His Holiness Pope Tawadros II met today with Mr. Nikola Selaković, Serbian Minister of Culture, at the Ministry of Culture headquarters in Belgrade. The meeting was attended by Egypt’s Ambassador to Serbia, Mr. Bassem Salah, along with several officials from the ministry.
The Serbian Minister of Culture referred to his visit to Egypt in August 2021, describing it as a turning point in his perception of Egypt and its people. He said:
“When I visited the Monastery of St. Bishoy (in Wadi El-Natrun), I felt that I was seeing Egypt with new eyes. One of the most memorable moments of my life was meeting His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. I was also very pleased to visit Al-Azhar and felt great pride during my visit to the New Administrative Capital, which reflects Egypt’s modern urban and cultural renaissance.”
The Minister warmly welcomed His Holiness and the accompanying delegation, expressing his great joy over the visit. He said:
“Your Holiness’s presence in Belgrade is a great blessing. The Serbian people are very happy with your visit, especially in this year when we celebrate the 850th anniversary of the birth of Saint Sava, who visited the Holy Land and Egypt in the early 13th century, establishing the first spiritual and cultural ties between our two peoples.”
The Minister highlighted the rich ecclesiastical heritage in Serbia, speaking about St. Mark’s Church in Serbia, which was the largest church in the country before the construction of the Church of Saint Sava, as well as the churches and monasteries in southern Serbia that are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
He affirmed his desire to enhance cultural cooperation with Egypt, saying:
“I am interested in organizing an exhibition on Egypt in Serbia to introduce our people to Egyptian culture. I would also like to raise awareness among the Serbian people about the Coptic Orthodox Church and its monastic life, through books, exhibitions, and cultural events. I invite Your Holiness to consider this cooperation.”
For his part, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II expressed his joy over the meeting and praised the proposed initiatives. He said:
“I deeply believe in the role of culture in bringing people closer together. In Egypt, we have a great ecclesiastical heritage that we preserve in our monasteries and churches. The Church holds a special place in the hearts of many Copts, who often spend their weekends at monasteries — a reflection of the deep bond between the Coptic people and the Church.”
His Holiness affirmed his full readiness to support cultural cooperation and proposed the exchange of two books: one about Saint Sava and the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the other about the Coptic Orthodox Church. These could serve as a foundation for joint exhibitions on Coptic and Serbian heritage, including icons, cross art, liturgical hymns, and monastic life.
He concluded:
“The more you know about the other, the richer you become.”
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Culture expressed his deep appreciation for the Pope’s suggestions, affirming:
“I promise you that we will officially work to implement these initiatives, as we are seeking projects with a profound cultural and human impact.”
The meeting concluded with an exchange of words of thanks and commemorative gifts.
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