THE CHANCELLERY OF
H.R.H. CROWN PRINCE Alexander II
OF YUGOSLAVIA

SAINT SAVA ACADEMY AT THE
THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL IN BELGRADE
Belgrade, 27 January 2005 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince
Alexander II and Princess Katherine were present at the Saint Sava
Academy today at the Theological Faculty in Belgrade.
Beside Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and
Princess Katherine also present were HRH Princess Linda and HRH
Prince George, His Eminency Archbishop Josef Homeyer the Chairperson
of the Bishop Conference of the European Union, HE Archbishop
Eugenio Sbarbaro Apostolic Nuncio representative of State of
Vatican, Stanislav Hocevar Belgrade Archbishop, the Venerable Anton
Royce, Radovan Bigovic PhD professor the former dean of the
Theological School, hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic the Director of
Information service of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Vojislav
Milovanovic PhD former Minister of Religion professor of the Saint
Sava Temple, Vladimir Bozovic the General Inspector of Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Serbia, as well as numerous students.
At the beginning Vladan Perisic the Dean of the Theological
University spoke about the work of this High Educational
Institution, which is celebrating it 100th anniversary this year. He
reminded all present that Saint Sava was born as Rastko, the
first-born son of our great district prefect Stefan Nemanja, in
1169, and that he was predestined to continue his fathers’
tradition. However, he committed himself to something completely
different; he left to Sveta Gora and entered a monastic order in
1219. He contributed with the establishment and independence of The
Serbian Orthodox Church and was its first Archbishop. During his
life the Serbian Orthodox Church flourished, eight parishes were
founded and many monasteries were built.
His father, Nemanja, followed the example of his son and entered
the monastic order in Sveta Gora, where he his life ended under the
name Simeon. The two of them were building the monastery Hilandar
and many other monasteries, churches and schools in our country.
Sava was also a founder of hospitals and that is why this day is
celebrated not only schools, but also in hospitals as their Slava.
During his life Sava traveled a lot twice for a reverence to the
sanctities of the Holy Land. He made peace between his brothers, who
were fighting power; he made peace with their neighbours. Creating
the Serbian Church, he was also creating the Serbian state and
culture. He brought peace to the people in the Balkans and he was
working for the good of them all. This is why the people of the
Balkans respected and loved him so much. He gave a Christian spirit
to the Serbian people, and this spirit survived despite the
destruction of the Serbian state. He ended his life in Trnovo,
during the Emperor Asen, falling ill after the Holy Service on the
Epiphany, on 12 January 1236. The King Vladislav moved his body to
Milesevo, and Sinan Pasa took it from there and burned it on 27
April 1595 on Vracar in Belgrade, at the place where today the
Temple stands that Serbian people dedicated to the memory on this
great Saint and educator.
Afterwards His Eminency Archbishop Josef Homeyer, the Chairperson
of the Bishop Conference of the European Union addressed the
audience and emphasized his delight to be here today, on this great
day for the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church.
“The Serbian Orthodox Church and the State of Serbia flourished
during the life of Saint Sava, and I hope that Serbia will soon find
its place in the big family of countries of the European Union,
where it belongs”.
Aleksandar Lipkovski, the pro-rector of the Belgrade University,
congratulated Slava and expressed his pleasure to have the
Theological School back in the structure of the University of
Belgrade again, after many years of exile.
Everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the artistic program
prepared by the students of this faculty.

 

 

 

 

 

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