ZAGREB, March 15 (Hina) - A reception in honour of the Serb Orthodox Church head, Patriarch Pavle, was held on Monday in the offices of Zagreb's Serb Orthodox Church Community and the Zagreb-Ljubljana diocese. The reception was
attended by representatives of Croatia's religious, political, cultural and public life, and the diplomatic corps. The Metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and Italy, Jovan Pavlovic, welcomed the head of the Serb Orthodox Church, as well as representatives of religious communities who are cooperating with Orthodox believers, and particularly representatives of Croatian state authorities, non-government organisations and the diplomatic corps. Addressing Patriarch Pavle, Pavlovic said his visit was the realisation of an old wish of Serb Orthodox believers for the Patriarch to come and see how they lived in new conditions. He added that talks with represe
ZAGREB, March 15 (Hina) - A reception in honour of the Serb Orthodox
Church head, Patriarch Pavle, was held on Monday in the offices of
Zagreb's Serb Orthodox Church Community and the Zagreb-Ljubljana
diocese.
The reception was attended by representatives of Croatia's
religious, political, cultural and public life, and the diplomatic
corps.
The Metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and Italy, Jovan Pavlovic,
welcomed the head of the Serb Orthodox Church, as well as
representatives of religious communities who are cooperating with
Orthodox believers, and particularly representatives of Croatian
state authorities, non-government organisations and the
diplomatic corps.
Addressing Patriarch Pavle, Pavlovic said his visit was the
realisation of an old wish of Serb Orthodox believers for the
Patriarch to come and see how they lived in new conditions.
He added that talks with representatives of church and state
authorities would be an opportunity for Patriarch Pavle to discuss
those issues.
Pavlovic expressed gratitude to a Deputy Prime Minister and until
recently the president of the State Commission for Relations with
Religious Communities, Jure Radic, who helped prepare the offices
of Zagreb's Serb Orthodox Church Community and the Zagreb-
Ljubljana diocese for the visit.
Concluding his welcome speech, Pavlovic stressed that the
Patriarch's visit to Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia was an historic
event for all Orthodox believers.
Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia Giulio Einaudi welcomed Patriarch
Pavle on behalf of the diplomatic corps, expressing belief that his
visit to the Orthodox faithful in Croatia would be a great
encouragement for the spiritual renewal at the beginning of the
third millennium.
Patriarch Pavle expressed gratitude for the reception and called on
all present to pray for justice, love and peace.
(hina) it jn/rml