“The world, the so-called world, knows everything about Serbia, Yugoslavia… The world, the so-called world, knows everything about Slobodan Milošević. The so-called world knows the truth. This is why the so-called world is absent today, and not only today, and not only here. I don’t know the truth. But I look. I listen. I feel. I remember. This is why I am here today, close to Yugoslavia , close to Serbia…”
Peter Handke, Serbia, 18.03.2006
A photograph triggering strong feelings amid participants of the IFMSA March Meeting 2002 who visited the Sopoconi Monastery in central Serbia…
“The Flies”
A passage from the article: No Reply from Yugoslavia…
Panos Alexopoulos
…The day of social and cultural program of the IFMSA March Meeting 2002 included a visit to the “Sopoconi” monastery in central Serbia, which is a site under the UNESCO protection program. The medical students, who paid the visit, were welcomed by father Savvas, a Serbian monk who had studied in Great Britain. All medical students were, in fact, astonished by his spiritual introduction not only to the history of the monastery, but also to the invaluable significance of the cultural treasurers of this important monument of Faith, such as the Frescos, which are among the most important European works of art of this kind. Moreover, father Savvas’ speech was based on the religious truth that Love and Peace not only among nations, but even more among the different parts of the personality within a human being contribute to its becoming immune to messages and propagation resulting in the perpetual hatred among countries and communities, as well as in mental illnesses. Father Savvas’ impressive and inspiring speech was the echo of the Orthodox spirituality brilliantly lightened by the gentle breeze of the peaceful testimony of Eastern Christianity in the era of globalization…
“The peace across the globe is a request of civilization : a request of sense in relationships among people and peaceful co-existence of national traditions ….” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
VAGUS- The IFMSA Newsletter, Spring 2002
