Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
March 31, 2005

SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH DELEGATION
VISITS RABBI ARTHUR SCHNEIER

On Tuesday, March 29, the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church presently visiting the USA met with Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the president of the Appeal of Consciousness Foundation, and his deputy, Michael Eisenstadt in the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Foundation Building in New York.

Rabbi Schneier and his associates, who facilitate dialogue between religious communities throughout the world with the goal of establishing peaceful, mutual co-existence, assisted in the realization of the first meeting between Serbian Orthodox Bishop Artemije and leaders of other Kosovo religious communities (Muslim and Roman Catholic) in Vienna in 1998. The New York meeting was also attended by Archbishop Barsamian of the Armenian Church in the USA.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier warmly welcomed the members of the Serbian Orthodox Church delegation, recalling that he also received a visit from His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle in 1991. On that occasion, Rabbi Schneier noted, they discussed how to stop the bloodshed in the former Yugoslavia. They decided that religious leaders should meet in Switzerland, which represented the beginning of cooperation that later continued. Rabbi Schneier also remembered meeting with Bishop Artemije in Vienna, as well as with the Mufti of Kosovo and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kosovo.

Bishop Grigorije emphasized that the delegation he heads represents the whole Serbian Orthodox Church and that the purpose of its visit is to establish dialogue with all significant factors in the USA who are able to contribute to peace and the normalization of life in Kosovo and Metohija as well as throughout the region. "We are young in age but the difficulties we have experienced have made us old. We have buried thousands of people and we know what suffering is as do you who have survived the Holocaust. Our intent is to seek the help of well-intentioned people and to say that our Church does not advocate isolation but cooperation and a peaceful life for all communities based on the principles of democracy and equal rights for all citizens."

Later in the conversation Bishop Grigorije emphasized that the war and propaganda have shown Serbs in a very poor light. "Poor moves by individual Serbs also contributed to this," he underscored. Bishop Grigorije explained to Rabbi Schneier that Serbs and Jews, both of whom have suffered historically, could intensify their cooperation, restoring monumental parks and learning more about each other's historical trials.

He specifically addressed the recent anti-Semitic posters and graffiti created by a small group of irresponsible individuals, adding that the Serbian people and church have always been opposed to such views and behavior, and that it cannot even be rightly said that anti-Semitism exists in Serbia as a permanent feature. Bishop Grigorije extended an invitation to Rabbi Schneier to lecture in Serbia and inform the local public even more with the tragic fate of the Jewish people throughout history. "In Mostar both the church and the synagogue were destroyed," said the Bishop. "Why not work together on their restoration and in the process strengthen our mutual ties of friendship?"

Rabbi Schneier expressed his thanks for the initiatives and readiness of the Serbian Orthodox Church to advance cooperation, and his wishes for success in the delegations activities. He recalled the Holocaust and the suffering of the Jews and other peoples under Nazism, noting that it would soon be the 90th anniversary of the terrible genocide of the Armenians in Turkey.

Bishop Teodosije informed Rabbi Schneier and his associates with the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. He stressed the fact that the Church in Kosovo and Metohija with Bishop Artemije firmly opposed violence, regardless of what side it came from, as a method of resolving problems and that it helped people of other nationalities and faiths. "We are the guardians of our churches and of our people. However, we have a sense of responsibility toward our neighbors as well and we wish to live with them in peace and mutual respect," said the Bishop. He added: "In Kosovo and Metohija today there is still no rule of law and adequate security. Serbs are still living in enclaves. A year ago Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries were exposed to yet another wave of destruction such as the world has not seen for some time. In addition to the 120 churches destroyed prior to March 2004, in just two days 30 more were destroyed, among them several old churches built in the Middle Ages. More than 4,000 people were expelled from their homes, and 19 were killed." Bishop Teodosije emphasized that the Church does not want political solutions to affect our survival; instead, it is in the Church's interest for all expelled Serbs to return and to live normally with other communities. In order for this to become possible, said the Bishop "Serbs need certain rights and protective measures, and our monasteries need internationally guaranteed protection. Otherwise, there is a possibility that a centuries-old Christian civilization and people that created on the territory of Kosovo and Metohija will vanish forever." At the end of his remarks, Bishop Teodosije said that Kosovo and Metohija are to the Serbs what Jerusalem is to the Jews, and that the holy shrines located there are the soul of the Serbian people. Bishop Teodosije asked Rabbi Schneier to use his influence and good name to protect the Serbian people and its holy shrines in Kosovo and Metohija, regardless of its final political status.

Responding to Bishop Teodosije, Rabbi Schneier emphasized that the Serbs must remain in Kosovo. "I have been to Kosovo and I know that Pec was the seat of your Church. You have the legitimate right to preserve your heritage." Rabbi Schneier recalled that last year he and Bishop Artemije visited Kofi Annan together and informed him regarding the March destruction of holy shrines. Rabbi Schneier was especially shocked by the destruction of the old town of Prizren and its churches, which he compared with the torching of the synagogue in Vienna on the eve of World War II.

