08.05.2012.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
THE EDICT OF MILAN (313-2013): A BASIS FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF?

This international Conference is part of three year project EVERLASTING VALUE AND PERMANENT ACTUALITY OF THE EDICT OF MILAN – ON THE WAY TO THE GREAT JUBILEE IN 2013 which started in February 2011 in the City of Nish where the first Conference was held.

The Conference gathered representatives of the most significant European Church associations and religious communities such as the Conference of European Rabbis,    Commission of Bishop’s Conferences of the  European Community, Council of the Bishop’s Conferences of Europe, Community of Protestant Churches in Europe and Conference of European Churches, as well as prominent experts, theorists from Serbia and Europe who discussed about the freedom of religion and belief from theological, institutional and legal aspects and brought closer the importance of the Edict of Milan today to the wider public.

The Conference was organised by the Committee of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Charge for Preparation of the Celebration of 1700 years of the Edict of Milan as a co-organiser with the Association of Non-Governmental Organizations in Southeast Europe – CIVIS, Austrian PRO ORIENTE Foundation and the Swiss Peace and Crises Management Foundation in cooperation with the Conference of European Churches (CEC-KEK).

This Conference presents an important step forward to celebrating the great jubilee – 1700 anniversary since the Edict of Milan was brought in 313.

This gathering got the support of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch, Mr. Irinej. The three day Conference was held in the Hotel Centar in the City of Novi Sad from May 2nd - 5th 2012.

The Conference attended representatives of Churches and religious communities from the whole Europe: His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa as a host; His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel, Conference of European Churches President; H.E. Bishop Aleksandr Isejin, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Azerbaijan; Pater Milan Zust, on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; H.E. Msgr. Stanislav Hocevar, Archbishop of Belgrade and Metropolitan; Fr.Piotr Mazurkiewicz, Secretary General of the Commission of Bishop’s Conferences of the European Community; H.E. Bishop Dr. Michael Bünker, Secretary General of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe; OKR'in Katrin Hatzinger, Head of Office of the German Evangelical Church in Brussels; Adem ef. Zilkic, Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia as well as many other distinguished representatives.

On behalf of the Republic of Serbia Government this gathering greeted Prof. Dr Bogoljub Sijakovic, Republic of Serbia Ministry of Religion and Diaspora State Secretary, and on behalf of the AP Vojvodina Government Mr. Milorad Djuric, Provincial Secretary for Culture and Public Informing. Members of academic communities from Europe also participated in this Conference: Prof. Mohammed Jamouchi, Prof. Dr Darko Tanaskovic, Prof. Dr Radovan Bigovic, Prof. Dr Klaus Martin Girardet, Revd. Patrick Roger Schnabel as well as representatives of Austrian and Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of International Politics and Economics, German Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Serbia, Austrian PRO ORIENTE Foundation and Swiss Peace and Crises Management Foundation.

Diplomatic corpus representatives from Serbia who accepted invitation to the Conference were H.E. Mr. Erwin Hofer, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation; H.E. Mr. Clemens Koja, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria; H.E. Mr. François-Xavier Deniau, Ambassador of the Republic of France; H.E. Mr. Alberto Di Luca, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Dr Mutlaq Rashid Al-Qarawi, on behalf the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait.

Conference participants adopted Conclusions believing that they will be useful for future activities that our society and State should undertake in order to properly celebrate great jubilee in 2013 according to its historical and culture significance.

Conference Agenda >>
List of Participants >>
Conference Conclusions >>

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