SERB FAITHFUL CELEBRATE DAY OF PATRON SAINT OF OSIJEK DIOCESE

TRPINJA, Oct 17 (Hina) - The Orthodox Serb faithful in the UN- administered Danube river region of eastern Croatia on Friday celebrated the day of St. Stefan Stiljanovic, the patron saint of the Osijek diocese. A liturgy in the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Trpinja, which brought together 40 Orthodox priests from the Danube region and representatives of the UN Transitional Administration and local authorities, was led by Osijek Bishop Vladulov Lukijan and Bishop Hrizoston Stolic of Vrsce, Serbia. Expressing satisfaction with "this day which is being celebrated in an atmosphere of beauty and tolerance," Lukijan said that he was confident that "good will win and a lasting peace will begin to reign in this region." Asked to comment on the presence of Croatian media, including HRT and Hina reporters, at the service, chairman of the Joint Council of Serb Municipalities Milos Vojnovic said that "it is a nice gesture and a good example." After the liturgy, Vukovar County deputy prefect Andrija Matic said that "as a Croat, I am joining you in the celebration with a message from the Gospel which says that we should respect one another." (hina) vm jn 172120 MET oct 97