Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
May 26, 2006

COMMUNIQUE REGARDING THE VISIT OF THE PATRIARCH AND THE HOLY ASSEMBLY OF BISHOPS TO THE PEC PATRIARCHATE

Pec Patriarchate, April 24, 2006

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Assembly of Bishops who are presently convened visited the holy lavra of the Pec Patriarchate Monastery today accompanied by an Italian KFOR escort so that on the feast day of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles and St. Nikodim, Patriarch of Serbia they might share their Paschal joy with the suffering faithful of Kosovo and Metohija. His Holiness Patriarch Pavle served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of the Holy Apostles with the concelebration of a number of bishops and priests.

During the course of the meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops, the spiritual leaders of the church gathered in this ancient patriarchal monastery, which is the spiritual seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to once again reaffirm the concern of the Church for its faithful and its holy shrines located on the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, and to bring them a message of encouragement and paternal love in a time overwhelmed with persecution and uncertainty.

By their arrival in Kosovo and Metohija the SOC bishops also send a powerful appeal to enable the return of displaced Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, and their peaceful and dignified lives in their ancestral homes. The return to our burned homes and our destroyed holy shrines is not only our existential need but also an expression of our faith in the Resurrection that renews us all. Therefore, the Holy Assembly of Bishops once again reaffirms its strong support for the begun process of restoration in the hope that the renewal of holy shrines destroyed in the March 2004 pogrom will continue with the renewal of all other Orthodox churches and a comprehensive spiritual renewal and national rebirth

The Lord Christ teaches us to love not only those who love us but also those who do not love us; consequently, we must all forgive and ask for forgiveness with the deep awareness that this is the only path that leads us to the Resurrected Christ and peace with all those with whom we share this piece of blessed Kosovo-Metohija land.

After Holy Hierarchal Liturgy and meeting with the faithful people of crucified Metohija, the members of the SOC Holy Assembly of Bishops, once again under the protection of Italian KFOR, headed back to Belgrade in the afternoon where they will resume the regular session of the Assembly.

THEOLOGY PROFESSOR AT EAST SARAJEVO UNIVERSITY RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE

On the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the patronal feast of East Sarajevo University, Protodeacon Radomir Rakic, who teaches the New Testament at St. Vasilije Ostroski Orthodox Theological Faculty in Foca, received a honorary doctorate (honoris causa) at a formal academy in the Rectorate. This high recognition is the result of an initiative by the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Foca, which was warmly received by the executive and advisory councils of the University. In the justification for awarding the degree, the University emphasized Professor Rakic’s work in the area of Bible studies, as well as his nurturing of inter-Christian and inter-religious relations.

Source: Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosnia

THEOLOGY STUDENTS VISIT FOCA

After an inter-religious meeting of young theologians in Sarajevo, the students of the theological faculties in Sarajevo visited Foca on May 22-23. The participants of the gathering praised the organization of the meeting by the Inter-Religious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which once again sponsored the event, expressing the hope that this is only the beginning of cooperation among university-level schools of theology in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also concurred regarding the necessity of returning the Orthodox Theological Faculty to Sarajevo as soon as possible, which would enhance cooperation among the faculties and make it possible for the Theological Faculty to assume its proper role in the academic and cultural life of Sarajevo.

GREEK ICON AND FRESCO PAINTER STAMATIS SKLIRIS IN BELGRADE

On Friday, May 26, 2006, in the Belgrade City Library, “U Ogledalu I Zagonetki” (In the Mirror and the Mystery), a book by Father Stamatis Skliris, will be presented. Speakers at the promotion of this important book, the result of the efforts of Vicar Bishop Maksim of Hum, will include the author, His Grace Bishop Ignatije of Branicevo, Protopresbyter Vladan Perisic, Mr. Kosta Bradic, and Mr. Pavle Aksentijevic.

DEAN OF PROTESTANT THEOLOGICAL FACULTY IN MUNSTER TO LECTURE IN NOVI SAD

We wish to inform all Orthodox faithful in Novi Sad that on Friday, May 26, 2006, Professor Dr. Thomas Bremer, dean of the Theological Faculty in Munster, Germany, will give two lectures in the formal auditorium of Matica Srpska in Novi Sad. At 10:00 a.m. he will presenting a “Lecture for Priests, Catechists, Religious Instructors and Students of Theology”. In the evening at 8:00 p.m. he will be speaking on “Europe’s Religious Challenges”. Interested persons are cordially invited to attend.

Office of the Bishop of Backa

INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM IN POZAREVAC

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Ignatije of Branicevo, an International Theological Symposium will be held in Pozarevac from May 26-30, 2006 on “F.M. Dostoevski – The Modern World and the Role of the Orthodox Church in It”.

The Symposium will last two days (Friday and Monday) and speakers will include His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis (Zizioulas) of Pergamum, Their Graces retired Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina and Bishop Ignatije of Branicevo, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Stamatis Skliris, Protopresbyter Radovan Bigovic, Professor Vladimir Medenica, and representatives of the Moscow Spiritual Academy.

We invite all interested persons to attend and take part in the work of the International Theological Symposium in Pozarevac.

“FOR THE FUTURE KINGDOM”

As part of the Orthodoxy public forum, on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. a lecture and discussion will take place in the Vuk Karadzic Culture Hall, Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard no. 77a, regarding the book “Za Buduce Carstvo” (For the Future Kingdom). The speakers will include the author of the book, His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje, Professor Dr. Predrag Puzovic and Monk Ignatije of the Tvrdos Monastery brotherhood. The book will be introduced by Mr. Goran Radenkovic, a professor of St. Sava Seminary in Belgrade, who is the host of the public forum.

“FAITH AND ART”

On Tuesday, May 30, 2006, as part of the Dr. Radoslav Grujic public forum at the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Academy for Arts and Conservation, well-known theatrical artist Nebojsa Dugalic will be speaking about “Faith and Art” with Presbyter Zeljko Djuric.

SERB CEMETERY IN VINKOVCI DESECRATED

Unknown vandals toppled four gravestones in the Orthodox cemetery in Vinkovci. According to police spokesman Miroslav Janic damage to the graves was reported to police two days ago and a criminal investigation is still in progress.

Previously other gravestones were also damaged, defaced with graffiti or destroyed in the Orthodox cemetery, including the gravestone of the well-known Orthodox family Georgijevic from Vinkovci, where the remains of Jovan-Joco Georgijevic, physician and humanist, are also buried. Dr. Georgijevic owned a private practice and was well-known for offering his services free of charge to the poor one day per week.

The Orthodox cemetery, which is located practically in the center of town in the Bosut quarter, was created in 1804 at the same time as the Orthodox parish of Vinkovci. The cemetery is 10,000 square meters in surface and burials are no longer performed there except for those who already own a plot there.

By P. Azap

HOLY LITURGY SERVED IN KISTANJE
ON THE FEAST OF STS CYRIL AND METHODIUS

On the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius the abbot of Krka Monastery, Archimandrite Herman, served Holy Liturgy in Kistanje with the concelebration of the clergy of the Diocese of Dalmatia. Approximately one hundred faithful were in attendance during Holy Liturgy demonstrating their love for their Holy Church and their ancestral home with their presence.

Source: Diocese of Dalmatia

[Serbian Translation Services]