RECEPTION FOR THIS YEAR’S PARTICIPANTS OF “MOBA 2002” IN THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, July 31st, 2003. – HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Katherine hosted a reception for the organizers and participants of this year’s action “MOBA 2003”, today in The White Palace on Dedinje.

Reception was, beside the participants, attended by His Grace Archbishop of Šabac and Valjevo, Lavrentije; Minister of Religion professor Vojislav Milovanović and the action coordinator professor Konstantin Pavlović.

Traditional action “Moba” is organized under the patronage of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the aim to gather the youth of high school and university age from Diaspora and our country. That way, there was more then 180 participants in the White Court today from 12 countries: the USA, Sweden, Russia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Great Britain, Rumania Austria, FYR Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina-Republic of Srpska, and fifty children from our country, mostly from Kosovo and Metohija.

Arrival of Their Royal Highnesses was greeted by  an applause. HRH Crown Prince Alexander II greeted the guests cordially and wished them a welcome. He expressed his pleasure because our children from all over the world are here and have possibility to learn more about tradition and history of our people and he added:

“We must, all together, to work to fulfill our common goal; to have our country  join the European Union. For this purpose we need reforms, but before anything else, we have to respect the all the people regardless of their nationality, religion or political affiliation, because we are one people. All Serbs need to be united, because only the unity will save the Serbs”.

The participant were addressed by Minister of Religion, professor Vojislav Milovanović who emphasized that he was very happy to have “MOBA” action turned into a tradition that is developing with great speed from year to year.

His Grace Bishop of Sabac and Valjevo, Lavrentije, greeted the guests and thanked to Their Royal Highnesses for hosting this year’s participants of “MOBA”. The choir, as a sign of gratitude for warm welcome by Their Royal Highnesses played the “Gospode pomiluj” song.

Priest of The Russian Orthodox Church, father Georgije presented a gift to HRH Crown Prince Alexander II an icon of St. Gavrilo, and children presented sawn-in monogram to Princess Katherine.

HRH Crown princess Katherine, visibly exited, greeted the guests and added that President of the managing board of “Life Line Canada” Mrs. Dragana Vujasinović Hartog from Toronto was also a guest today.

After that, guests took the sightseeing tour around the White and Royal Palace, and were told a story about their history and significance by the member of the royal Council architect Dragomir Acović.

“MOBA” action will last from July 10th, to August 19th, and during their stay our children from Diaspora and our country, will participate in building and reconstruction of our churches and historical monuments, and this will be an opportunity for them to learn language and find out many things about their religion and customs. This year, all the activities are taking place in Monastery St. Nikola, near Soko Grad in Sabac and Valjevo Eparchy which differs from earlier years, when the “MOBA” activities were taking place in numerous eparchies.