Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 11, 2005

PATRIARCH PAVLE MEETS WITH PADDY ASHDOWN

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, Their Graces the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops and His Grace Bishop Vasilije of Zvornik and Tuzla spoke today in the Belgrade Patriarchate with Mr. Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the conversation special attention was dedicated to problems and excesses with respect to the attitude of the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as officials of the international community toward the Serbian Orthodox Church. Representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church emphasized that a major problem in establishing quality cooperation between the Serbian Orthodox Church and representatives of the international authorities is the constant denial of the real causes for the infliction of serious bodily injury to Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Jeremija Starovlah and his son, Aleksandar. By the same token, the absurd and completely unjustified suspicion that the Serbian Orthodox Church is hiding persons indicted by the Hague tribunal, as a result which armed attacks and searches of the monastery of Ozren, the Bishop’s residence in Bijeljina and other church buildings have been conducted, is a serious problem. It was emphasized that the process of returns for Serb refugees to the Bosnia-Herzegovina Federation is inexcusably slow and that this is issue is being insufficiently addressed by both the Sarajevo government and by institutions of the international community. The most obvious example is that Bishop Vasilije, despite many requests, is still not able to return to his diocese seat in Tuzla.

Analyzing the tragic years of the civil war, both sides agreed that no nation as a whole can be accused of war crimes but only the individuals who committed them. Mr. Ashdown expressed the hope that the Serbian Orthodox Church with its moral authority would contribute to forming a new future based on generally accepted international standards with equal rights for all and to introducing Republika Srpska within the framework of Bosnia-Herzegovina into the European Union.

PRESS CONFERENCE IN NOVI SAD

On Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at 12:30 p.m. in the Bishop’s residence in Novi Sad, a press conference will be held following the working meeting of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the Most Rev. Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar of Belgrade and the members of the Bishops Conference of Serbia and Montenegro.

We invite representatives of the electronic and printed media to attend this event.

From the Office of the Bishop of Backa

BISHOP JOVAN SERVES
HOLY HIERARCHAL LITURGY IN PEC PATRIARCHATE

His Grace Vicar Bishop Jovan of Dioclea served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on Sunday, April 10, 2005, in the church of the Holy Apostles in the Pec Patriarchate with the concelebration of a member of the brotherhood of Cetinje Monastery, Hieromonk Epifanije. Upon the conclusion of Divine Service, Bishop Jovan in his sermon recalled the accomplishments of our holy forefathers, reminding that “they waged both the internal and the external battle for the Kingdom of Heaven in this Pec holy shrine”.

"Our Holy Fathers who dedicated themselves here lived with God’s help, among them Holy Nikodim of Serbia, who translated the Jerusalem typicon, based on the experience and ascetic labors of St. John of the Ladder. All our God-bearing fathers rejoice and pray for us before the throne of the Holy Trinity, and that is what most strengthens and reaffirms us in our Orthodox faith and living that it is necessary to endure to the end, as they endured in their spiritual battle. They struggled, placing their hope in the Lord and constantly taking communion in Our Jesus Christ because only His power can save us from ourselves, from evil, from sin, from death and from all trials with which we are confronted,” said Bishop Jovan in his sermon.

S.R.

BISHOP GERASIM VISITS PLITVICKA JEZERA,
KORENICA AND DONJI LAPAC

His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Gornji Karlovac accompanied by Presbyter Dalibor Tanasic, parish priest of Korenica, met on April 8, 2005 with representatives of the municipal government of Plitvicka Jezera and Korenica, Mssrs. Milan Cankar and Milan Vukusic. After the meeting, the Bishop visited Donji Lapac municipality where he met with municipal official Dragan Djevic.

The purpose of the meeting was to inform Bishop Gerasim with the situation of church parishes and churches, as well as regarding the living conditions of the faithful in the region.

BISHOP JUSTIN OF TIMOK RECEIVES AWARD

In Bor on April 5, 2005, representatives of Medija Invent from Novi Sad presented gold coins with the image of captain Misa Anastasijevic to the most deserving companies and individuals. For the first time the award was also presented to the best spiritual creator and His Grace Bishop Justin of Timok is the first recipient of this recognition.

Medija Invent from Novi Sad in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Serbia and Montenegro have been recognizing the best business and social creators in this fashion for the past five years. So far the awards have been presented to collectives and individuals from Vojvodina and this year Medija Invent decided to expand the competition to all of Serbia.

[Serbian Translation Services]