VISIT TO BANJA KOVILJACA AND SOKO MONASTERY

Belgrade, 8 May 2004 – TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and HRH Crown Princess Katherine visited Banja Koviljaca on Friday, 7 May, and today the Crown Prince attended the ceremony of consecration of Soko monastery dedicated to Holy Bishop Nikolaj.

In Banja Koviljaca The Royal Couple visited the Home for children without parental care “Vera Blagojevic”, where they were welcomed by the headmaster Mr. Zoran Ljubinkovic and the children. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess then visited the refugee camp where their hosts were the Mayor of Loznica Mr. Slobodan Kaitovic and the camp’s manager Mr. Slavko Simic, who thanked them for their great care and assistance.

Then followed the visit to the Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul where Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed by Father Stojsa Jagodic who expressed hope the dearest guests will come again soon to Banja Koviljaca, the town often visited by the Crown Prince’s great-grandfather HM Peter I.

Taking a walk through the town, The Royal Couple spend some time talking to the citizens who warmly greeted them. At the Special Rehabilitation Hospital The Crown Prince and The Crown Princess were welcomed by the general manager Dr. Nikola Sremcevic with his associates, and taken to a tour of the Hospital, where they met with parents and their children who are the patients of this institution.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander today attended the ceremony of consecration of Soko monastery in Donja Dobrina. In front of the monastery, together with a huge crowd of people, the Crown Prince was welcomed by His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo and other Arch Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The Holy Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro with assistance of the Arch Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the clergy and monastics, including the nuns from the Pec Patriarchy. In his speech , His Eminence Amfilohije reminded about the Holy Bishop Nikolaj and expressed his pleasure for this monastery being dedicated to him.

His Grace Lavrentije Bishop of Sabac and Valjevo greeted the brother Arch Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church and sister Churches, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church Reverend Anton Rojc and the secretary of the Nunciature Reverend Piergiorgio, the Chancellor of the Puglia Seminary Reverend Janez Oberstar, representatives of the Army of Serbia and Montenegro, and thanked them for enhancing this day by their presence. Then Bishop Lavrentije invited the Crown Prince to address the present.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II emphasized that we should preserve and build our churches, for the Church had always been the only roof our people had, despite all the difficulties it had faced, and then added:

“We are going to reconstruct Chilandar and our temples in Kosovo, for our church, whose spiritual guardians you are, still carries its burden of responsibility and duty with courage and patience, preaching the God’s laws and love among people. The Crown is there to support you” – pointed out the Crown Prince.

The ceremony of consecration was also attended by HE Minister of Religion Mr. Milan Radulovic, Mr. Ivica Dacic, Mr. Zoran Andjelkovic, Mr. Dusan Mihajlovic, representatives of the diplomatic corps and numerous reporters.