Стаза Православља THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA VOLUME 48 MAY 2013 NO. 05 THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH TO HER SPIRITUAL CHILDREN AT PASCHA, 2013 COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE HOLY I R I N E J SYNOD OF BISHOPS By the grace of God Orthodox Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, Addressing the state of Serbia and the with the all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church – to all the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Serbian people regarding the signing of Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyous Paschal greeting: the Brussels agreement. CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! The text of an agreement “on principles which “For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” regulate the normalization of relations” between “Belgrade” and “Pristina,” which is, of course, an (Psalm 16:10) euphemism for “Serbia and Kosovo”, that is, between True, indeed, is this word of God’s prophet by which entire teaching. Up until the Resurrection He taught about the Prime Minister of Serbia and “the Prime Minister he announces the radiant feast of Christ Resurrection, this eternal life; with His Resurrection He has confirmed His of Kosovo,” i.e. an individual on the wanted [criminal] feast of great Christian joy and spiritual celebration. If teaching and has shown that He truly IS eternal Life. Up list issued by Serbia. The impression is undeniable there is a day among all days for celebration, that is today until the Resurrection, He taught about the unceasing love of that [this agreement] represents a complete withdrawal — the day we celebrate the God towards people. By the of Serbia’s institutional presence from the territory of Resurrection of Christ our Resurrection He has proven its southern province, and the setting up of a limited God. Thanks to this holy that love, since for man’s autonomy of the Serbian community in the area north of the Ibar River Bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica within day, all the days of mankind sake He has conquered the Thaci’s establishment, and, therefore, an indirect and — from the beginning to greatest enemy of mankind silent but still practical recognition of a governmental the end of the world — – death. If He had not risen system in Kosovo and Metohija which is independent receive their true meaning, from the dead, Christ would of Serbia’s governmental structures. The situation and all that has happened in have been neither God nor is further aggravated by the fact that the Serbian those days and is happening Lord, neither Savior nor government agreed to an uninterrupted “European receives its proper meaning. Redeemer, but an ordinary integration” process for Thaci’s Kosovo (without If there is an event to which man. It is only in the mentioning Metohija, which sounds too Orthodox Christianity can be narrowed light of His Resurrection and Serbian, and there is no mention of Serbia in down, then that event truly is that His life and all His this context), and there is no doubt that after paying the Resurrection of Christ. works become clear and such a high price for the famous “date for the start of If there is a feast to which explainable. Saint Justin accession talks” [to the European Union], and after the all feasts can be narrowed of Celije said concerning talks with an unknown number of new conditions and down, then again, that is this: “Take away the an uncertain outcome, the price of EU accession itself the Resurrection of Christ. Resurrection from Christ, would probably embody the formal recognition of “an That is why the Church and you will have taken independent Kosovo” by Serbia and its obligation not calls the feast day of Christ’s away His Divinity, because to obstruct “Kosovo” from obtaining United Nations Resurrection the Feast of you will have taken from membership. Feasts; and in the Church Him that which makes Him As it appears, this is more a simple surrender rather we sing: This is the day God-Man (Theanthropos), than some sort of a bargain with our own centuries-old the Lord has made! Let us and Savior, and the and, in spiritual and historical terms, most important territory, and was timed by major scene-setters to mark rejoice and be glad in it! Resurrected One.” Only in the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Old Serbia (Psalm 118:24). Christ’s Resurrection did from the Ottoman Empire after five centuries of slavery The Resurrection of people recognize in Him (1389 - 1912/1913). Christ is the foundation of the God-Man. The Christian We believe that, compared to this agreement, even Christianity, the