THE FIRST GATHERING OF SERBIAN CHOIRS OF DIASPORA AND HOMELAND “VIDOVDAN 2003” OPENS

Belgrade, 28 June 2003 – TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended the opening of the First Gathering of Serbian Choirs of Diaspora and Homeland “Vidovdan 2003” at Saint Sava Temple last night. The Gathering was organized with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Synod of Serbian Orthodox Church and under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II Karadjordjevic.

This year’s Gathering, opened by His Most Eminent Grace Metropolitan Amfilohije, rallied about 40 church, academic and other choirs from Serbia and Montenegro, Republika Srpska and the Diaspora, with 550 participants. The choirs performed the works of Serbian spiritual music composers at the Temple of Saint Sava and in this way started cooperation that will become traditional.

The wish of His Royal Highness was to contribute to this important cultural and spiritual event and continue the tradition of the South Slav Singers Association that was founded by Kosta Manojlovic in 1929, under the patronage of the late King Alexander I Karadjordjevic.

The organization of the Gathering was supported by the Serbian Ministries of Religion and Culture.