Representation of the Orthodox Church in America
to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate

News | 17-02-06 International Conference entitled “State and Church in the Changing World: Searching for ways to Partnership in Resolving the Modern Challenges” held in Cetinje, Montenegro

From February 14-17, 2006, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Dean of St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church, with the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, participated in an International Conference entitled “State and Church in the Changing World: Searching for ways to Partnership in Resolving the Modern Challenges” held in Cetinje, Montenegro which was organized and sponsored by the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations.

The Conference enjoyed the presence of His Eminence, Metropolitan AMPHLOCHIE of the Diocese of Montenegro of the Serbian Orthodox Church. In addition to His Eminence, politicians, public figures and churchmen from 25 countries, Archimandrite Zacchaeus was among many presenters of papers focusing on the theme of the conference. As stated in the Communiqué agreed to by the participants following the conference, “the conferees underlined that the Orthodox community should strive for unity. Only basing on the unity of the Orthodox world it is possible to protect the rights of Christian believers to practice their religion freely. It is especially important living in the epoch of globalization. This great triad – Church, State and public – joining their efforts could change the world appreciably for the better, giving back the Christian measuring.”

In addition to the plenary sessions at the conference, the participants were able to attend the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence, Metropolitan AMPHILOCHIE for the feast of the Meeting of the Lord at the ancient Cetinje monastery, the resting place of the holy relic of the right hand of St. John the Baptist. On the eve of the feast, the participants attended a reception sponsored by His Excellency, Philip Vujanovic, President of the Republic of Montenegro.