EDICT OF MILAN " "
The archbishop of Belgrade Msgr. Hocevar on the forthcoming celebrations in Ni
Thousand of Catholics will meet in this part of Europe, at the intersection of the Eastern and Western worlds, in the hometown of emperor Constantine, Ni (Serbia), to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan. Thousands of pilgrims from Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy and Austria are expected to attend the solemn Mass officiated by the Cardinal of Milan Cardinal Angelo Scola. Among the participants figure the Cardinal emeritus of Washington Theodore McCarrick, the cardinal of Sarajevo, Vinko Puljiæ, and 20 world Bishops. The Mass celebrated on September 21st at “Cair” stadium will be broadcast by the Serbian national television. Few days before the event SIR Europe correspondent Iva Mihailova interviewed the Archbishop of Belgrade Monsignor Stanislav Hocevar, coordinator of the celebrations Ni, Vice-President of the Cyril and Methodius International Bishops’ Conference. Mons. Hocevar, 2013 has been a Jubilee Year for you on the occasion of the anniversary of the Edict of Milan. Which initiatives have you promoted to this regard? “Preparations for this anniversary have been ongoing for the past three years, along with in-depth reflections on the new interpretation and implementation of the Edict. We organized several round tables, concerts and exhibits. The most relevant initiative was the international scientific Conference held in April with the participation of scholars from the Theological Faculty of Dakovo, Croatia, and the Orthodox Faculty in Belgrade. I was also invited as member of the ‘1700th Edict of Milan Anniversary’ national Committee, chaired by the president of the Republic Nikoliæ, along with Serbian Patriarch Irinej and local Protestant communities”. Why did you choose the title “For freedom has made us free”? “We carried out extensive reflections on the meaning of the word ‘freedom’. Today there is much talk of freedom and democracy, but forms of dependence on drugs, alcohol, the media, etc. linger on. The question is: why is it that after so much time we are unable to be truly free inside our hearts? For this reason we have decided to highlight this phrase from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians, where the apostle says: ‘by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free’, which also inspired the venue of the event where the Cross inside the globe embraces the entire world”. How important are the celebrations for the Edict of Constantine, in the framework of the ecumenical dialogue in Serbia? “Unfortunately past difficulties linger on in the relations between the Churches, but nonetheless much progress has been made in the ecumenical dialogue. In this region many different cultures and religions coexist, and it has been a cause of conflicts. Together with the Orthodox Church we felt this anniversary was expected to act as a thrust to further mutual understanding, but preliminary steps are needed. I believe that we are fulfilling our duty, and one day the Lord will bring us the unity we have been longing for”. These celebrations are meant to promote peace in the hearts of individuals and peoples, along with the dialogue across the region. To what extent can these values prevent the outbreak of tragedies such as those that have sadly marked the recent history of the Republics of Ex-Yugoslavia? “These are crucial values for the peaceful coexistence of people belonging to different religions and ethnic groups. For this reason in Ni we will give special relevance to the young, the protagonists of the future of the Countries in the region. Even though they speak different languages and they come from populations that were once enemies, they will show that encounter, common prayer and hope are possible, leading to a better future”. The Catholic population in Ni is very small. How do local inhabitants perceive the initiative? “I’m sure it will all go smoothly, even though there are some concerns. We cannot forget our past nor the present mentality. For now, I am grateful to all those who are praying for the positive outcome of the celebrations. We cannot move forward unless we are open to others and willing to dialogue”.
