STATEMENTS

EASTER MESSAGE FROM H.R.H. CROWN PRINCE ALEKSANDAR II

In the days when Orthodox Christians all over the world celebrate the holiest day, the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it is our duty, that pertains to God’s people and the Serbian nation, to look into our transgressions of Our Creator’s laws, to ask for absolution and to look for strength in the Words of God and teachings of our forefather Saint Sava, so that we can revert to the path of our ancestors and the road to the future. Those are not different directions, but the road to salvation, and there is only one such road, leading in one direction!

Another difficult year has passed! We are still facing the consequences of our sixty years long wandering in the wasteland of unlawfulness, violence, senselessness and conflicts with truth and justice, God’s and human as well. It will take some time to overcome that, but the first and necessary steps have been made, without which one cannot get anywhere. Many bitter pills will have to be taken on that path, but that is the price of survival and reward for what we had done and what we had allowed to be done to us.

Today we speak a lot about democracy, and I myself have called for the crowning of democracy many times! It may not be a universal remedy, and it may not be ideal, but it is by far the most efficient means available for society that does not want to be the hostage of its weaknesses to function. That is why it is in our common interest to fully accept its standards, mechanisms and limitations. Speaking about democracy, let us not forget that it does not consist only of partisanship, ideological zeal, tolerance of superficiality, but also of true concern for freedom, equality and equal rights for one and all before the law. God’s law and human law are not, and should not be opposed to each other, and that is why it is not inappropriate to remember that at the time of Easter when we meet our conscience and face the price of our transgressions each time again.

To all Christians of the Orthodox denomination, to all the Serbian people, bishops, priests, monks, deacons and those who are in authority and those who are the subjects of that authority, I send, on behalf of my family and the entire Royal House, greetings of love and hope:

CHRIST IS RISEN – INDEED HE IS RISEN!

At the Royal Palace in Belgrade

Orthodox Easter 2002.