08.05.2013.
Jubilee of cooperation of the Military Academy and the Serbian Orthodox Church
The celebration entitled "Proud in the tracks of St.Simeon Mirotocivi", celebrating five years of cooperation of the Military Academy and the Board of Religious Education of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac, was held today at the Military High School in Belgrade.Anniversary celebration was attended by Bishop Atanasije, director of the Military High School Colonel Milan Stevic, Colonel Ilija Kajtez Head of the Department of Social Sciences at the Military Academy, Principal of the13th Belgrade High School Bojan Vuckovic, professors of military educational institutions, the cadets of the Military Academy and the Military High School students.
Bishop Atanasije congratulated those present Easter holidays and said that this day – was a day of pride and joy for all of us.
- It has been five years since spiritual cooperation between Serbian Orthodox Church and educational institutions of the Serbian Army has been resumed. It is necessary to gain useful experience and knowledge in the world, and from that knowledge, but not to exclude what belongs to us and our ancestors. We should rather adopt those virtues which they developed. Congratulations on the results of all those involved in this collaboration. The Serbian Church is joyful, and I believe that all of you are joyful too, as Bishop Atanasije said.
Colonel Stevic said that he had only words of praise after a successful five-year collaboration.
- It is important to emphasize that each of us has a need to believe, and that it is necessary to work with a young person. You need to know who we are, where we are, what it is that we want. If you know why, and we will know how. The greatest emphasis is on how to appreciate, respect and love your country, birthplace, parents, friends and people who work with us. For the last five years we have visited Serbia in length and breadth, seen our holiest places, learned what we know and review what we know, as the director of the Military High School stated, and later presented a thank you letter to the Committee for Religious Education and to the Bishop of Hvost Atanasije.
The principal of 13th Belgrade High School, a hobbyist mountaineer, for the last few years, has led the students of the Military High School to Holy Mountain of the Orthodox Faith, Athos. He pointed out that he respected Military High School as one of the best Serbian high schools, and had the great honor and privilege to be a part of the Military Hihgh School and serve as reliance of the students, taking into account the experience of the rise to Mt. Athos.At the end of the ceremony, Bishop Atanasije handed commendations to those who have in last five years helped the theology classes to be good and rich. The commendations were also presented to the best pupils of the 35th , 36th and 37th classes in the field of Orthodox catechetical instruction and the winners of the literary and art competition announced on the occasion of the Jubilee of cooperation.
The agreement between the Military Academy and the Board of the Serbian Orthodox Church was signed on 7 October 2008. At first the agreement proposed the start of courses in Orthodox catechism in the Military High School, on the basis of the introduction of religious education and civic education in primary and secondary schools in Serbia. The agreement represents a long term good cooperation and contributes to the quality of teaching in the Military High School and Military Academy, as well as the preservation of folk traditions and spirituality.
