COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH HILANDAR MONASTERY SIGNED

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 9 /SRNA/ – Abbot of Hilandar Monastery, Archimandrite Methodios, and Acting Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development at the University of Banja Luka, Aleksandar Ostojić, signed an agreement today aimed at preserving, protecting and promoting the cultural and historical heritage of the Serb people kept at the monastery.

Archimandrite Methodios told press that there was a view of Hilandar Monastery as, in a broader sense, the first Serb university, therefore it is natural for it to develop cooperation with all Serbi higher education institutions.

“Today, this cooperation has also been given an official form, and we hope that the signatories will support one another in fulfilling their responsibilities and pursuing their undertakings,” Archimandrite Methodios stressed.

He noted that Hilandar Monastery, as the only Serb institution that has existed continuously for more than eight centuries, would help the University of Banja Luka become better acquainted with the heritage preserved by the monastery.

“We hope there will be goodwill of experts from the University of Banja Luka tol provide us with practical assistance,” Archimandrite Methodios said.

He recalled that Hilandar Monastery, like other monasteries on Mount Athos, is under UNESCO protection and is essentially a cultural monument.

“Your architects will help us, as will archaeologists, historians, philologists and even colleagues from the Faculty of Agriculture,” Archimandrite Methodios said.

Acting Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development at the University of Banja Luka Aleksandar Ostojić said that signing a cooperation agreement with Hilandar Monastery was a special honour, but also a great responsibility.

“Hilandar is not merely a monastery; it is a centre of Serb spirituality, a monastery that preserves the tradition of education and contributes significantly to the development of the identity of the Serb people,” Ostojić said.

He stressed that the University of Banja Luka, as one of the leading scientific research institutions in BiH, would do everything within the framework of the agreement to strengthen cooperation between Hilandar Monastery and the University.

“I am referring to knowledge and scientific-research capacities; our goal is to ensure through this agreement the preservation and promotion of Hilandar Monastery’s heritage,” Ostojić said.

The agreement provides for cooperation in scientific research and culture, the exchange of knowledge and experience, professional development of staff, joint projects, publishing activities, as well as mutual access to library and archival collections.