Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
May 8, 2006

CROATIAN PRESIDENT VISITS SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
PARISH IN DUBROVNIK

Stjepan Mesic, president of the Republic of Croatia, visited the Serbian Orthodox Church’s parish in Dubrovnik. During the visit the Croatian visit toured the Orthodox cathedral of the Holy Annunciation, currently undergoing restoration, and the museum containing a valuable collection of icons.

President Mesic met briefly with His Grace Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, the chief priest of the Orthodox cathedral in Dubrovnik Goran Spaic, and members of the church board.

"We have sought the best relations possible with the City Board and the Croatian state for the purpose of the best possible life for the people belonging to our community. This is a significant event for us and it should be a watershed toward an even better situation,” said Bishop Grigorije.

"In Croatia the religious communities enjoy equal rights and we want their members to feel this way, too. The European path of neighboring countries and open borders will make it possible for national minorities to be bridges of cooperation,” said Mr. Mesic following his meeting with the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Accompanying the Croatian president was Dubrovnik mayor Dubravka Suica.

This is the first visit by a Croatian senior official to the Serbian Orthodox Church in Dubrovnik.

By S. Pesut

HOLY GREAT-MARTYR GEORGE CELEBRATED AT RAVNA ROMANIJA

His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabro-Bosnia served Holy Liturgy yesterday, on the feast of St. George, in the monastery of the Holy Great-Martyr George at Ravna Romanija with the concelebration of a priest and a deacon.

At the beginning of his homily Metropolitan Nikolaj wished monastery chief priest Hieromonk Andrej (Kovacevic) and the gathered faithful a happy holiday and patron saint’s day, expressing the hope that this new monastery will soon become a place of spiritual strength for all the residents of the Sarajevo-Romanija region. The Metropolitan then addressed the life of the Holy Great-martyr George, who after his death by torture was rewarded by the Lord by the unwilting wreath of joy in the heavens, adding that this great saint and soldier of the Lord Christ is the leader of all the soldiers who during the past tragic war gave their lives to defend the Christian faith and fatherland. Over 3,500 of their names are written on the walls of the monastery church at Ravna Romanija.

A festal procession and the breaking of the slava cake followed Holy Liturgy. Metropolitan Nikolaj then consecrated the newly consecrated monastery residence quarters.

Source: Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosnia

ST GEORGE’S DAY ASSEMBLY HELD IN PILLARS
OF ST GEORGE MONASTERY

On the great feast day of the Holy Great-martyr George His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi (the Pillars of St. George) near Berane. Popular festivities began on the eve of the feast of St. George with the opening of a literary evening dedicated to Mr. Miro Vuksanovic in the Cultural Center. A great festal procession through the town of Berane for the honor and glory of St. George began at 5:00 p.m. and is considered to be one of the best-attended and festive processions in the Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic. The liturgical songs of the priests rang out through the town more clearly and beautifully than ever. Upon the return of the procession to the monastery the Spiritual Academy began. Bishop Joanikije wished all present a happy holiday and gave his introductory homily. Participants in the Academy included Mr. Miro Vuksanovic, Professor Dr. Jovan Delic, Serbian folk music singers Svetlana and Aleksandra Stevic, poet Blagoje Bakovic and others. Thanks to a popular brass band and the festive atmosphere, this year’s St. George’s Day Assembly in the monastery courtyard continued well into the night.

Source: Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic

ST GEORGE CELEBRATED IN KNIN

His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on May 6, 2006, the feast of the Holy Great-martyr Georgije in the church of St. George in Knin with the concelebration of the priests and priest-monks of the Diocese of Dalmatia.

In his homily Bishop Fotije emphasized the importance of refugee returns to their houses and their ancestral homes, calling on all refugees from Dalmatia to return and renew their ancestral homes, their churches, monasteries and holy shrines.

Source: Diocese of Dalmatia

CELEBRATION OF PATRONAL FEAST OF CHURCH IN DVOR

On St. George’s Day, May 6, 2006, His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Gornji Karlovci served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of the Holy Great-martyr George in Dvor on the occasion of the church’s patronal feast. Concelebrants with the Bishop included Protopresbyter Radoslav Andjelic, parish priest of Dvor, Presbyter Zoran Mumovic, parish priest of Kostajnica, and Presbyter Luka Veric, parish priest of Toplica. In addition to a large number of faithful services were also attended by Dvor mayor Milan Ovlakovic, deputy mayor and SDSS president Nikola Arbutna, Dvor municipal council chairman Milos Mrkobrada, president of the Dvor branch of the Prosveta cultural society Milos Kepcija, and the president of the Dvor council for national minorities Simo Rajisic. After the Prayer behind the Ambon the slava wheat was consecrated and the slava cakes were cut. The Holy Great-martyr George is the family patron saint’s day of many Serbs and Serb institutions. In his homily Bishop Gerasim welcomed the faithful in attendance and wished them a happy patron saint’s day, reminding of the martyr’s death of the Holy Great-martyr George for his faith in the Resurrected Christ. After services the Prosveta cultural society presented a program in front of the church followed by a banquet luncheon in the parish hall.

Source: Diocese of Gornji Karlovci

FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING OF PROTODEACON VLASTIMIR H DJORIC

On Saturday, May 6, 2006, at Belgrade’s New Cemetery Presbyter Gavrilo Rajic and Protodeacon Milan Kovacevic served a memorial service for Protodeacon Vlastimir H. Djoric, long-time professor at the St. Sava Seminary in Belgrade. The choir of St. Sava Seminary led by conductor Milan Milijanovic chanted for the occasion. The memorial service was served in the presence of family members, friends, students and professors of the St. Sava Seminary in Belgrade.