The XIV. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert 2018
The culmination of the summer cultural season in the Slovak Capital City was this year’s NAPS International Ecumenical Concert held on Sunday 16th September 2018 in the historical building of the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava. The concert has been traditionally held under the auspices and in personal participation of the hierarchs of the five largest Christian churches and the Jewish religious community in Slovakia. The 25th anniversary of the modern Slovak Republic was symbolically celebrated by the evening, which by art combines and deepens the dialogue between nations and religions.
„Our ecumenical concert wants not be just an ordinary evening of nice music. It tries to be a message. Light, which in today’s, many times dark world, illuminate the path of seeking unity, as our Lord desired. In the background of seeking this unity, there is a spirit of mutual respect and sincere friendship between the representatives of several Christian traditions and Jews, our older brothers in faith. Every year of the event we try to prepare to have its own story. This year we also offered prayers and singing to thank for 25 years of our modern statehood,“ said Peter Solej, founder of NAPS – Our Activities for Slovakia.
The idea and mission of the evening was supported by the diplomats of ten countries and several religious, public and academic personalities. The event was opened by the mayor of the City of Bratislava, Ivo Nesrovnal. Spiritual reflection was given by His Eminence The Most Reverend Juraj (George), the Orthodox Archbishop of Michalovce and Košice, who is also a member of the International Theological Commission for the Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Church. In the artistic part of the program, professional singers from several corners of Slovakia, including opera singers Mrs. Marianna Geleneky and Mr. Roman Krško, and the singer Mrs. Jana Orlická, singing in 28 languages of the world, took the part. The foreign guest of the evening was St. Ephraim Choir from Budapest.
The entire concert was accompanied by the Orchestra Sinfonietta from Bratislava under the conducting of the famous Slovak conductor Adrian Kokoš. The charity concert with a voluntary admission culminated with the blessings granted by the Archbishops and Bishops of the Christian Churches, and prayer were added to them by the Rabbi of the Jewish religious community. The recording from the concert will be broadcasted by the Radio and TV of Slovakia on the channel Dvojka on November 1, 2018.
NAPS Ecumenical Concert 2018 Held under the Auspices:
His Excellency Monsignor Ján Orosch,
Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Trnava
and The Chairman of the Board of the Slovak Catholic Bishops’ Conference for Ecumenism,
The Reverend Mr. Miloš Klátik,
General Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession
and President of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia,
His Eminence The Most Reverend Ján Babjak, SJ,
Archbishop of Prešov and Metropolitan of Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia,
Member of the Congregation of the Holy See for Oriental Churches in Vatican,
The Very Reverend Mr. László Fazekas,
Bishop of the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia
and Vice-President of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia,
His Beatitude The Most Blessed Rastislav,
Orthodox Archbishop of Prešov
and Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia,
The Esteemed Mr. Igor Rintel,
President of the Central Union
of the Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia.
The media partnership took place by:
Radio and Television of Slovakia,
TA3 Television,
Press Agency of the Slovak Republic,
weekly Slovenka,
monthly METROPOLA,
monthly Inba,
web-portal vyveska.sk