SERBIA

Inter-Orthodox linking: Bulgarian Orthodox youth meet their Serbian brothersand sisters in Belgrade

Belgrade - 19 - 23 April 2001 a group of young Bulgarian Orthodox Christians visited Serbia and had a series of working meetings with Serbian brothers and sisters. The Belgrade Faculty of Theology, together with bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church invited representatives of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Veliko Turnovo, the Varna Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Pokrov Foundation, to get closer to the life of Serbian Orthodoxy and to share their vision on the development of inter-Orthodox contacts in the Balkans.
The intensive programme of the four-day visit, organized by our Serbian friend Lazar Predrag Markovic, included meetings at the Belgrade Faculty of Theology, Serbian monasteries and parishes, the Orthodox Counselling Centre and the St. Sava Youth Association.
The Bulgarian group was challenged to reflect on the need for radical renewal in the relationship between the Serbian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches, both on an informal and an official level, and on the need to overcome certain nationalistic tendencies in building the Orthodox identity of both neighbouring nations, in order to manifest and fulfil the spirit of brotherhood and unity within the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Fr. Radovan Bigovic, Dean of the Belgrade Faculty of Theology discussed with the group the directions of theological reflection in both countries, re-assessing the current models of our liturgical practice, and shared the experience of the Serbian Church in its efforts to restore the liturgical spirit of the early Church, as a natural way to proclaim the catholic unity, inherent to Orthodoxy.
Prof. Vladeta Yerotic, a prominent Serbian intellectual and psychology scholar, challenged us with his effort towards a synthesis between contemporary psychological theories and the Orthodox understanding of the person.
Fr. Vladimir Vukashinovic, editor of the Iskon magazine, told us about the current revival in Serbian Orthodox publishing and the attempts to reach out to the urban youth.
It has been a magnificent witness to see the positive spiritual tension and genuine concentration in which Serbian Orthodoxy resides today, partially due to the recent difficulties the Church has been through recently. Our encounter with examples of monastic revival (explained in depth by the bishops Iriney, Ignatie and Porfirie) has also helped us to reflect deeper on the situation in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which for many years has justified its reluctance for a genuine renewal with economic and political difficulties. We hope that this will be the beginning of a good process of bringing closer the Christians of both countries, first on this personal level, and, God willing, later this could lead to more intense institutional contacts.

Plamen Sivov, SYNDESMOS Balkan Region Representative

SYNDESMOS Board and Staff members visit Belgrade and Novi Sad

Belgrade - 7 - 8 June 2001 SYNDESMOS Vice President Milivoj Randjic hosted Spyridon Tsimouris (Southern Europe Representative), Lydia Obolensky (Western Europe Representative) and Rebecca Hookway (Secretary General) in the Belgrade-Karlovci Archdiocese, on a preliminary visit in anticipation of the forthcoming Intercultural Youth Encounter, Novi Sad, 18 - 26 September 2001. SYNDESMOS representatives were able to meet with the youth of St Sava?s at its premises in Belgrade for one evening, where they introduced the activities of SYNDESMOS and encouraged participation in this year?s
programme of events.
Novi Sad - 9 June 2001 saw a meeting in the Bishops Palace between SYNDESMOS representatives and His Grace Bishop Irinei of the Diocese of Backa, as plans progressed towards the forthcoming SYNDESMOS event to be held in the diocese in September kindly hosted by his Grace in the centre of Novi Sad (see p6). The detailed daily programme was discussed at length, as were proposed excursions to neighbouring monasteries and churches of great cultural significance, and the thematic inputs of the resource persons.
Dn Miodrag, responsible for External Relations in the Diocese of Backa, kindly gave the SYNDESMOS group a tour of the town, introducing them to local people also involved in the organising of the event, and indicating where workshops for the international delegation are proposed to take place, and what facilities are available for their use.
SYNDESMOS is very grateful to the Diocese of Backa for hosting the forthcoming event in September and for their kind hospitality during this visit.