Bishop Teodosije explained to Rabbi Schneier that the situation has not essentially changed for the better because the influence of corruption remains great and the rule of criminal activity. "Those Albanians whom we helped are still afraid of visiting us, and we still cannot freely travel or move about anywhere in Kosovo without a KFOR military escort. Our greatest priority is the return of refugees and securing conditions for a normal life for them and jobs," concluded the Bishop.

Continuing the conversation, Rabbi Schneier emphasized the need to restore the destroyed churches in Kosovo and Metohija. Consequently, Father Irinej Dobrijevic informed him of the recently signed Memorandum according to which the Kosovo Government undertakes to compensate the restoration of the destroyed churches and monasteries. Fr. Irinej underscored that this act was especially supported by US Senator George Voinovich and other congressmen who understand the difficult position of the Serbs. "This will open the door to other donations. A donors' conference has already been scheduled for May where we will hope to secure additional funding," explained Fr. Irinej. He emphasized that it is especially important to coordinate returns with the restoration of holy shrines, and thus provide returnees with an income to sustain life.

Rabbi Schneier wholeheartedly welcomed the signing of the Memorandum and emphasized that it was necessary to take advantage of the good will of the international community. He especially stressed the need for institutional protection of the churches and monasteries, which in his opinion is an international obligation. Rabbi Schneier also agreed with the proposal of Professor Sijakovic that religious buildings confiscated in Sarajevo be returned to the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Jewish community.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Rabbi Schneier proposed the organization of a conference in Belgrade in cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church that would include the Patriarchs of Moscow and Constantinople, and all spiritual leaders in the Balkans. His Appeal of Conscience Foundation held a similar conference in Ochrid where are good foundation for future cooperation was successfully established. Bishop Gregorije heartily welcomed this proposal as a good solution toward better cooperation, adding that he would brief the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

After the meeting a group of Jewish children sang a song for the guests, and after luncheon Rabbi Schneier escorted them on a tour of his synagogue.

Upon parting from his guests, Rabbi Schneier expressed his special thanks to His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch and the Holy Synod of Bishops for their clear and firm condemnation of anti-Semitic incidents in Serbia, and said that he hoped that cooperation between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Jewish community would continue and intensify in the future.

VISIT TO ST. VLADIMIR
ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN NEW YORK

The afternoon of Tuesday, March 29, the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church visited St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary where they were received by Dean John Ericsonn and two other professors, one of whom the son of the renowned theologian John Meyendorff.

The members of the delegation and professors of St. Vladimir Theological Seminary discussed the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the need for developing ties among the Orthodox global community. Ethnophiletism was highlighted as one of the greatest obstacles to Orthodox unity. Dean Ericsonn emphasized that the Church "must not allow itself to become a state institution but always remain independent and think primarily of the interests of its faithful". He observed that ethnophiletism is especially evident in the United States but also exists in the traditionally Orthodox countries.

Professor Sijakovic stressed that the Serbian Orthodox Church wants an active role in the integration process in the Balkans but that it wants to take part in this process as the Church, not as a state institution. Other issues of special concern to the Church include the restitution of confiscated property, i.e. the return of religious sites nationalized by the state during the Communist period.

Later in the conversation, Bishops Grigorije and Teodosije spoke with the Dean and his colleagues on theological themes, remembering Father John Meyendorff of blessed repose, whose works are very read among Orthodox youth in Serbia. After the meeting the delegation toured the chapel, library and the entire seminary complex. At the conclusion of the visit, the delegation attended evening religious services in the chapel of the Three Holy Hierarchs.

MOSCOW TO VENERATE HOLY RELICS OF ST ALEXIOS

The head of St. Alexios, the Man of God, one of Eastern Christendom's most worshipped saints, will be delivered from Greece to Moscow's Novospassky Monastery with the blessing of Alexey II, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, advised the monastery Council of Trustees. The holy relics will be open for veneration at the monastery from March 29 to April 1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. On April 2, the relics will be removed to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Moscow's principal shrine, where they will spend the night prior to returning to Greece.

Born into a pious patrician family in Rome in the middle of the fourth century, Alexius ran away from home as a young man, leaving his parents and bride, to take up religious asceticism. After years of wanderings and mystical contemplation, he returned unrecognized to receive alms and meals with the beggars who flocked to his charitable parental home. Servants made the meek pilgrim a laughing-stock. He withstood their scoffing for seventeen years, disclosing his identity only on his deathbed to his disconsolate wife, father and mother.

Alexios died on March 30, 411. His sanctity and spiritual grandeur were miraculously revealed to the Emperor, the Bishop of Rome and the congregation during liturgy that day. The modest ascetic is recorded in Christian tradition as the Man of God. The Church commemorates him on March 30.

Many miraculous healings by St. Alexios' relics have been registered. The saint's head is preserved in the renowned monastery of the Great Lavra, founded in 961 in the Peloponnesian town of Kalabreta. It has never left the Great Lavra since the Emperor Emmanuel Palaeologus presented it as a gift to the monastery in 1398.

The Novospassky Monastery will serve a commemorative liturgy in honor of St. Alexios on March 30 and Patriarch Alexey II will serve another at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on April 3.

Source: Russian Information Agency Novosti

[Serbian Translation Services]