Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
June 22, 2005

ORDER OF ST SAVA PRESENTED TO PHILANTHROPIST HANS KRONER

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle presented the highest recognition of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Order of St. Sava of the First Degree, to Mr. Hans Kroner, respected businessman from Germany and a proven friend of the Serbian people. The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 in the Belgrade Patriarchate.

Mr. Kroner, who is the owner of a pharmaceutical company, has done much to help our people during difficult times. For the past 45 years he has worked together with the local pharmaceutical company Hemofarm from Vrsac. Mrs. Kroner has established a humanitarian foundation to assist those most in need.

Upon presenting Mr. Kroner with this high honor, His Holiness thanked him for all he has done for our people during difficult times. “Certainly you were inspired to do this by Christian love towards your neighbor, in Christ’s words: I came not to be served but to serve. Thank you and your family for all that was good and honorable in these times,” said Patriarch Pavle.

Mr. Kroner expressed his gratitude for the great honor shown him and also expressed the hope that our country will soon overcome all difficulties and develop successfully. He thanked Patriarch Pavle especially, wishing him good health and continued efforts on behalf of his people.

The award ceremony in the Belgrade Patriarchate was attended by several eminent guests, among them His Grace Bishop Nikanor of Banat, His Grace Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, His Excellency Mr. Andreas Cobel, the German ambassador in Belgrade, Mr. Miodrag Babic, president of Hemofarm, Dr. Dragomir Marisavljevic and others.

The members of the Men’s Clerical Octet of the Diocese of Banat and the Theological Faculty chanted during the formal presentation ceremony under the direction of Professor Predrag Miodrag.

BISHOP IRINEJ OF BACKA MEETS WITH PETER CARDINAL ERDO, CARDINAL PRIMATE OF HUNGARY

Following the completion of spiritual exercises by over fifty Roman Catholic priests, primarily from the region of Vojvodina and upon the invitation of Bishop Ivan Penzes of Subotica, on Friday, June 17, 2005 His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa visited the Roman Catholic church in Becej.

In addition to Catholic Bishop Ivan Penzes and Peter Cardinal Erdo, Cardinal Primate of Hungary, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, also present were Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar of Belgrade and Bishop Laslo Huzvar of Zrenjanin. On this occasion Cardinal Erdo and the other Roman Catholic bishops visited the Orthodox church in Becej where they were welcomed by Bishop Irinej of Backa in the presence of the clergy and faithful.

The gathering concluded with a low-key reception in the parish hall.

Presbyter Vladan Simic

METROPOLITAN AMFILOHIJE LEADS RELIGIOUS PROCESSION IN BUDVA

On June 19, 2005 on the feast of the Holy Trinity and on the occasion of the feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral headed a religious procession through the streets of Budva. Upon the conclusion of the procession, a festal Spiritual Academy was held in the Old Town of Budva.

“Our children today are being taught that we are descended from monkeys and no one is protesting against this,” said Bishop Amfilohije in his holiday sermon. “At the time when this was the only dogma a peasant from the vicinity of Niksic told the appropriate (Communist) committee secretary, ‘It’s true, comrade secretary. Judging from our behavior, we are descended from monkeys. But there are some among us who are not descended from monkeys but from foxes.’ We think that the peasant’s answer was a good one. Some of us truly are descended from monkeys, foxes, tigers and wolves but that is not our true blood. Our true blood is divine, the bread that we eat is divine, the power of it is divine. We are in some ways similar to every creature because the divine law encompasses the whole of God’s creation. The signature on every creature is the same, from the humblest to the most majestic. We are similar to all creatures but most similar of all to humans for all humans are of one blood according to the words of God’s prophets and God’s enlightened ones. Only those who do not know humanity’s true dignity will accept that we originate from monkeys. For him for whom that is enough, it is enough but for me it is not enough,” said Metropolitan Amfilohije. He added that he rejoices at the similarity of humans with every other creature because every creature is a demonstration of the presence of God’s laws and God’s wisdom.

Performers in the cultural and artistic part of the program included the church choirs of St. Jevstatije of Prevlaka from Budva and St. Basil of Ostrog from Trebinje, the Children’s Choir of the Budva school of religious instruction, the ethno group Grbalj and the Kanjos Macedonovic Cultural and Arts Society from Budva, thespians and folk gusle players and singers.

R. V.

Source: Svetigora Press

FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY CELEBRATED IN BISKUPIJA

On the second day of the feast of the Holy Trinity, His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the village of Biskupija. Bishop Fotije welcomed all present and wished them every blessing. Holy Hierarchal Liturgy was also attended by the head of Biskupija municipality, Mr. Dane Beric. Bishop Fotije proposed that Biskupija municipality celebrate All Souls’ Day as its patronal feast and the president of the municipality agreed.

The church of the Holy Trinity in Biskupija was originally built in 1470 and restored in 1577 and 1989. The church complex includes a parish home originally built during the tenure of Bishop Stefan Knezevic.

BISHOP FOTIJE OF DALMATIA VISITS BILJANI DONJI AND KISTANJE

His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia visited returnees to Biljani Donji who have been living for some time under extremely difficult conditions. Four elderly people are the only returnees to this villages which still does not have electricity, water and other necessities for a normal life. Bishop Fotije delivered humanitarian aid to these elderly people. In the afternoon Bishop Fotije also visited two elderly people who are living in Kistanje on a minimum of social assistance. The Bishop delivered assistance in the form of food and other basic necessities.

SERBIAN PATRIARCH OPENS ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF ICONS AND FRESCOES AT THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ACADEMY OF ARTS AND CONSERVATION

On June 17, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle opened the annual exhibition of icons and frescoes in the facilities of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Academy for Arts and Conservation, Kralja Petra I Street no. 2.

His Holiness opened the exhibition with paternal words of support and the wish that this church and education institute should continue to be guided by evangelical principles, as well as that it becomes a significant institution in the area of restoration and preservation of cultural heritage of icon and fresco painting. Patriarch Pavle emphasized that every icon painter must lead an evangelical life in order to create an incorruptible icon. In concluding Patriarch blessed all the gathered students and their professors and their work and effort.

This year’s exhibition of icons and frescoes will be open from July 8, 2005 in the facilities of the Serbian Orthodox Church Academy, Kralja Petra I Street no. 2.

[Serbian Translation Services]