Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 4, 2005

PATRIARCH SERVES MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF OPERATION “STORM”

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, with the concelebration of Bishop Irinej of Backa and Bishop Jovan of Sumadija of the Holy Synod of Bishops and priests and deacons from Belgrade, served a short memorial service today in St. Mark’s Church in Belgrade for all Serbs who perished in 1995 during Operation “Storm”.

Several thousand faithful, mostly refugees from the Krajina region, prayed for the repose of the souls of their friends and loved ones who disappeared during an offensive by Croatian armed forces resulting in the expulsion of approximately 280,000 Serbs from Banija, Lika, Kordun and northern Dalmatia. One thousand, nine hundred and thirty-four (1,934) persons were killed in the operation, only 505 of whom have been identified and buried while 1,429 persons are still listed as missing.

In his sermon His Holiness said that these innocents had been chased from their homeland, the land of their fathers and their homes. “Our sorrow is great but it would be greater still had they gone to conquer what was not theirs. But they were expelled from lands where our ancestors have lived for centuries. One day all of us will find ourselves before the Court of God the Just and before our ancestors, and God forbid they have reason to be ashamed because of us,” said the Patriarch. He advised those present to pray to God for strength in the midst of the suffering that has befallen the Serbian people.

The families of the victims and the missing carried signs saying “We want to know the fate of the missing”, “We know they were murdered, where are their graves”, “We have been waiting for the truth for 10 years” and “When will the 24 mass graves in Croatia be exhumed?”

Among those present at the memorial service were Serbian president Boris Tadic and Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica, representatives of the Government, political parties, the municipal administration, and Serbian cultural and public life.

We recommend for reading the report of the Veritas Documentation and Information Center entitled “Oluja – Udruzeni zlocinacki poduhvat” (Operation Storm – A Joint Criminal Enterprise) http://www.veritas.org.yu/Bilteni/Bilten_88.pdf (in Serbian only).

SERBIAN PATRIARCH PAVLE AND PRIME MINISTER VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA MEET REGARDING RELEASE OF ARCHBISHOP JOVAN

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle spoke with Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica today in the Belgrade Patriarchate.

His Holiness, together with Bishop Irinej of Backa and Bishop Jovan of Sumadija of the Holy Synod of Bishops, informed Prime Minister Kostunica regarding the efforts of the Serbian Orthodox Church to secure the release of Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid as soon as possible.

The consensus reached during the discussion was that Archbishop Jovan should be released immediately because his only sin, for which he has been sentenced and imprisoned, is praying to God according to the dictates of his Christian and human conscience. The right of freedom of confession is a fundamental human right that all European and civilized countries consistently respect.

Patriarch Pavle emphasized during the discussion that he expects strong support from international and local organizations in the effort to secure the release of Archbishop Jovan.

Office of the Holy Synod of Bishops

FEAST OF THE HOLY PROPHET ELIJAH CELEBRATED IN DALMATIA

His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on August 2, 2005 in the church of St. Elijah the Prophet in Zadar.

During his sermon Bishop Fotije welcomed the gathered Orthodox Serbs from the greater Zadar region, who traditionally visit this holy shrine on the feast of the Holy Prophet. He emphasized the need to live in continuous community with the Lord which is realized through the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist.

On the same day Bishop Fotije also visited the destroyed church of St. Elijah in Kasic, where he cut the slava cake on the ruins and served a short memorial service to all deceased locals, patrons, donors and church servants of this church.

There are plans to restore the church of St. Elijah in Kasic starting this year.

In the afternoon Bishop Fotije visited the church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Djevrske.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF WAR FROM THE BATTLE OF KOSOVO TO TODAY

Today in Sibenik His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia served a short memorial service for all Orthodox Serbs who perished in war from the Battle of Kosovo to today.

In Krka Monastery the memorial service was served by Father Herman, the abbot of the monastery, with the concelebration of Hieromonk Nikodim and Presbyter Milorad Djekanovic from Kistanje.

A memorial service was also served in the church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Knin, as well as in all other holy shrines of the Diocese of Dalmatia.

FEAST OF THE HOLY PROPHET ELIJAH CELEBRATED IN THE DIOCESE OF GORNJI KARLOVAC

His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Gornji Karlovac served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of St. Sava in the village of Brlog near Otocac, which is currently undergoing restoration.

In his homily after Holy Liturgy, Bishop Gerasim welcomed the faithful in attendance and blessed their hard work and efforts to restore the church.

The church of St. Sava was set on fire during the last war. The faithful and their parish priest, Father Milos Orelj, initiated the restoration themselves three years ago. With the donations and assistance of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, a roof was placed on the church and further work on its restoration is in progress.

In the afternoon Bishop Gerasim visited the village of Primislje near Slunj, where he cut the slava cake in the presence of a large number of faithful.

ORDINATION IN DIOCESE OF GORNJI KARLOVAC

On the feast of St. Marina the Great-martyr His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Gornji Karlovac served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Donje Budacko. During Holy Liturgy he also ordained Marko Djuric a deacon, and on the following day elevated him to the office of presbyter.

In his sermon Bishop Gerasim wished the newly ordained Father Marko Djuric success in restoring his pastoral service.

[Serbian Translation Services]