SAINT ANDREW THE FIRST CALLED PATRON SAINT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY

Belgrade, December 13, 2006 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine celebrated today The Royal Family’s saint day – Saint Andrew the First Called, the Patron Saint of The Royal Family Karadjordjević.

In the morning with the blessing of His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Pavle, the Divine Liturgy was served at The Royal Chapel of Saint Andrew the First Called by His Eminence Metropolitan of Bosnia and Dabar Nikolaj, together with the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Archpriest-Staurophor Mihailo Arnaut, Presbyter Dr. Vladan Perišić, Archdeacon Momir Lečić and Archdeacon Stevan Rapajić, and the “First Belgrade Singers Association Choir”. The ceremony of cutting of the Slava cake followed in the Blue Room of The Royal Palace.

During the lunch that took place after the ceremony, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander addressed the distinguished guests and friends.

He expressed his pleasure that on the Saint Andrew’s Day the Royal Family gathered at their home representatives of all religious communities, politicians and respectable members of the society, stressing that the role of the Crown is to gather, unite and give stability.

“With great joy I always welcome you to The Royal Palace and I hope that in many years to come we will meet here united in friendship and good will to serve and help each other and our nation as individuals aware of their responsibilities before God and his laws, as well as before people and their lives,” Crown Prince Alexander II said.

His Eminence Metropolitan of Bosnia and Dabar Nikolaj also addressed the guests, saying that “those who have peace in their hearts can spread the peace around them, and that is what we need in these times.”

Besides Their Royal Highnesses the Slava ceremony was attended by Their Graces Bishop of Osjek and Baranja Lukijan, Bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla Vasilije, Bishop of Hvosno Atanasije, Bishop of Srem Vasilije, Bishop of Žiča Hristozom, Bishop of Raška and Prizren Artemije, Bishop of Zahum and Hercegovina Grigorije, Bishop of Budim and Nikšić Joanikije, Bishop of Šabac Lavrentije, and Bishop of Braničevo Ignatije, representatives of religious communities, the Most Reverend Archbishop of Belgrade Monsignor Stanislav Hočevar and Bishop of Subotica Janos Penzes, Their Excelencies Mufti Muarem Effendi Zukorlić, Mufti Haji Hamdi Effendi Jusufspahić, Honourable Imam of Niš, Mustafa Effendi Jusufspahić, Rabi Isak Asiel, Father Vitalij Tarasjev, head of the Moscow Patriarchy Podvorje, HE Mr. Predrag Marković, Speaker of Serbian Parliament, members of the Privy Council Mr. Branko Terzić, Mr. Dragomir Acović, Mr. Dušan Bataković, and Mr. Dušan Babac, members of the Crown Cabinet Mr. Djordje Djurišić, Mr. Dragoslav Micić, Mr. Milorad Savićević, Mr. Zoran Trifunović, Mr. Vladan Živulović, and Mr. Čedomir Antić, members of the Crown Council Mr. Matija Bećković, Mrs. Svetlana Velmar-Janković, Prof. Miroslav Gašić, Prof. Pavle Nikolić, Prof. Predrag Palavestra, Prof. Milorad Pavić, and Prof. Bogoljub Šijaković, Mrs. Ljiljana Pekić, Mrs. Olja Popović, and Mrs. Milena Pešić.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica has sent a congratulation letter to the Royal Family. Reminding of insurgents victories and bicentenary of the liberation of Belgrade under the command of Karadjordje, as well as of King Alexander’s victories in the Balkan Wars, Prime Minister said in his letter that „today, when we celebrate St. Andrew the First Called, Serbian people remembers Your great ancestor and his heroes with gratitude.“

Two Slava receptions took place in The White Palace during the afternoon and evening. Their Royal Highnesses welcomed Their Excelencies President of Republika Srpska Mr. Milan Jelić, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Mr. Vuk Drašković, Minister of Energy of Serbia Mr. Radomir Naumov, and Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Mr. Milan Parivodić, director of Serbian Intelligence Agency Mr. Rade Bulatović, advisor to the Prime Minister Mr. Vladeta Janković, members of the Prime Minister’s cabinet, mayors, representatives of the Government of Serbia, Army of Serbia, Police, Gendarmerie, diplomatic corps, international organizations, religious communities, local and international NGOs, cultural institutions, sports associations, media and health institutions, and numerous figures from the cultural, political and public life of Serbia.