Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 13, 2005

SERBIAN PATRIARCH CONGRATULATES SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER ON FEASIBILITY STUDY
MEETING OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BISHOPS CONFERENCE OF STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS

SERBIAN PATRIARCH CONGRATULATES
SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER ON FEASIBILITY STUDY

After the positive assessment of the Feasibility Study on reaching an agreement on stabilization and accession to the European Union, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle addressed the following letter to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Dr. Vojislav Kostunica:

Esteemed Mr. Prime Minister:

It is my great pleasure to send you my sincere congratulations with respect to receiving a Feasibility Study for our country.

The great effort invested by the Serbian Government and all other state institutions so that our country can grow closer to the European Union are now yielding concrete results. After long tragedies, wars and isolation, thanks to long-lasting and patient work on normalizing conditions in the country, we have now arrived at this event where our country is recognized by Europe and where it has begun on the road to European integration.

Mr. President, we hope that the received Study will contribute to improving conditions in our country and that it will offer the state even more possibilities to consistently and wisely conduct a policy to keep Kosovo and Metohija within the borders of our Homeland and enhance the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

As you are aware, the Serbian Orthodox Church on its centuries-long evangelic path has been and remains an active advocate of unconditional respect for friendship and understanding toward all nations and peoples, as well as every unification, which at the same time enables both unity and the nurturing of one’s own identity. By receiving the Feasibility Study, we recognize an important step forward on this path common to us all.

With blessings,

Serbian Patriarch
+ Pavle (by his own hand)

MEETING OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BISHOPS CONFERENCE OF STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS

Yesterday in the Bishop’s residence in Novi Sad a long meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the International Bishops Conference of Sts. Cyril and Methodius (earlier the Bishops Conference of Serbia and Montenegro) took place.

Prior to this meeting His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle served the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts in the Orthodox cathedral of St. George the Great-Martyr with the concelebration of His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa, His Grace Vicar Bishop Porfirije of Jegar and the Novi Sad clergy, which was attended by the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the members of the Bishops Conference of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, as well as the His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of Paris and France, the head of the Office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the European Union in Brussels, and Monsignor Eugenio Sbarbaro, the Apostolic Nuncio in Belgrade. At the end of Holy Liturgy, the faithful were first addressed by Bishop Irinej, the host of the meeting, who welcomed Patriarch Pavle, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar, the president, and the members of the Bishops Conference of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, especially the envoys of the Old and New Rome, Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro, envoy of the Holy See to Belgrade, and Metropolitan Emmanuel, the envoy of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Bishop Irinej also welcomed Mr. Zoran Vucevic, the president of the Assembly of the City of Novi Sad, who also attended Holy Liturgy.

Patriarch Pavle then addressed the faithful, who filled not only the cathedral but also the churchyard with a spiritual message about the need for all of us to grow closer to God by observing the fast and through prayer, and to thus win spiritual bliss, which is not mere happiness, which of this world, unstable and transient, but true spiritual bliss, joy in the Kingdom of God, which is eternal and intransient. The Patriarch also expressed joy at the presence of guests from the Roman Catholic Church in the Orthodox cathedral of Novi Sad, and the expectation that this second meeting will be good for both Churches and God’s faithful.

The faithful were then addressed by Archbishop Hocevar, who expressed his thanks to the host of the gathering, Bishop Irinej, and to Patriarch Pavle on his words of welcome, encouragement and blessing. “The greatest joy is to announce the Savior of the World, Our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why we, His students, humble but brave, gathered toward that end, are full of gratitude but also of fear of the responsibility to preach Him. We pray to Our Heavenly Father that His Spirit may fill our thoughts and our deeds.”

After these brotherly greetings, official talks were held in the Bishop’s residence which began with the welcoming remarks of Archbishop Sbarbaro, the representative of the Old Rome, and the introductory lecture of Metropolitan Emmanuel, the envoy of Patriarch Bartholomew and the New Rome.

The theme of the lecture was the mission of the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church at this historic moment from the aspect of the unification of Europe and the globalization process. The thoroughness and comprehensiveness of the lecture on this most current theme were a true inspiration for the discussion in which participants on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church included His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, Bishops Irinej of Nis, Irinej of Backa, Jovan of Sumadija, Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic and Vicar Bishop Porfirije of Jegar, and on behalf of the Bishops Conference, president Monsignor Stanislav Hocevar, Metropolitan and Archbishop of Belgrade; Monsignor Zef Gasi, Archbishop of Bar; Monsignor Ivan Penzes, Bishop of Subotica; Monsignor Ilija Janjic, Bishop of Kotor; Monsignor Laslo Huzvar, Bishop of Zrenjanin; Monsignor Djuro Gasparovic, Auxiliary Bishop of Djakovica and Srem; and Most Rev. Andrija Kopilovic, consultant for catechization to the Bishops Conference.

In the first part representatives of the two Churches spoke about issues connected with their mission and pastoral work, which are relevant to both Orthodox and Roman Catholics in the same or similar measure. Cooperation between the two Churches during the period since the last meeting was also reviewed.

In the second part the discussion focused on concrete themes and problems whose resolution is expected to contribute to the further development of good inter-church relations. It was concluded that the views of the two Churches correspond to a large degree, and that in instances where there are differences of opinion, solutions will be sought through dialogue which will last as long until a common solution is found. A special tone was lent to the discussion, in the context of the introductory lecture of Metropolitan Emmanuel, by the words of the recently deceased Pope John Paul II that Europe needs to breathe with both lungs and that in this the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church assume a special responsibility. Representatives of both Churches emphasized that, building a vision of the future of Europe, through unity in diversity of traditions and cultures, the foundation of the united continent cannot be placed without the key spiritual contribution of the Christian Churches, with recognition and joint action of people belonging to the Islamic and Jewish religious communities. Participants in the discussion also discussed the completely unjustified and unfounded accusations that through their cooperation the two Churches want to impose the clericalization of society. Such positions are coming from certain atheist circles and thus participants in the meeting emphasized that they also consider as their brothers worthy of respect all nonreligious people, no matter how few of them there are, who also have their role and responsibility both in building our society and in the future of Europe. It was concluded by all that in the near future dialogue should also be continued through the already appointed theological commissions of both Churches.

The meeting concluded with a formal eucharistic service in the cathedral of the Name of Mary which was served by Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar with the concelebration of Bishop Ivan Penzes of Subotica and Bishop Laslo Huzvar of Zrenjanin. The service was attended by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle with the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. In an inspired sermon Archbishop Hocevar emphasized the meaning of dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. The Archbishop also emphasized that it is his honor to greet His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, Bishop Irinej of Backa and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Novi Sad cathedral. His Holiness Patriarch Pavle addressed the faithful, who filled the grand Novi Sad cathedral to the last seat, greeting them in the love of our common Savior and emphasizing that the most important thing is for us to try to be as close as possible to God, and through this we will grow closer to each other in the best fashion.

[Serbian Translation Services]