Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
February 8, 2005

BISHOP JOANIKIJE SERVES IN GALILEE

His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on February 7, 2005 in the church of the Holy Apostles in Galilee. Concelebrants to the Bishop included clergy from the group of faithful from the Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic who together with the Bishop are on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

B.C.

TONSURING IN KRKA MONASTERY

On the feast of Our Holy Mother Xenia of Rome on February 6, 2005 His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the monastery of Krka. The religious service included the ceremonial tonsuring of a novice of the monastery of Krka, Borislav Kuzmanovic, who received the monastic name Simon, in honor of the blessed St. Simon of the Holy Mountain, the founder and endower of the monastery of Simonopetra. Bishop Fotije urged the new monk to follow his patron in serving God following the model of the angels.

THREE MORE SERBIAN HOLY SHRINES IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA SOON TO BE ADDED TO UNESCO’S WORLD HERITAGE LIST?

The list of world heritage sites protected by UNESCO may soon include three more Serbian Orthodox holy shrines, in addition to the monastery of Decani, said Serbian Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments director Gordana Markovic for Tanjug news agency. She said that the monasteries of Gracanica near Pristina and the Pec Patriarchate, as well as the church of Bogorodica Ljeviska (Holy Virgin of Lyevish) have been nominated for the World Heritage and Natural Resources List of 2006. Decani Monastery was added to the list two years ago, and she added that the Institute prepared the nomination dossiers for the three holy shrines.

Markovic emphasized that this was done on the recommendation and initiative of the UNESCO mission which visited Kosovo and Metohija at the end of April of last year, following the March pogrom against Serbs and the destruction or heavy damage of 34 more Orthodox holy shrines, in addition to the more than one hundred destroyed prior to that since KFOR’s deployment. In November it was decided to submit the candidatures and the Institute was asked to prepare the nomination dossiers no later than January 10. The Institute’s team experts managed to submit the dossiers to the Serbian Ministry of Culture on the last day of 2004, Markovic said in an interview for the national news agency.

They also took advantage of the opportunity to include other similar monuments in the official registration process located “in the region” of the main ones, in this case, Decani Monastery, said Markovic, using the UNESCO term.

"In Kosovo and Metohija there are approximately 1,300 documented buildings belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church that have been guarded for ten centuries by the Church, and since the 19th century by organizations for the protection of our cultural heritage,” she noted. “Heritage is one story and to speak of one holy shrine means to speak of heritage as a whole,” said Markovic, reminding that UNESCO director general Koichiro Matsuura sharply condemned attacks on the rich cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.

Emphasizing that talks are currently under way with UNESCO regarding the restoration of Bogorodica Ljeviska, Markovic said that this church and its fresco paintings dating back to the 14th century is in very serious condition after it was set on fire by the Albanians last March.

"The entire bell tower and parvises are in serious danger of completely collapsing, and the roof of the bell tower and inter-floor construction are also endangered. There are also serious loses in frescoes, which have an immeasurable spiritual, historical and artistic value. The renowned wall painting ‘Theotokos with Christ the Provider’ dating back to the third decade of the 13th century has been partially destroyed; the lower part of its surface has been lost and is in tiny pieces on the floor. Moreover, all wall surfaces are covered with soot,” warned Markovic.

She said that UNESCO recommended the restoration of the church of Bogorodica Ljeviska as a model for the restoration of other monuments in Kosovo and Metohija, and that Institute experts, and that of the Serbian Ministry for Culture, received an official UNESCO invitation to take part in the restoration. “Those who should take of their heritage and will take the best care of it are certainly those to whom that heritage belongs. It’s a good thing that UNESCO is receptive to such an important principle, that it is cooperating with the Institute… whose experts have been working for a long time on the protection of the church of Bogorodica Ljeviska.” Markovic added that cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church, which owns the holy shrines, and especially the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, is a given. Reminding that Ljeviska is still encircled by barbed wire, she expressed the hope that by mid-month, experts from the Institute, with the blessing and in the presence of His Grace Bishop Artemije, and together with representatives of UNESCO and the Central Institute for Restoration in Rome, will have the opportunity to visit the Prizren church for the first time since its destruction.

ST SAVA’S DAY CELEBRATION IN CORBY

A St. Sava’s Day celebration was held on Saturday, February 5, 2005 in the parish of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Corby, North England. The celebration was enhanced by the presence and address of His Grace Vicar Bishop Maksim of Hum. London parish priests Protopresybters-Stavrophors Milutin Kostic and Radomir Acimovic served evening services. The faithful, among whom there were a large number of children, filled the church to the last seat and carefully followed the service, joyously helping to turn the slava cake with His Grace the Bishop and the priests.

After the cutting of the slava cake and the welcoming remarks of parish priest Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Vido Vukovic, the Bishop spoke about the spirituality of St. Sava as a model for real Christian life for all people who follow his example and his dedication to Christ, regardless of time and space. After the religious service, Father Vido Vukovic introduced his parish to the guests and especially the preparation of the parish church, where the painting of frescoes is just being completed. The St. Sava’s Day academy was held in the large church hall which was filled to the last seat, primarily with young followers of St. Sava. Participants in the program included children of pre-school and primary school age, a total of 35, who attend church school in the Corby parish. The children receive religious instruction, as well as additional instruction in Serbian language, history and culture by teachers Vesna Lazarevic and Ljiljana Beric. The efforts extended in rehearsal and the sincerity with which their students performed the St. Sava’s Day program was richly rewarded by the applause of the audience. The musical portion of the St. Sava’s Day academy was performed by the folklore groups Zavicaj from Corby and Rastko from London, which performed a medley of folk dances from Serbian lands. At the conclusion of the Academy each child from church school received a certificate of thanks and a small gift in honor of the holiday prepared by the hosts of this year’s slava, Sava and Bosiljka Tovilovic, together with the parish administration.

P. K.

[Serbian Translation Services]