Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
May 19, 2006

COMPETITION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ORTHODOX CATECHISM

A big competition of secondary school students in topics from Orthodox catechism will take place on Saturday, May 20, at 12:00 noon in the parish home of St. Sava Memorial Cathedral in Vracar. The competition was organized by the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci and the Council for Religious Instruction. All representatives of the media are invited to attend this event.

INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM IN POZAREVAC

An international theological symposium on “F. M. Dostoevski – The Modern World and the Role of the Orthodox Church in It” will be held from May 26-30 in Pozarevac with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Ignatije of Branicevo. Lecturers will include His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis (Zizioulas) of Pergam, Their Graces retired Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, and Bishop Ignatije of Branicevo, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Stamatis Skliris and Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Radovan Bigovic, Professor Vladimir Medenica and representatives of the Moscow Spiritual Academy. All interested persons are encouraged to attend and contribute to the work of the international theological symposium in Pozarevac by their presence.

BELLS CONSECRATED FOR THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD IN BOLEC

On Sunday, May 14, 2006, Holy Liturgy was served in the church of the Ascension of Our Lord in the Belgrade suburb of Bolec with the blessing of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle. Holy Liturgy was served by Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Milan Radovanovic, Protopresbyter Milan Jasic and Protopresbyter Nedeljko Marjanovic, and Protodeacon Toma Milovanovic. After Holy Liturgy, four new church bells were consecrated which will ring from now on from this still incomplete church. Thanks to the generosity of the donors and the church construction board conditions are being created for regular religious services in this holy shrine.

FOURTH FESTIVAL OF SPIRITUAL ORATORY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

On Sunday, May 14, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. the Fourth Festival of Spiritual Oratory for secondary school students was held in the church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Topcider (Belgrade). The event was organized by Presbyter Vladimir Zamahayev.

The festival was of a non-competitive nature to demonstrate that all young people are equally significant and important for the Church. The main idea behind the festival was to offer secondary school students in Serbia the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in oratory and create yet another opportunity for young, intelligent and educated people to express themselves creatively.

The church was too small to receive the approximately 150 people who came to hear the young orators. Among the numerous public figures in the audience were HRH Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic, representatives of the Russian Embassy, and numerous cultural workers and reporters.

Father Vladimir opened this year’s festival, which has gradually grown into a tradition, with an inspired homily, “Light from Light”.

Fifteen participants from seven secondary schools in Serbia took part in the festival. Also appearing were several special guests: student Yevgenia Dyatlova from Russia (Old Slavic), student Alessio Marano from Italy (Latin), and student Tamara Gazdic from the Faculty of Law in Belgrade.

The crystal voice of young and talented Ana Ristivojevic, a student from Dudovica near Ljig, enthralled the present audience, and the chanting of the choir of the church from Bezanija artistically enhanced this exceptional event in the oldest church in Belgrade.

Realization of the festival was assisted by representatives of the Embassy of the Russian Federation and the Italian Cultural Center in Belgrade.