On the occasion of the anniversary of repose of the retired Bishop of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Littoral, Atanasije (Jevtic), and prior to the Saturday of the souls the Diocese organized a three-day event (23-26 February 2022) to honour Bishop Atanasije’s life and work. With the desire to have personal testimonies of the participants shed light on the theological and pastoral work of the  Bishop of the blessed memory, as well as to recall the specific relationship he had had with both geographical and spiritual places that shaped his thought and his understanding of Christian life, the three-day symposium revolved around Bishop Atanasije’s relationships with the Mount Athos, the Early Christianity sancta in Asia Minor, the Holy Land, Kosovo and Metohija, and Herzegovina.

The event started with the photo exhibition of Bishop Atanasije’s life titled Thine Own of Thine Own, authored by hieromonk Teofil of the Tvrdos Monastery. The exhibition was opened in the gallery of the Trebinje Cultural Centre with the author, the Bishop of Western American Orthodox Diocese, Maxim, and the Mayor of Trebinje, Mr Mirko Curic, addressing the visitors. Upon the opening of the exhibition, the first round of discussion was held at the symposium venue – the Theatre Hall of the Cultural Centre with Heugomen Danilo of the Zitomislic monastery moderating the panel the participants of which included the Metropoliten of Montenegro, Joanikije; the Bishop of Dusseldorf and Germany, Grigorije; the Bishop of Slavonia, Jova, and the Heugomen of Chilandar, Metodije. The panel was preceded by the welcoming speech of the Bishop of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Littoral, Dimitrije, followed by video recordings of the memories of Bishop Atanasije by the Metropolite of Tver and Kashin, Ambrose (Ermakov) and Aristotle Papanikolau, theology professor at the Fordham University.

The second round of discussion, moderated by Andrej Jeftic, was titled Bishop Atanasije and Kosovo and Metohija.  Memories, testimonies and impressions were shared by the Heugomen of the Decani Monastery, Sava; the priest starurophor Radivoje Panic, and Zivojin Rakocevic. Having been unable to participate in person professor Milos Kovic shared his testimony via video recording available at the Diocese You Tube channel. Also, the memories and testimonies of the reposed Bishop Atanasije of the blessed memory were shared via video recordings by the Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, Nicholas Hatzinikolaou, and Archimandrite Ephraim, the Heugomen of the Monastery of Vatopaidi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The symposium ended with the testimonies of Bishop Atanasije’s relationship with Mount Athos and the Holy Land. The discussion was moderated by protopresbyter Gajo Gajic among the participants: the Bishop of Branicevo, Ignjatije; the Bishop of Western America, Maxim; protopresbyter Emanuel Saris; the Bishop of Georgian Orthodox Church, Sava. Video recordings of testimonies were shared by the Archbishop of Qatar, Makarios; the Heugomen of the Simonopetra Monastery, Archimandrite Elisha, and professor emeritus Christos Yannaras at the University of Pantheon in Athens.

On behalf of the organizers of the event and in the capacity of the host Bishop Dimitrije expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the preservation of the memory of Bishop Atanasije for whom we evoke Memory Eternal. 

 

 

 

 

 

Deacon Branislav Rajkovic

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