12.07.2023.
Minister Vučević awarded Order of St. Stefan Štiljanović, highest decoration of Diocese of Osijek-Polje and Baranja
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević has been awarded the Order of St. Stefan Štiljanović, the highest decoration of the Diocese of Osijek-Polje and Baranja. The decoration was presented to him today at the Monastery of the Ascension of the Most Holy Mother of God in Dalj, Republic of Croatia, by Bishop Heruvim of Osijek-Polje and Baranja.
The Serbian Orthodox Church and the Diocese of Osijek-Polje and Baranja have awarded this decoration to Minister Vučević as a token of gratitude for his great devotion to the Holy Church and active love expressed by giving his wholehearted support to the Diocese.In his address, Minister Vučević expressed his gratitude, saying that this recognition belonged to both him and the people who had gathered around him and made certain they were with their brothers and sisters “on this side of the Danube”.
- My words are too weak for this temple and for today's feast dedicated to the great apostles. It is inappropriate and wrong to rank the apostles of Christ, but if we dared to do so, Peter and Paul would be first among equals. Peter, who, like a rock, strengthened the faith in Christ and the Christ’s Church, and Paul, whose name means “small”, “small before God”, showing his greatness as a man, understanding what obedience means, that obedience is not a weakness but a man’s virtue and strength - said the Minister of Defence.
Speaking about the Holy Despot Stefan Štiljanović, after whom the award is named, Minister Vučević said that he “ruled Srem, respected God and lived for his people” and that according to tradition, “occasionally, a strange light shines upon the relics of Saint Stefan Štiljanović, as a sign and call for our people to gather around Christ and in Christ”.- I believe that we will continue to work together to preserve our national, cultural and political identity, which is the human and natural right of every nation and every individual, in their efforts to preserve individual and collective rights. Your Grace, your diocese is by all means a pillar of unity and spiritual community, and you have great responsibility, brothers and sisters who have been elected by our people in this part of Croatia to represent them and to be responsible to them, to be united, to stand together, to respect the Republic of Croatia and of course to love your Serbia. I wish you a very happy feast day and I hope I will be worthy of this decoration - said the Minister of Defence.
Bishop Heruvim thanked Minister Vučević and stressed the importance of this feast day.
- This modest decoration is just a small token of appreciation for your sacrifice and the care you have provided to our church in this part of the Republic of Croatia, and beyond. You have done a lot for our community in Vukovar, you have helped us a lot with the restoration of the Cathedral in Dalj and you have shown great, brotherly love for our God-guarded Diocese of Osijek-Polje and Baranja on many other occasions. Today, when you perform the important and responsible role of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia and Deputy Prime Minister, you show that you are a responsible child of our people and that you do everything for the well-being and preservation of our mother - Serbia, always looking up to Christ and his church - said Bishop Heruvim.Before the Minister of Defence was presented with the decoration in the Monastery of the Ascension of the Most Holy Mother of God in Dalj, a holy liturgy had been officiated by Bishop Heruvim, and co-officiated by the clergy of the dioceses of Bačka and Osijek-Polje and Baranja. The liturgy was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Nemanja Starović, advisers to the Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister, Nikola Banjac, Predrag Rajić and Danica Stanisavljević, and the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić.
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