Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
March 3, 2005

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF DIOCESE OF EASTERN AMERICA

The annual Assembly of the Diocese of Eastern America began on Friday, February 25, 2005 with the invocation of the Holy Spirit after evening services. In addition to His Grace Bishop Mitrofan there were 57 participants, including 27 priests of the Diocese, one guest priest, three deacons, 15 presidents of church parishes, 14 delegates and four observers. A total of 32 parish churches were represented.

In his report this year Bishop Mitrofan spoke of various activities and pastoral visits during the preceding year. The Diocese received four new priests: Priest Milan Pajic from the Diocese of Canada; Protonamesnik Ivan Marjanovic from the Diocese of Zhicha; Priest Ljubisa Brnjosa from the Diocese of Zahumlje and Herzegovina; and Deacon Perica Zivanovic from the Diocese of Temishvar. Two parishes were received from the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica: the parish of the Holy Apostle Luke from Washington and the parish of the Holy Resurrection from Lebanon in Pennsylvania.

The Bishop mentioned the parishes in Aliquippa, St. Petersburg, Charlotte, Jacksonville and Paterson as having had restoration work done. As well, work was done on placement of frescoes in the diocesal chapel. The biggest work, still ongoing, was on St. Sava Cathedral in New York. The Bishop thanked the parish priest, the church board, the building committee and all parishioners for their support. The most significant event during the course of the previous year was Days of the Eastern Orthodox Diocese, which will become a tradition in the Diocese. The Bishop also spoke about the suffering of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, especially in March of last year, as well as about the catastrophic fire in Chilandar Monastery.

Priest Rajko Kosic reported on behalf of the Diocese’s Humanitarian Committee. He thanked Mr. Milan Puskar and Dr. Nenad Janicijevic, who provided large quantities of medicines. During the past year three containers were sent. Unfortunately, sending of medicines will no longer be possible in the future due to changes in law in Serbia.

Concluding the first day of the Assembly Protopresbyter Rade Miric provided a detailed overview of the content of Days of the Diocese for 2005 to be held on August 6 and 7 on the property in Shadeland. The theme will be “Called on to be Orthodox”. Lecturers will include Abbot Gerasim and Father Damaskin of the monastery of St. Herman of Alaska, who converted to Orthodoxy. Father Vojislav Bilbija will also be speaking, and chanting his spiritual poems.

The second day of the Assembly began with Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on the feast of St. Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher. After breakfast, Priest Aleksandar Vlajkovic lectured on the topic “The roles of the priest in the American parish”. In his presentation he touched upon several aspects of the priesthood, explaining the differences between the clergy and laity in detail, and the necessity for them to work together in the life of the Church.

After the lecture there was a discussion on supporting the parishes through trusteeship following an introduction by Mr. Simo Cugalj. The Assembly thanked hierarchal administrator Protopresybter-Stavrophor Nedeljko Grgurevic for his contribution. Father Nedeljko is soon retiring from his parish in Johnstown. Father Dragoljub Malic invited all present to an important celebration in his parish in Monroeville – the parish’s centennial celebration to take place in September.

The Assembly thanked the host, Father Dragan Filipovic, the Serbian Sisters’ Circle and all parishioners of the church of St. George in Canton for their hospitality. The next Assembly will be held next year in Midland.

Source: www.easterndiocese.org

PATRONAL FEAST OF SERBIAN SISTERS CIRCLE OF DIOCESE OF ZAGREB AND LJUBLJANA CELEBRATED IN TRIESTE

On February 14/27, 2005 on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, His Eminence Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb and Ljubljana served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of St. Spiridon the Wonderworker in Trieste with the concelebration of Protopresybter-Stavrophor Rasko Radovic, parish priest of Trieste. In the overflowing church the faithful once again gathered to welcome their bishop and celebrate St. Simeon’s Day, the patronal feast of the Serbian Sisters Circle. In his homily Metropolitan Jovan emphasized the necessity of responsibility before God on the part of all Christians in the upcoming period of the Great Fast. The Metropolitan thanked God for the many years of effort on the part of the Serbian Sisters Circle, whose patronal feast was festally celebrated in Trieste. He also reminded those present that Sts. Sava and Simeon successfully resisted all challenges; hence their efforts in the Pasture of the Lord are an example to all Christians. After Holy Liturgy the slava cake was cut and the slava wheat blessed, and the members of the Serbian Sisters Circle invited all to partake in the festal luncheon. The Very Reverend Archimandrite Georgios of the Greek Orthodox Church and Don Ettore Malnati also attended the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy. The slava cake and luncheon were once again prepared this year by Mrs. Snezana Petrovic, together with the members of the Serbian Sisters Circle.

Source: www.mitropolija-zagrebacka.org

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH HONORS PRESIDENT OF ICELAND

His Eminence Archbishop Longin of Klin presented His Excellency Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, president of Iceland, with the Order of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles of the second degree on February 28, 2005 in the residence of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Iceland. Icelandic National Television directly broadcast the formal presentation of the order of the Russian Orthodox Church to the highest official of Iceland.

Source: www.mospat.ru

RABBI CADIK DANON PASSED AWAY IN BELGRADE

Chief Rabbi Cadik Danon passed away on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 in Belgrade. The late Rabbi was a great friend of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The funeral will take place on Friday, March 4, 2005 at 12:30 p.m. at the Jewish Cemetery.

The late Rabbi Cadik Danon will be remembered for his many good deeds toward the Serbian people. We cite below his appeal to all Jewish organizations and Jews throughout the world in April 1999 at the height of NATO’s bombing of Serbia:

“The Serbian people is under attack by the world's most powerful war machine. Hospitals, schools, bridges, and the industrial and agricultural infrastructure of the country are being destroyed. The media of NATO countries are fabricating lies about the savage nature of this freedom-loving and brave people and about their genocidal policies. They deceive themselves that they will thus justify their crimes in front of God and man.

“For centuries the Jews have suffered from false accusations of evil deeds, so no one as well as us can understand the situation in which the Serb people find themselves now. We, the few members of the religion of Moses, who seeking a little justice and peace found shelter in this country, for centuries have shared with the Serbian people good and evil, have had the opportunity to experience the warmth of their hospitality and the openness of their heart. As our ancestors said, you can tell a true friend in bad times. So many Serbs risked their lives as well as those of their dearest to help the Jews during WWII.

“Today, when for the third time in this century the Serbs find themselves exposed to the rage of the mightiest on earth, I, who in Yugoslavia served for many years as the Chief Rabbi, have no right to remain silent in front of the misfortune which has befallen the Serbs and all citizens of Yugoslavia. I am urging Jewish organizations and Jews throughout the world to do all they can to put a stop to this aggression unleashed upon the Serbs only because thy are firm in their stance that no one can dispose of what belongs to them. Most certainly no one can take away from the Serbs their Holy Land, just as no one can take Jerusalem from the Jews.”

[Serbian Translation Services]