Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has said that a Russian-Serbian church, which foundations were consecrated yesterday in Banjaluka, is being built in honor of love and brotherhood between the Serbian and Russian peoples.
Dodik told reporters that the consecration of the foundations of the Serbian-Russian church and a spiritual-cultural center, which is being built in honor of the Russian Imperial Romanov family, is a very important historic day for Banjaluka, Orthodox faithful, all citizens and Republika Srpska.
“It is dedicated also to the Russian Emperor Nikolai who in WWI made a decision to support the Serbian people and state under almost impossible conditions. It will represent a monumental monument to the devotion and friendship of the Serbian people towards the great Russian people, state and history,” Dodik has said.
He has said that we waited for the construction of this church for almost 100 years, noting that it was not possible until Serbs got a state in these parts, which Srpska is in the real sense of the word.
“This was an idea of His Eminence the Bishop of Banjaluka, Jefrem, and the Republika Srpska Government headed by Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic approved KM 3 million for the beginning of the construction,” Dodik has said.
He has noted that 6,000 sq m of space have already been built which will serve for various purposes, noting that the construction will resume in keeping with deadlines.
Dodik has said that the construction of this church is also a symbol of the fight for freedom, which the Serbian people appreciate above all, and that they made enormous sacrifice in wars for not only their freedom but for the freedom of other peoples as well.
“Every third Serb was killed in the Great War and a half of the male population. Serbs understand that there is no freedom without a state. This is why it was necessary to create and defend Srpska,” Dodik has said.
He has added that this is a copy of a monastery that existed in the Kremlin and which the former Communist authorities remade.
“This will give a special importance and greatness to this church. I thank all the people who helped the construction, the Republika Srpska Government and godfathers who donated the land for the church, and all those who today are here to give the strength to those who will continue to build this church so that it might be consecrated in the near future and surrendered for the use to the present and future generations,” Dodik has said.
He expressed satisfaction with the fact that the Serbian member of the BiH Presidency, Mladen Ivanic, the Speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, Nedeljko Cubrilovic, the Russian Ambassador to BiH, Petr Ivantsov, attended the ceremony.
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Republika Srpska Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic has said that the construction of the Serbian-Russian church in the real sense of the word represents a confirmation of a great cooperation that existed between Serbs and Russians in the past.
“It is maybe even more important at this moment that these are foundations for an additional, newer and fresher cooperation between the Russian and Serbian peoples in the future. I am certain that all citizens will recognize this as such,” the Republika Srpska Prime Minister has said.
Cvijanovic has expressed satisfaction that the Government managed to support financially the construction of the Serbian-Russian church and the spiritual-cultural center the way it has already supported many other important projects in Srpska.
“We were making decisions on time, we prepared for this activity, and here, today, everything is solemn and beautiful, the location is excellent, as well as a message that is being sent from here,” Cvijanovic has said.
The foundations of the Serbian-Russian church and the spiritual-cultural center, which is being built in honor of the Russian Imperial Romanov family, were consecrated yesterday in the Banjaluka settlement of Aleja Centar.
The foundations were consecrated by His Eminence the Bishop of Banjaluka, Jefrem, Vicar Matthew of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Bishop of Srem, Vasilije, and the retired Bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla, Vasilije.
The consecration was also attended by the Speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, Nedeljko Cubrilovic, Republika Srpska Cabinet ministers, the Serbian member of the BiH Presidency, Mladen Ivanic, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to BiH, Petr Ivantsov, faithful, church dignitaries and representatives of public life.
Previously, a Holy Liturgy was celebrated in the Banjaluka Church of Christ the Savior, after which a solemn procession set off from the church to the foundations of a new church in the settlement of Aleja Centar.
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Source: srna
