Jubilee X. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert 2014
The jubilee NAPS International Ecumenical Concert held on Monday 15th September 2014 at historical building of the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava celebrated 10-year anniversary of the establishment of NAPS Institute.
Welcoming of Brazilian Ambassador, H. E. Mrs. Susan Kleebank.
The event has been supported also by the presence of Korean Ambassador to Slovakia H. E. Mr. Sang-hoon Park with spouse.
Welcoming of Apostolic Nuncio and doyen of diplomatic corps accredited to Slovakia, H. E. Archbishop Mario Giordana.
Arrival of the Ambassador of Luxembourg with the seat in Vienna, H. E. Mr. Hubert Wurth with spouse.
Iraqui Ambassador to Slovakia, H. E. Mr. Mohamed Hakiem Abd Ali Hamza, also attended at the jubilee ecumenical event.
At the beginning of the concert all participants payed tribute to Slovak national anthem and the anthem of the EU performed by the orchestra Musica Iuvenalis from Košice.
The concert has been hosted by the famous Slovak host Mrs. Jarmila Lajčáková Hargašová.
The opening speech has been held by the Mayor of the Capital City of Bratislava Milan Ftáčnik.
Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský, the Archbishop of Bratislava and Chair of the Bishops Conference of Slovakia greeted the guests with spiritual words.
The Chorus Salvatoris following up 100 year-old tradition of liturgical music in Bratislava Jesuit Church has performed works by W. A. Mozart, C. Monteverdi and Mária Jašurdová sacral chants of Roman Catholic Church.
Laudate Dominum by Mozart performed by the sopranist Hilda Gulyásová.
More than 80 singers from Chorus Comenianus, operating at the Evangelic Secondary School of Ján Amos Komenský in Košice have arrived straight from their summer camp in Makarska Riviera, Croatia. Young singers performed three chants to be undoubtedly familiar not only among believers of the Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession.
Chorus Comenianus founded and run by Mrs. Alena Csajková-Popovičová.
The Ecumenical Concert has also been attended by Ambassadors from Ireland and Italy, Mrs. Anne-Marie Callan and Mr. Roberto Martini.
The beauty of the Eastern liturgical chants could be admired thanks to 15 singers of the Choir of St. Ephraim from Budapest, representing Greek Catholic Church.
The Choir of St. Ephraim was founded 20 years ago by its conductor Mr. Tamás Bubnó.
The break.
The concert has also welcomed international artists including the historical choir Kántus of the Reformed College of Debrecen.
The Eastern liturgical chants have been beautifully presented by the Metropolitan Education Choir of Orthodox Church in Slovakia.
Jewish chants have been performed by Shmuel Barzilai, the Chief cantor of the Jewish Community in Vienna, along with orchestra Musica Iuvenalis conducted by Mr. Igor Dohovič.
At the end of the event, the host Mrs. Jarmila Lajčáková Hargašová gave the floor to Church representatives and all artists.
Blessing of Bratislava Roman Catholic Archbishop and Metropolitan H. E. Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský in Latin language.
Bishop of Western District of Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession in Slovakia, the Reverend Milan Krivda, giving the blessing in Slovak language.
Metropolitan of Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia, Archbishop Ján Babjak giving the blessing in Old Slavonic language.
Blessing by Bishop of Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia, The Very Reverend László Fazekas in Hungarian.
Orthodox Archbishop of Michalovce and Košice the Most Reverend George giving his blessing in Greek language.
Prayer in Hebrew language by Rabbi Baruch Myers, Jewish Community in Bratislava.
The finale of the concert belonged to the chant Hallelujah performed by singers of all choirs supported by the orchestra.
Reception at Hotel Devín in Bratislava. Director of Bratislava Cultural and Information Center Mr. Vladimír Grežo and director of STV 2 Mrs. Marta Gajdošíková.
NAPS founder Peter Solej introducing representativebook NAPS INSTITUTE 2004 – 2014 published on the occasion of its tenth anniversary.
Metropolitan of Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Ján Babjak prayed together with guests Our Father in Heaven at the start of the reception.
Director of the Theater of Andrej Bagar in Nitra, Mr. Ján Greššo with spouse talking to Croatian Ambassador to Slovakia Mr. Jakša Muljačič.
NAPS founder Peter Solej and spouse Lenka with Deputy Speaker of The National Council of Slovakia Mr. Ján Figeľ and spouse and Royal Ambassador of Jordan with the seat in Vienna, H. E. Mr. Hussam Al Husseini.
The event’s message and importance has been endorsed by letters sent by the Hungarian president H. E. Mr. János Áder and the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Church in the world, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.
