-slinging at the Church and his proclamation that the Church is “a paramilitary organization” is only more proof that we are witness to the re-emergence of all the old Titoist-Bolshevik haters of God and Church, the difference being that they no longer do this in the name of “scientific Marxism and Leninism” but under the new hat of “European democracy and open society”. Now, like then, those who viciously attack the main institutions of a people and State – the Church, the Academy and the Army – care nothing about truth and justice, and even less about true human dignity and human rights but only a deeper and richer trough. Who is filling it and with what ideology is not important; the only essential thing is that it is full and ready for guzzling.

In a state of law, which Serbia today is not to a sufficient degree, obviously the most suitable place for our Beba’s growth would be in prison.

Communications Office
of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

“ST SAVA’S LITTLE BELL”
PRESENTED IN NATIONAL LIBRARY IN PANCEVO

Our only Orthodox children’s magazine “St. Sava’s Little Bell” [Svetosavsko zvonce] was presented on February 1, 2005 in the overflowing conference room of the National Library in Pancevo. Over 100 little boys and girls who attend Pancevo schools were present at the event. The members of the children’s choir from the School of Music enhanced the promotion of the magazine.

Mrs. Radmila Misev, the editor in chief spoke about the magazine “St. Sava’s Little Bell”. Her speech was met with great interest on the part of the children, their teachers and parents who were also in attendance, and consequently in the future “St. Sava’s Little Bell” will be delivered to many more Pancevo homes.

"KOSOVO PEONIES" GIVE CONCERT IN NIKSIC

The children’s choir “Kosovo Peonies” [Kosovski bozuri] gave a concert on February 1, 2005 in the “18. septembar” concert hall in Niksic. The children’s choir was the guest of the Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic during the recent St. Sava’s Day festivities. The monastery of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke in the district of Niksic organized the concert by the choir, which is comprised of some 15 children from Orahovac and Velika Hoca. The monastery, the home of the “Holy Apostle Luke” choir comprised of children from Niksic, was the host of last night’s concert by the children from Kosovo.

In her welcoming remarks, Vesna Todorovic, one of the professors fired by the Montenegrin authorities in the dispute over the status of the Serbian language, mentioned that Kosovo is a perpetual Serbian wound towards which the people and their leaders have acted irresponsibility in the past. The only institution that has remained in Kosovo throughout is our church and its bishops, including Metropolitan Amfilohije and Bishop Joanikije, who by their living presence encouraged the people to endure the Kosovo Golgotha, said Todorovic.

Accompanied by the warm and sincere song of children who for years have lived in complete isolation, fear and uncertainty, Professor Jovana Valjosevic also addressed the audience and conveyed her impressions recently recorded upon leaving Metohija on the way to Montenegro. “The snow that has fallen has covered the tracks and footprints of all those who ever walked upon Metohija soil, the footprints of St. Sava and all the holy archbishops and patriarchs who rest in the Pec Patriarchate, the footprints of Nicholas I and King Peter on the way to Albania, and St. Basil of Ostrog, who frequently visited Pec, said Professor Valjosevic, adding that the snow had also covered the past misfortune, pain, suffering, heartbreak, spilled blood, desecrated churches and graves of our forefathers. The snow that has fallen covered March 17 as well, and even though some foresee a difficult and uncertain future for the Serbian people, we must let them know that our roots here are centuries deep and difficult to pull up.

The joint performance of the children’s choirs “Kosovo Peonies” and “Holy Apostle Luke” whose work and play together begin with this meeting was directed by Sister Stefanija, and accompanied on accordion by Gavrilo Kujundzic, the author of the compositions “Children’s spite” and “Orahovac, garden of heaven”.

Bidding farewell to the children and their teachers from Kosovo, Father Slobodan Jokic said: “How to thank these children who came to us, instead of us going to them; how to thank them for their song, which we should have sung to them; and how to thank them for the joy they bring from crucified Kosovo. However, just as Our Lord, crucified upon the Cross, spoke of resurrection, so these children speak of resurrection through their song. How can I bless them when their paths are already blessed,” said Father Slobodan Jokic.

