ARCHIMANDRITE METODIJE: ST. SAVA IS EXAMPLE TO CHILDREN OF SERVING GOD AND THEIR PEOPLE

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 10 /SRNA/ – The abbot of Hilandar Monastery Archimandrite Metodije today presented pupils of the Ivo Andrić Elementary School in Banja Luka with the book "Saint Sava" by Stanoje Stanojević, saying the great saint was the best example for children of how to serve God and their people.

Archimandrite Metodije visited the school as part of the "Days of Hilandar in Republika Srpska" event. He noted that this year marked 850 years since the birth of Rastko Nemanjić, "the most wonderful and holiest Serbian child", who later became St. Sava.

"He was a monk of Hilandar who eventually became the Serbian archbishop and our greatest saint, so it is a great joy for us to celebrate this anniversary with children," Archimandrite Metodije told reporters.

He said he was pleased that pupils at every school in Republika Srpska would receive the book about St. Sava.

Marko Romić, who chairs the Republika Srpska Government's Commission for Hilandar Monastery, said he was proud of the ties with Hilandar. He thanked Abbot Metodije and the monastic brotherhood of Hilandar for visiting Republika Srpska at least once a year.

"For us, this is a great spiritual encouragement and strength. We do not want an education system in Republika Srpska without Hilandar and our holy Church, and this is something the commission and Srpska's institutions will continue to insist on," Romić said.

Republika Srpska Education and Culture Minister Borivoje Golubović said the most important thing was to stay on the path of St. Sava and to nurture the Serbian language and culture as a whole.

"Today, the most important thing for us and our children is to follow the path of St. Sava and, by nurturing our language, culture and tradition, to preserve what is primordially ours," Golubović said.

He thanked the representatives of Hilandar Monastery for visiting Republika Srpska and for the time they devoted to the youngest.

The "Days of Hilandar in Republika Srpska" event will continue in Banja Luka this evening with the opening of the exhibition "The Holy Mountain Bundle of Budimir Hristodul" and a screening of the documentary film "Milošta".

That will be the central ceremony of the "Days of Hilandar in Republika Srpska" event, which runs from November 9 to 12.