Chicago, IL -
In the presence of many family, friends, parishioners and those who
respected him, brother hierarchs of our local church from America,
Canada and Australia as well as other Orthodox Churches, diplomatic
representatives and devoted clergymen, Metropolitan Christopher of
blessed memory was laid to rest yesterday at St. Sava Monastery in
Libertyville, Illinois.
The
Divine Hierarchical Requiem Liturgy, served beneath the open sky in
front of the Monastery church, was celebrated by the presiding hierarch
of the Orthodox Church in America His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of
Washington and Metropolitan of America and Canada, and concelebrated
by His Grace Bp. Georgije of Canada, His Grace Bp. Longin of the New
Gracanica – Midwest Diocese, His Grace Bp. Mitrophan of the Eastern
Diocese, His Grace Bp. Maxim of the Western American Diocese, His Grace
Bp. Irinej of Australia and New Zeland, His Grace Bp. Petar of
Cleveland, Vicar of Midwest Diocese (ROCOR) and His Grace Bp. Mark -
Diocese of Toledo and Midwest (Antiochian Orthodox Church).
Eulogizing
Metropolitan Christopher in a moving sermon, His Grace Bishop Irinej of
Australia and New Zealand, among many words of praise, stated that: “we
have lost a very strong spiritual and administrative leader who helped
foster bilingual church services and schooling, and had a profound
spiritual influence on the lives of many people during his 60 years of
pastoral service to Christ’s holy Church.”
After
the procession to the grave site with the late Metropolitan's earthly
remains, Very Reverend Fr. Nick Ceko, Dean of the St. Steven's
Cathedral in Alhambra, California, bid farewell to the Metropolitan at
his graveside, saying: “that during his long history as priest and then
as hierarch, Metropolitan Christopher had to make many challenging
decisions which were not always popular, but always right and in
accordance with the teaching of the Gospel and the sacred order of the
Orthodox Church.”
After
the burial of the Metropolitan of blessed repose, a memorial luncheon
was offered at the hall of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
in Chicago, Illinois, during which Rev. Fr. Darko Spasojevich,
Cathedral Dean, thanked everybody for their prayers and support and
introduced V. Rev. Fr. Dennis Pavichevich, the Metropolitan’s Deputy
who gave a very moving and compassionate speech, recollecting his
personal memories of Metropolitan Christopher. Many representatives of
different church affiliated organizations addressed the family and the
people present: Mrs. Danijela Randjelovic, President of the St. Sava
Monastery Women’s Auxiliary Organization, Mrs. Yvonne Orlich, 1st Vice
President of the Serbian Singing Federation, Mrs. Biljana Sevic,
President of the Executive Board of the Holy Resurrection Serbian
Orthodox Cathedral, Mr. Constantine Triantafillou, Director of IOCC,
Mr. Dmitar Rakic, a long time friend from St. Archangel Michael
Parish, and Mr. Petar Kovachevich, son of the late Metropolitan
Christopher.
May Metropolitan’s Christopher Memory be eternal!
Inter-religious Council of the Ministry of Faith of the Republic of Serbia established
On June 17, 2010 in Belgrade a Inter-religious Council
of the Ministry of Faith of the Republic of Serbia was established, and it
consists of Prof. Dr. Bogoljub Sijakovic, Minister of Faith of the Republic of
Serbia; Bishop Dr. Irinej Bulovic of Backa; Stanislav Hocevar, Archbishop of
Belgrade of the Roman Catholic Church in Serbia; Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic
Community of Serbia Adem Zilkic and Rabbi Isaac Asiel, chief rabbi of the
Jewish Community in Serbia. The Inter-religious Council is open for further
appointments of members from among the dignitaries of the traditional churches
and religious communities and prominent lay people.
Minister of Faith Bogoljub Sijakovic pointed out the tasks
of the Inter-religious Council: affirmation of religious freedom and religious
culture, publishing communiqués (epistles) on important social issues,
organizing scientific meetings, panels, round tables and advice on current
topics, participation in the preparation of normative solutions, reviewing and
interpreting of the tendency of public life, considering the importance of
religious freedom and religious culture in the European context.
Bishop Irinej of Backa on the beginning emphasized that he
gladly accepted the membership in the body which had not existed before in
Serbia, and which operated within the Ministry of Faith which fulfill its role
in a broad set social dialogue. "Participation in the Council is an
expression of responsibility of all of us and conciliar confrontation with the
problems of today. In the European Union there is a permanent and institutional
dialogue, and in Serbia that need should be fulfilled by the Inter-religious
Council. In our case, the Council differs from the same institutions within the
Governments of the countries in our neighborhood, because its foundation was
not caused by turbulence, but by the permanent need for a dialogue in the
society. This body is not a political body, but has a responsible social
function because it confronts with the problems of the people, the state and
the society. Such cooperation has existed in our region for many years in the
widest possible context. Dialogue is in nature of all Churches and religious
communities, but more important is to have a living dialogue that is felt in
society every day, in the context of answering on all the questions of contemporary
society. Engagement of all of us - not just the members of the Council, but
also associates and friends - should provide the answer to all social
questions."
Monsignor Stanislav Hocevar expressed a joy because he was a
member of the Inter-religious Council, because the inter-religious dialogue is
a fundamental duty of all of us as the Churches and communities played the
important role in the society.
Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia Adem Zilkic
pointed out that the faith was life and the faith was hope. To believe meant
look at all segments of life, hence the Churches and the religious communities
should participate in social problems and assist in building a prosperous
society.
Isaac Asiel, chief rabbi of the Jewish Community in Serbia,
emphasized that the builder of peace was the teacher who built peace, and these
are all representatives of the religious traditions. Rabbi also pointed out
that all representatives of the Churches and the religious communities received
a greater responsibility thanks to the establishment of the Inter-religious
Council, hence on his behalf and on behalf of all members of the Council he
thanked Minister Bogoljub Sijakovic, the Ministry of Faith and the Government
of the Republic of Serbia.
