ABBOT METODIJE: HILANDAR THE FIRST EMBASSY OF SERB PEOPLE

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 10 /SRNA/ – Abbot of Hilandar Monastery, Archimandrite Metodije, has said tonight in Banja Luka that Hilandar is the first embassy of the Serb people and that, in addition to being a Mount Athos monk, ascetic, archbishop and educator, Saint Sava was also a great diplomat.

Addressing those gathered in Banja Luka after receiving the high decoration of Republika Srpska awarded to Hilandar Monastery by President Milorad Dodik, as part of the Days of Hilandar in Republika Srpska event, Archimandrite Metodije says that Dodik and his associates had demonstrated that he had, in a way, inherited Saint Sava's diplomatic talent, given that the event had brought together representatives of both Russia and the USA.

He noted that Hilandar had been the first embassy of the Serb people in the Byzantine Empire at the time, and that the brotherhood of this holy imperial monastery continued to strive to follow in the footsteps of Saint Sava.

"Last winter, the monks of Hilandar visited New York and travelled to Montana, as well as to Russia, including Stavropol," Archimandrite Metodijus said after receiving the Order of Republika Srpska on a Necklace on behalf of Hilandar Monastery.

Archimandrite Metodijus recalled that he had taken monastic vows on the Feast of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael /Aranđelovdan/ 30 years ago, an event announced by Father Mitrofan of Hilandar in the Hilandar magazine. He expressed hope that his fellow monks and he will keep developing their God-given talents for the benefit of the Hilandar brotherhood and to help the much-suffering Serb people.

"Hardly had we taken our monastic vows when we were entrusted with a spiritual responsibility to care not only for our monastery and our personal salvation, but also for our much-suffering people. Now, after 30 years, we are returning to this region under much better circumstances. The wars are over, everything is being rebuilt, and we are delighted to see schools full of children. The needs have now changed, and we will strive to provide, above all, our prayers and spiritual support so that Republika Srpska may continue to make as much spiritual progress as possible," Archimandrite Metodije said.

He recalled that the first official delegation he received at Hilandar Monastery, after becoming an assistant to Father Mitrofan in 1998, was a delegation of the Republika Srpska Government at the time.

"Now, less than 30 years later, thanks to the president's goodwill, the law has also been adopted. This support continues, and we would like to express our gratitude on this occasion as well," Archimandrite Metodijus said.