Last night’s concert also included readings of excerpts from the book “I dream, yet look what is happening to me”, a collection of written works by children from Kosovo published by Svetigora, which was the immediate reason for the guest appearance of the “Kosovo Peonies” at the St. Sava’s Day academy in Montenegro.

Professor Vesna Todorovic thanked all whose who with their donations lent aid and support to our brothers and sisters whom we do not see, through our self-preoccupation, as they suffer close to us. She also took the opportunity to inform those present that protest walks are being deferred until February 4 due to inclement weather. On that day, a promotion of the new issue of the news bulletin “The crucifixion of the Serbian language”, prepared by fired professors from the secondary schools of Niksic, will be held in the “18. septembar” concert hall.

S.C./ S.K

ST SAVA’S DAY ACADEMY HELD IN BIJELO POLJE

The feast of St. Sava, the spiritual forefather and first Serbian archbishop was celebrated in Bijelo Polje with a formal Academy. His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic opened the Academy with these pastoral words: "And you, my beloved child, see that you remain true to every one of my covenants and betray them not. And if someone should be scandalized, do not yourself be scandalized, for the Lord is near and the day of His coming is near." These words directed to the favorite pupil of St. Sava are also relevant to us throughout our history, throughout the entire history of the Serbian people who have remained loyal to the Covenant of St. Sava, who have remained firm in their Orthodox faith, and speak to us even today, here and now. “We are one when we celebrate St. Sava! Today the Serbian people are gathered both here in the Homeland and throughout out the world, for the Lord has scattered us throughout the world to witness the Orthodox faith. And we can do this only if we remain faithful to the covenants of our holy father Sava, may he help all of you, may he help us all, our entire, suffering, stauropaschal Serbian people.”

The Nikoljac Sports Arena, the heart of Bijelo Polje, was filled with the sounds of the Belgrade ethnic musical group “Teodulija” and the church choir of St. Nicholas from Bijelo Polje. Greeting the followers of the tradition of St. Sava, academician Matija Beckovic spoke about the importance of the holy Nemanjic dynasty for medieval Bijelo Polje: "Saint Sava named and adorned it that it might be the "whitest" among white cities, like a white angel among angels. According to popular tradition all white and "whitest" fields, prior to Saint Sava, were Black Fields and Wilderness Fields."

The St. Sava’s Day Academy was enhanced by the gifts of poets Rajko Petrov Nogo and Ranko Radovic, a guest from Canada, gusle player Mladen Stojanovic, and inspired young recitalists.

FEAST OF ST SAVA FORMALLY CELEBRATED IN PODVORYE
OF SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN MOSCOW

His Grace Bishop Atanasije of Hvostno served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on the feast of St. Sava in the church of the Podvorye of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow with the concelebration of Archimandrite Antonio, the administrator of the Podvorye; Archimandrite Zakhej; Protopresbyter Dr. Dragomir Sande, assistant professor at the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Belgrade; Protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov, the secretary of the Department of External Church Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, and other members of the clergy. Among those attending the Liturgy were Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador to the Russian Federation Gordan Milinic and Deputy Ambassador of Serbia and Montenegro Jelica Kurjak. After the religious service, Bishop Atanasije addressed the faithful members of the brotherly Serbian and Russian peoples who were present, expressing his joy at the opportunity to visit the Podvorye of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow and emphasizing that the feast of St. Sava is a true indication of the unity and love between the two Orthodox nations. In accordance with Serbian tradition, the Bishop cut the slava cake and blessed the slava wheat, and the children attending Orthodox religious instruction performed a holiday program of recitations dedicated to St. Sava. Archimandrite Antonio thanked Bishop Atanasije for his visit to the Podvorye and presented him with a gift from the faithful in attendance.

On this occasion the Order of St. Sava of the Third Degree was presented to Kuzhina Julia Valentinovna, the director of the Orthodox School of Religious Instruction in Moscow, and Iliopulo Andrei Andreyevich, the president of the Ekonika Corporation in Moscow. These two Orthodox faithful were so honored by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church for their assistance to the Podvorye of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow. Archimandrite Antonio also presented ten recognitions to donors of the church who also contributed to the development of the Podvorye of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow through their efforts. The celebration concluded with a reception prepared in the church hall.

[Serbian Translation Services]