AMERICAN SRBOBRAN • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016 11

The Importance of Benefciaries “Christian Heritage of and ”

Your primary benefciary, when you started the annuity, was your brother at Gumberg Library, Duquesne University and the contingent was your mother. Two years ago – your mother died by Milos Rastovic and you did not update your bene- fciary information. Right after that, On May 24, 2016, on behalf of His Grace Bishop MAXIM of the West- your brother was diagnosed with a ern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, Father Branislav Golic and I presented the book terminal condition and you did not “Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija” as a gift to the Gumberg think of updating your benefciary in- Library at Duquesne University. On behalf of the Gumberg Library formation (this is not uncommon, up- and Duquesne University, the book was accepted by Dr. Sara Baron, dating benefciaries is generally not University Librarian, who expressed thanks for the gift, welcomed all thought of when you are beset with guests, and introduced speakers. emotional distress). Since your poli- cy was issued, you were married and Dr. James Swindal, Professor and Dean of McAnulty College and had two children. Graduate School of Liberal Arts, welcomed Rev. Father Golic and I from the Serb National Federation. He stressed Duquesne’s mission: “Duquesne, as a Spiritan University, is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. Unexpectedly, you pass while your The role of the Holy Spirit is God’s love for us is to bring unity. A unity brother remains alive but not doing that in biblical contexts brought energy to the witness of those to the well. He passes four (4) months lat- Christian faith. More specifcally, Duquesne University is committed er. Of course, you had a will drawn – as through Spiritans who guide our mission – to interreligious dia- up right after you had gotten married logue. It is in fact a hallmark of our Department of Theology.” He also The book Christian Heritage Dr. Radu Bordeianu and your wife made sure she was expressed gratitude to Milos Rastovic and the Serb National Feder- of Kosovo and Metohija to the recipient of those assets in ation, who were a key in the organization of this event: “Milos was a your name in the event of your death an MA student in our Philosophy Department when I was Chair. But, through the will. However, you for- I was not just Chair, as I was also a mentor, a coach of sorts, and a fellow traveler in all things philosophical and political… I could not got who was the benefciary of that imagine a better Cultural Ambassador for , and one who is a annuity and just fgured it would go true philosopher, than Milos.” Dr. Swindal concluded with the follow- where your will said it should go. In ing words: “I am again so pleased for this gift, and note how it symbol- the meantime, one year after you die, izes a true and ongoing spirit of cooperation between Duquesne Uni- your sister-in-law gets re-married and versity and the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox dies tragically in a car accident. Cra- Church – a collaboration that we trust will endure for years.” zy, huh? Not so much. Here is what happens. I expressed to gratitude to speakers and stressed the exceptional ef- fort of the Serbian Orthodox Church to publish this precious book by the Sebastian Press, the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox The surviving spouse of your sister- Church in North and South America. The book includes over 750 viv- in-law’s second marriage takes the id photographs and other depictions of Serbian monasteries, church- money and gives it to his kids (from es, frescoes, icons, and historical fgures of Kosovo and Metohija. his frst marriage). Remember – he In addition to the brilliant photographs and other artwork, the book outlived you by four months. From includes 1,000 pages of history detailing the deep Christian heritage that $150,000.00 Annuity - your wife in this small region. It also gives a number of historical facts and tells (from left to right): Rev. Father Branislav Golic gets NOTHING, your kids get NOTH- of the Christian identity of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. Dr. Sara Baron, Milos Rastovic, Dr. James ING, your brother’s kids get NOTH- I also stressed the history of Serbian Christian Culture of Kosovo and Swindal, and Rev. Father Branislav Golic ING, and your church gets NOTH- Metohija from the twelfth century to today. Rev. Father Branislav Golic emphasized the importance of preserv- ING. ing the Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija. He noted that there were 1300 Orthodox churches and monasteries built in medi- Can you now see the importance eval times. Even though most of them did not survive tragic historic of keeping these benefciaries up to events, the ones that did are the pride of the Serbian Orthodox peo- date? We at the SNF Home Offce ple. Fr Branislav also said that we must make every effort to preserve hope so. Not long ago, I had to try the Serbian spiritual and historic values in Kosovo and Metohija for to explain why some members of a generations to come. family were left out of the distribution after a member’s death. This is not Dr. Radu Bordeianu, Professor of Theology, was grateful for this gift to the University and expressed what a great opportunity professors, an easy conversation for anyone in- students and colleagues will have to read and study this precious volved. book about Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija. The gravity of correctly assigning The book was originally presented by His Grace Bishop MAXIM at a benefciaries and updating benef- lecture “Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija” at the Cathedral ciaries is part to long term fnancial of Learning, University of Pittsburgh on June 11, 2015. The lecture Milos Rastovic & estate planning. It is our hope at was sponsored by the Serb National Federation in cooperation with the SNF that the insured and/or the the Yugoslav Room Committee of the University of Pittsburgh. contract owner decide the suitability The book is the single-most important compendium of research and of these decisions. However, if you photographs of Serbian Christian heritage of Kosovo and Metohija are not sure, do not hesitate to seek and is vitally important to remain available to the largest possible sec- professional advice. The SNF does tion of the public as a learning tool. His Grace Bishop MAXIM pointed not offer fnancial, tax, and/or legal out that the original texts that accompany the photos “demonstrate advice. that Serbia’s architectural and art monuments in Kosovo rank among the fnest achievements of medieval .” His Grace hopes that Thank you for your continued sup- the book will further convince the public of the importance of pres- port. Help us help your family – Up- ervation of these treasures of Serbian Christian heritage not just for date your benefciaries today, contact Christians in Kosovo and Metohija, but for world culture. the SNF Home Offce. More information about the book is available on the website of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North Fraternally, and South America: http://www.westsrbdio.org/ . Dr. James Swindal Greg Volitich – SNF Treasurer