Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
December 16, 2005

RECOGNITION OF RUSSIAN PHILANTHROPISTS HELPING SERBIAN CHILDREN FROM KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

INVITATION TO MEDIA TO ATTEND THE PRESENTATION OF THE ORDER OF ST SAVA ON SATURDAY AT NOON

Upon the proposal of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church has awarded the Order of St. Sava of the First Degree, a high distinction of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to Mssrs. Vladimir Ivanovich Yakunin and Aleksandr Vladimirovich Melnyk for their demonstrated love towards the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people.

The formal presentation ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 12:00 noon in the Belgrade Patriarchate.

Mr. Yakunin is the president of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Center of National Glory and the president of the Board of Trustees of the Holy and All-Praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called Fund of Moscow.

Mr. Melnyk is the president of the Russian Center of National Glory and the president of the Holy and All-Praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called Fund of Moscow.

We invite all journalists to attend the presentation of the Order of St. Sava to Mssrs. Yakunin and Melnyk, who have made it possible for a large number of children expelled from Kosovo and Metohija to recover in Russia.

ORTHODOX AND CATHOLIC THEOLOGIANS MEET IN THE VATICAN

Members of the joint coordinating committee of the International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches met with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican on December 15, 2005. On this occasion, the Pope expressed his happiness at the resumption of dialogue following years of "serious internal and external difficulties."

As we reported in September of this year, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople made known the decision of the Orthodox Churches to reactivate the commission. It was decided that the first meeting of this new phase of dialogue would be held this week in Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI noted that the renewed dialogue will consider two aspects: "On the one hand, eliminating the remaining differences, and on the other, upholding the fundamental desire to do everything possible to re-establish full communion."

The mixed coordinating committee has 10 Catholics and 11 Orthodox. It is headed by Ioannis, metropolitan of Pergamo, and Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Source: www.zenit.org

DELEGATION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES FROM SERBIA-MONTENEGRO IN GERMANY

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation organized a discussion on the role of religious communities in the democratization of the Balkans on December 13, 2005 in the facilities of the Catholic Academy in Berlin. Participants in the discussion included Bishop Irinej of Backa, Roman Catholic Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar of Belgrade, and Bishop Arpad Dolinski of the Lutheran-Evangelic Church.

Bishop Irinej spoke about the importance of dialogue between the Christian churches, especially addressing the dialogue of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the historical churches and religious communities which has been and remains intensive, and particularly full of solidarity during the time of the tragedies in the Balkans with the desire of ending all misfortunes as soon as possible. The purpose of the visit of representatives of Christian churches from Serbia-Montenegro is a manifestation of this cooperation before international factors and a mutual exchange of opinions with religious and political leaders and officials of Germany and the European Union.

On the same occasion, Archbishop Hocevar emphasized that the fact that we came together, although representatives of different Christian churches, is our strong message to Europe that never again will be against each other, which is also our legacy to future generations in this region.

Source: Politika, December 15, 2005

REACTION OF ARCHBISHOP HOCEVAR PRIOR TO DISCUSSION AT THE CATHOLIC ACADEMY IN BERLIN

“Serbia-Montenegro: Religious freedom not possible”, read informational material passed out to journalists on Tuesday, December 13, 2005, prior to the beginning of the press conference in the Catholic Academy in Berlin organized for the members of the joint delegation of Christian churches from Serbia-Montenegro. Citing a report by Catholic institutions from Sarajevo from February 2005, the press material stated that Croatia has full religious freedom; the issue has still not been resolved in Bosnia-Herzegovina, while in Albania “religious freedoms are still incomplete”. Serbia was evaluated most negatively.

After Bishop Irinej of Backa explained that this was completely false and that in Serbia freedom of religion is regulated following the German model, citing the example of religious instruction in schools, Roman Catholic Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar of Belgrade took the podium.

“Visitors from abroad say that my country can serve as an example of religious freedoms and mutual cooperation. The best proof is that only in Serbia have the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church held a joint session with Catholic bishops. There are still consequences from the difficult events of the recent past, all the wounds have not healed but it is very important that the state and the society have ensured full religious freedom. This joint visit to Germany is also proof that ecumenism is in effect in Serbia.” The organizers of the press conference immediately withdrew the aforementioned “Introduction to the situation of the Catholic Church in the Balkans”, explaining that dated material had been put out by mistake.

Source: Vecernje Novosti, December 15, 2005

OFFICE OF ORTHODOX PEOPLES’ UNITY FUND TO OPEN IN BELGRADE

PRESS CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY, DEC. 20 AT 12:30 IN THE BELGRADE PATRIARCHATE

The Orthodox Peoples’ Unity Fund was founded in 1995 with the blessing of His Holiness Russian Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All-Russia, who is also the president of the Board of Trustees of this Fund. Since March 1998, the Fund has been officially known as the International Orthodox People’s Unity Fund with the purpose of renewing and strengthening spiritual ties among Orthodox peoples.

Since the basic tasks of the Fund include fostering cooperation between the Moscow Patriarchate and other local Orthodox Churches on spiritual and social issues, an office of the Orthodox Peoples’ Unity Fund is to be opened in Belgrade. Toward this end, on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at 12:30 p.m. a press conference will take place in the Belgrade Patriarchate. With the blessing of Russian Patriarch Alexy, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica will also be honored with the Order of St. Sergei Radonesky at the reception.

It should be noted that the Orthodox Peoples’ Unity Fund presents this recognition to individuals and institutions for the mission and spreading of Christianity and Christian culture. Laureates in previous years have included His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle; His Beatitude Petros VII, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa; Kostis Stephanopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic; Helene Carrere d'Encausse, Permanent Secretary of the Academie francaise; Mr. Vladimir Potatin, president of the Interros Company, and the Orthodox Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade.

The Orthodox Peoples’ Unity Fund has representative offices and sections in Belorussia, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, Moldavia and the state union of Serbia-Montenegro. The Fund is involved in publishing activities, including the preparation of the magazines “For Unity” and “Encounter”, as well as numerous books and publications. The president of the Fund since its establishment in 1995 has been Dr. Valery Arkadiyevich Alekseyev.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOUND ON ROAD LEADING TO BANJSKA MONASTERY

An explosive device was found on Thursday at 12:45 p.m. on the off-ramp from the main road from Kosovska Mitrovica to Leposavic leading to Banjska Monastery. Members of the Kosovo Police Service and KFOR have blocked off the road to the monastery and the highway itself. The road was re-opened at 6:00 p.m. after the device was deactivated. There was an increased KFOR and police presence in the area.

Source: Banjska Monastery website

ASSISTANCE FOR SVETA TRI JERARHA SEMINARY

For the past several years a group of Orthodox Serbs in the organization SDSS led by Mssrs. Vojislav Stanimirovic and Jovo Vukovic have been assisting the Sveta Tri Jerarha (Holy Three Hierarchs) Seminary at Krka Monastery.

This year assistance in the form of food was delivered to His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia, the rector of the seminary. With the blessing of Bishop Lukijan of Osijek Polje and Baranja, Bishop Fotije visited the philanthropists from the Vukovar area and thanked them for their efforts and love shown toward the seminary.

Source: Diocese of Dalmatia

[Serbian Translation Services]