December 19, 2003

ERP KiM Newsletter 19-12-03

Celebration of St. Nicholas Day at Gracanica Monastery

ERP KIM Info-service
Gracanica, December 19, 2003

(Bishops Artemija and Justin with Abbot Symeon of Banjska Monastery)

St. Nicholas Day (6/19 December) was celebrated today throughout Kosovo and Metohija Province. Especially solemn atmosphere was in Gracanica Monastery (in a Serbian enclave near Pristina) where Bishop of Kosovo and Metohija Artemije celebrated his Patron Saint in the presence of his spiritual children, clergy and many domestic and international dignitaries. After the Holy Liturgy, which was served by Bishops Artemije and Justin of Timok, Bishop Justin cut the "Slava cake" for his spiritual father, conveying support to the suffering Serbs of Kosovo and Metohija from the faithful from his Diocese (Eastern Serbia). 

After the service in the church Bishop Artemije and Mother Efrosinia, the Abbess of Gracanica Monastery (who also celebrates St. Nicholas as her Patron Saint) held a reception for the guests in the lounge of the monastery. Afterwards the guests attended the St. Nicholas luncheon in the Gracanica Monastery Refectory.

Among the dignitaries who attended St. Nicholas celebration and the luncheon were: Serbian deputy PM  and chief of the KCK Dr. Nebojsa Covic with Vladan Begovic, Commander of the US KFOR Brig. General Jerry Beck Jr. with the representatives of the US Office in Pristina, Ambassador Pasquale Salzano, the chief of the Italian Office in Kosovo with Lt. Col. Aurelio Dell'Angelo (Italian KFOR), Col. Per Oeyvind Semb, Political Advisor to the COMKFOR (Gen. Kammerhoff), as well as members of the POVRATAK Coalition Oliver Ivanovic (DA) and Randjel Nojkic (SPO)

Bishop Artemije greeted his guests conveying his best festal wishes to all who celebrate St. Nicholas as their Patron Saint, particularly in Kosovo and Metohija.

Despite very difficult security and human rights situation in Kosovo Province religious feast days for the Orthodox Serbs have always been moments of spiritual encouragement and hope for better life in peace, harmony and tolerance.

ERP KIM Info-Service is the official Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren and works with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Artemije.
Our Information Service is distributing news on Kosovo related issues. The main focus of the Info-Service is the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian community in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija. ERP KIM Info Service works in cooperation with www.serbian-translation.com as well as the Kosovo Daily News (KDN) News List

Disclaimer:
The views expressed by the authors of newspaper articles or other texts which are not official communiqués or news reports by the Diocese are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Additional information on our Diocese and the life of the Kosovo Serb Community may be found at: http://www.kosovo.net

Copyright 2003, ERP KIM Info-Service