21.08.2015.
Donation of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament and of the Orthodox prayer-book to the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces
Association of Citizens "Bible Society of Serbia" donated to the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, with the blessing of the Serbian Orthodox Church, 4,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament and as many copies of the Orthodox prayer-book. On that occasion, the highest-level representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and the Serbian Orthodox Church gathered today in the Great War Hall of the old General Staff building.According to Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, although there are historical and traditional ties in building of the modern Serbian state and its army, neither one nor the other could exist without faith.
- Faith in God is what connects us. Military clergy in our country has its own tradition and the church and the army have always been with their people in good and evil through the centuries – Minister Gasic stressed adding that the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have shown numerous times that they are willing to learn and are not embarrassed when they do not know something, and this is an opportunity to learn something new from the holy books.
- Confirmation of cultural identity contributes to the liberation of the man and the people as a whole. Awakening and developing of affinity towards culture and cultural values develop a desire for personal and national creativity – Gasic said adding that the defence of cultural values is not possible without knowledge of national and spiritual values.
The Defence Minister expressed confidence that the Holy Scriptures will find their place not only in the military libraries but also in the hearts of members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces professing Orthodox religion.
Expressing gratitude to all those who have contributed to today's donation, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej pointed out that it is a great day, because our army that defends its homeland, shrines and everything that is most valuable for a nation, is presented a code of divine law.
- We have many laws, and the military has its own laws, and this is a law above all, a universal, all-human law, God's law, that made our present-day culture and the previous culture to be based on that law – the Patriarch said noting that the at the time when he served his military service in Mostar, the soldiers were forbidden to go to church, and according to him today's donation is the expected moment that is consistent with the spirit of all the changes in our nation.
The Patriarch said that it was no novelty, as many armies in Christian countries worldwide are unthinkable without such books as the New Testament is.
- In this way, we all returned to ourselves, our culture and history, an important factor in life, which has motivated and encouraged us, giving greater meaning to our position to defend the shrines of a nation – the Patriarch said.
Valuable donation is the result of a successful cooperation between the Department for Religion of Human Resources Sector of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, headed by Colonel Dr Sasa Milutinovic, and the Association of Citizens "Bible Society of Serbia", whose Secretary General is Vera Mitic.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY