SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH PRIEST DIES IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 5927 ) ZAGREB, Oct 5 (Hina) - A Serbian Orthodox Church priest known for his ecumenical activities died in Zagreb on Sunday night aged 72. Father Jovan Nikolic was born in 1926 in the region of Banat, northern Serbia. He studied philosophy in Zagreb and theology in Belgrade at the same time. From 1954 to his retirement in 1992 he worked as a priest in Croatia. During the entire period of the Homeland War, Father Nikolic remained in Croatia and actively took part in the work of the Serb Orthodox community in Zagreb and the Serbian Orthodox Church, leading mass, the church choir and other duties as a priest. After the war he helped revive the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Moslavina region, and remained active until his death. Father Nikolic published works in various church publications, especially Orthodox ones, and was one of the editors of the multi- confessional magazine "Mirotvorni izazov" ("The Challenge of Peace Making"). He also worked with the Christian society "Krscanska sadasnjost", and was a member of the Croatian Helsinki Committee's presidency. During his service in Croatia, Father Nikolic was involved in several ecumenical meetings and prayer sessions. He will be buried on Thursday, October 8 at 3.10pm near the Orthodox chapel in Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery. (Hina) mbr jn 051827 MET oct 98