DODIK: SERB PEOPLE WOULD HAVE PERISHED WITHOUT SOC’S STRENGTH AND FAITH

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 21 /SRNA/ – The Serbian Orthodox Church /SOC/ and the Orthodox faith are not fragmented, but unified, and cannot be divided territorially or in any other way, President Milorad Dodik said.

"History bears witness to this and does not allow any divisions. We love and always wish to see our Church united, which nowadays is far more stable than we could have imagined in the past," Dodik told the press in Banja Luka after meeting His Eminence Metropolitan Lukijan of Buda.

Without the strength of the SOC, the Serb people would have perished long ago, which is proven by the fact that throughout history, those who sought to change the Serb identity and faith had repeatedly targeted Serbs in this region.

"Many Serbs accepted other faiths under pressure and because their families’ lives were threatened, but the authentic Serbian Orthodox faith remained strong and dominant. Today, this firm and strong faith serves as a guide, demonstrating how a people can preserve its unity spiritually, regardless of historical circumstances or changes taking place in this region," Dodik said.

He stressed that Metropolitan Lukijan of Buda best embodies this strength and the importance of the SOC in places where the Serb community is small but where a rich historical heritage remains.

"Our ancestors built impressive buildings, churches and other Orthodox religious structures there. The Church, as the institution responsible for these buildings, ensures that they are not lost and that they continue to exist and serve their purpose," Dodik said.

He expressed his pleasure that the Republika Srpska institutions had been able to provide assistance and said they would continue to do so.

"I thank Metropolitan Lukijan of Buda for nurturing a steadfast and visible love for Republika Srpska, which we see as confirmation of the legitimacy of our existence and our desire to continue working and cooperating," Dodik emphasized.

He added that they had discussed the intention to establish a tradition of presenting the cultural and religious heritage of Serbs in Hungary once a year, both in Hungary and in Republika Srpska.

"I also thank His Eminence Metropolitan Jefrem of Banja Luka and Bishop Sava of Marča for agreeing to join us in demonstrating that we share one spiritual, cultural and religious space," Dodik concluded.

The meeting between Dodik and Metropolitan Lukijan was attended by Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić, Serb member of BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, Republika Srpska Minister of Education and Culture Borivoje Golubović, and Director of the Republic Secretariat for Religions Dragan Davidović.