Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
May 18, 2005

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY ROWAN WILLIAMS LEADS INTER-FAITH SEMINAR IN SARAJEVO
INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES AND SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH’S PHILANTHROPY ASSIST FLOOD VICTIMS IN BANAT
FOURTH CHOIR FESTIVAL HELD IN BIJELJINA

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY ROWAN WILLIAMS
LEADS INTER-FAITH SEMINAR IN SARAJEVO

The three-day 'Building Bridges' seminar is taking place in Sarajevo through May 18, 2005. The head of the Anglican church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, is leading the seminar being held to enhance dialogue between Muslims and Christians in the Balkans.

This year's seminar will focus on the themes from the contemporary lives of Christians, Muslims and the common good, that is, on the question of how two religious traditions and their beliefs will present themselves to people living in the modern, secular world.

In addition to Orthodox and Catholic theologians, participants include Muslim scholars from Iran and the UK. The Serbian Orthodox Church is represented at the inter-faith seminar by Mr. Bogdan Lubardic, an assistant professor at the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the University of Belgrade, and theologian Zoran Ciric.

INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES AND SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH’S PHILANTHROPY ASSIST FLOOD VICTIMS IN BANAT

International Orthodox Christian Charities, in cooperation with other philanthropic organizations from Serbia and Montenegro, is carrying out a campaign to urgently collect humanitarian assistance for the residents of Jasa Tomic who are victims of recent flooding.

The region of Banat was flooded after heavy rains and melting of snow in the Carpathians led to the failure of dams and the overflowing of the Tamis River. The IOCC, in cooperation with Serbian Orthodox Church organization Philanthropy, has already provided quantities of emergency supplies to the flood victims. The assistance collected thus far has been given to the flood victims for the drainage of the flooded terrain and damaged buildings. Further activities of the IOCC and Philanthropy will be directed toward offering support and assistance to the flood victims in repairing damaged buildings, ensuring a steady water supply and revitalization of agriculture.

In addition to providing assistance to the region of Banat, the IOCC is also helping flood victims in Georgia and Romania.

For further information regarding donations contact the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Philanthropy, Dragorska Street no. 4, 11040 Belgrade, phone/fax: +381-11-3672-970 and 3672-971, emails beograd@covekoljublje.org, beograd.f@covekoljublje.org or shuba@iocc.org, ioccsmn@verat.net

Source: www.iocc.org

FOURTH CHOIR FESTIVAL HELD IN BIJELJINA

In Bijeljina from May 11-15, 2005, the Fourth Choir Festival was held with participants from Republika Srpska, Serbia and the Ukraine. The choirs competed in six different categories. It was the first time the Holy Three Hierarchs Church Choir from Krupanj (Diocese of Sabac and Valjevo), founded in 2000, took part in an official competition. Competing in the category of chamber choirs with seven competitors, it won the gold medal. A total of three gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal were awarded. One gold medal and the highest number of points was won by the Unity Serbian Singing Society from Banja Luka directed by Nemanja Savic; a second gold medal went to the Ostrog Singing Society from Novi Banovci; and the third gold was won by the Holy Three Hierarchs Church Choir from Krupanj. The jury consisted of five members: Ljubov Ivanovna Ukolova, the dean of the Music Academy of Moscow, Zorislava Vasiljevic and Djordje Stankovic from Belgrade, and Mladen Jefimic and Slavisa Mikic from Bijeljina.

The festival was organized by the Srbadija Serbian Singing Society from Bijeljina and the director of the festival was Desanka Trakilovic.

Deacon Zoran Kokanovic

[Serbian Translation Services]