foundation faith would be impossible a partition of the territory would make for a better, of the Church, because by and meaningless without fairer and more sustainable solution. We also question it Christ has confirmed His continued on p. 4 the reasons behind the visit of Serbia’s high delegation to Moscow several days ago if it was already willing to accept “the maximum possible,” which was still below “the minimum desirable” from the standpoint of REGULAR ANNUAL ASSEMBLY Serbia’s elementary state and national interest. Taking into account all that is mentioned here, and THE DIOCESE OF NEW even more what remains unsaid but implied, we appeal RACANICA IDWESTERN to the members of the National Assembly of Serbia G – M and to the President of Serbia that, before God, the MERICA ONCLUDED history of the Serbian people and their own conscience, A C they consider and weigh their moral and historical responsibility when deciding on giving or withholding On Friday and Saturday, April 19th & 20th of this the consent of Serbia as a state to this text agreement. year, Regular Annual Assembly of the Diocese of We also appeal to the Serbian people who have New Gracanica – Midwestern America was held at survived and remained in their centuries-old homes in the New Gracanica Monastery, Third Lake, IL, USA. Kosovo and Metohija, and to all the rest of the Serbian This significant session was preceded by a seminar of people wherever they live, that, regardless of the decision of the national leadership of Serbia, they do not the priests of our Diocese. recognize the tyranny of force and injustice, but always Assembly was attended by priests, monks and consider Kosovo and Metohija as their country for all laity from 46 parishes and monasteries. Aside from time, at the same time not denying that it is also the land the regular issues concerning the spiritual, financial of those ethnic Albanians who have been living there and material wellbeing of the Diocese, a considerable together with Serbs for centuries. amount of time was spent on the topic of educa- The Church will, in any case, remain with its tion and upbringing of the youth of our parochial people and in its sacred places in Kosovo and Metohija. Sunday schools. The Assembly opened with an This gives it the right and the duty to send out this inspired greeting of His Grace Bishop Longin, and it appeal. concluded with his meaningful message and invita- tion to all to keep working on spiritual development. Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade- The Assembly passed a Resolution in the form of a Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch pastoral message. I R I N E J From the Diocesan office April 23, 2013 (Resolutions from the Assembly on p. 5) From the Office of the Holy Synod of Bishops His Grace Bishop Longin addresses the Assembly IN THIS ISSUE: • Florida Deanery Meets, p. 2 • New Book from Sebastian press, p. 3 • Our View, pp. 6-7 • Serbian Section, pp. 8-12 • PAGE TWO THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY MAY 2013 THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA EDITORIAL STAFF English Section Editors Serbian Editor V. Rev. Rade Merick, Senior Editor V. Rev. Nedeljko Lunich 530 North Fourth Street 300 Stryker Ave Steubenville, OH 43952 Joliet, IL 60437 email:[email protected] Fax: 815-741-1883 email: [email protected] V. Rev. Milovan Katanic 65 South Keel Ridge Road Contributing Editor Hermitage, PA 16148 V. Rev. Thomas Kazich Phone:724-342-1198 P.O. Box 371, email: [email protected] Grayslake, IL 60030-0371 V. Rev. Dr. Bratislav Krsic Phone: (847) 223-4300 3025 Denver Street His Grace Bishop Mitrophan is pictured with clergy from the St. Petersburg Deanery at San Diego, CA 92117 Technical Editor Phone: 619-276-5827 Vesna R. Meinert their Christian Education meeting, April 3, 2013. email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Business and Circulation Address Clergy Lenten services, Ed The Path of Orthodoxy P. O. Box 883 meeting in Florida Bridgeport, WV 26330 With the blessing and participation of also in attendance. Danijela Pejic, Danijela email: [email protected] His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan of Eastern Kosovic and Cedo Radovanovic participated America, the St. Petersburg Deanery Clergy The Path of Orthodoxy is a monthly publication with a double issue printed for the in the Deanery meeting. months of July and August. Subscriptions are $12.50 per year for U.S. residents and $15.00 Confession and Christian Education Deanery The Deanery meeting began with prayer per year (U.S. funds only) for Canadian subsribers. meeting took place on Wednesday, April 3, following the lunch provided by the host St.