Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
July 15, 2005

SPIRITUAL JOY ON THE DANUBE

On Wednesday, June 30, 2005, on the feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Twelve Apostles, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa and His Grace Bishop Porfirije of Jegar, vicar of the Bishop of Backa, visited Apatin and served evening services on the occasion of the patronal feast of the newly built holy shrine there.

Bishop Porfirije, and then Bishop Irinej, on that occasion with great inspiration instructed the gathered faithful of Apatin and surroundings, emphasizing that it is with great joy that we all gathered today in this beautiful holy shrine on the banks of the Danube to celebrate the first pupils and apostles of Christ.

To celebrate them, while at the same time praying with them and that their prayers may continuously be with us that they might represent us before the Living God. That we learn as much as we can from the holy apostles and follow their example of unshakeable, mighty and powerful faith in Christ, faith that gave them the strength and the power to overcome the difficulties, trials and persecution they were forced to endure in order to preach and spread the knowledge of Christ and the Gospel of Christ – the Gospel of the salvation of the entire human race in the Son of God.

Deacon Branislav Mrkic

Source: www.eparhija-backa.org.yu

MYTHOLOGY OF BLOOD AND TERRITORY IS RE-EMERGING IN MONTENEGRO

His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy yesterday in the church of Sts. Cosma and Damian in the village of Staniseljici near Ljesane.

“God’s holy people are the most beautiful fruits borne by the earth and who are brought forth by the human race. Divine beauty, goodness and a God-like image are revealed through these holy people, and the purity and perfection of human nature speaks through them,” said Metropolitan Amfilohije in his sermon, interpreting the words of the prophets on saints.

“Today we remember two ancient physicians, Cosmas and Damian. Ordinary men but they knew the reason for their birth and they knew they needed to multiply the gifts given them by God. When it became necessary, they witnessed God even by their martyrs’ blood, filled with the spirit of self-sacrificial love,” said Metropolitan Amfilohije.

He said that people today are caught in a dilemma as to whether to be worshippers of God or worshippers of idols.

“Here among us today, I see with my eyes and I mourn because of it, the re-emergence of the mythology of territory and blood. Time will show what will come from all this. God forbid that it should be the same as that for which we have had a predisposition in times past. Fratricidal instincts are again re-emerging. The years 1918 and 1941 are again re-emerging, our great and terrible tragedy. This new mythology is even being transferred to religion and nationality on the basis of a false interpretation of its past and its being. New myths are being born, perhaps even much more primitive than those that until recently inspired entire generations. Yesterday’s myths had great ideas, today’s are narrower in scope. False children, false ideas and false mythologies are again being born,” said Metropolitan Amfilohije in his sermon which he addressed to the faithful in attendance in the church in Staniseljici during Holy Liturgy.

Source: Svetigora Press

[Serbian Translation Services]