The VII. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert of Sacral Songs 2011
„It is an honor for the Republic of Hungary, as it is for every single citizen of Hungary, that this year’s prestige event held within the series of ecumenical concerts can be carried out as a part of official cultural events during the Hungarian Presidency in the European Union,“ opened his speech Mr. Péter Paczolay, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Hungary at the 7th NAPS International Ecumenical Concert in Košice. „Today’s ecumenical concert rivets our attention on culture in particular, which is the foot stone of tolerance and peaceful coexistence,“ added the 4th chief constitutional officer of Hungary at the event the ambition of which was to bring people together, deepen the dialog and tolerance among nations and followers of different religious traditions through art.
The 7th NAPS International Ecumenical Concert was organized by the Institute NAPS in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary to Slovakia, and for the 4th time now, the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia.
The concert as an official event of the Hungarian Presidency in the European Union was held under the general patronage of:
Mr. Péter Paczolay,
President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Hungary
Mrs. Ivetta Macejková,
President of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic.
The event was held under the moral patronage of:
His Excellency Monsignor Bernard Bober,
Metropolitan Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Košice,
His Excellency The Reverend Mr. Miloš Klátik,
General Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession
and President of the Ecumenical Council in the Slovak Republic,
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 in the Slovak Republic,
His Eminence The Most Reverend Juraj,
Orthodox Archbishop of Michalovce and Košice,
Member of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church,
The Esteemed Mr. Yossi Steiner,
Rabbi of the Jewish Religious Community in Košice.
Iveta Macejková, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovakia, addressed her speech to the auditorium before the exquisite chants performed by the choirs from Slovakia, Hungary and Romania filled the concert hall of the State Theatre historical building in Košice.
„The Constitution of the Slovak Republic as the fundamental state law guarantees all citizens of our country the freedom of belief. It should be demonstrated as cooperation, dialog and seeking what brings us together rather than what divides us in everyday life, on home ground and even in the international context. Only then can we fortify mutual tolerance which creates conditions for us to live in a peaceful and prosperous country surrounded by nice neighbors and partners in the Europe united by the European Union,“ stated Mrs. Iveta Macejková.
After these notable thoughts the audience took a think on the spiritual word delivered by Monsignor Bernard Bober, Metropolitan Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Košice.
Shortly, the depth of the words was multiplied by the unique atmosphere of Roman Catholic chants sung by the St. Cecily Choir from Košice, and in consequence the representation of Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession represented by the members of the Church Choir of St.Paul Apostle from Brezno. The chamber orchestra Musica Cassovia performing under the baton of Maestro Mr. Karol Petróczi accompanied the performers from Košice and guest artists from Brezno during several songs.
Eastern chants of Greek Catholic Church were performed by the members of the St. Ephraim Male Choir from Budapest, and the art of Reformed Church by the Kántus Choir from Hungarian Debrecen and the university choir from Romanian Oradea whose history stretches back to the 18th century. Eastern chants were also rendered by the Orthodox Educational Liturgical Choir of the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope and Charity. Their glorious art performance was interlaced with a unique show of Mária Repková, the singer and Ervín Schönhauser, the singer of Jewish songs both accompanied by Igor Bázlik, the composer and pianist.
After the speech of Peter Solej, the founder of NAPS who also handed over three Appreciation Letters of the Institute, all the guests present received a common blessing by the represented hierarchy of five major Christian Churches and a prayer of Rabbi of the Jewish Religious Community.
The end of the event belonged to Panis Angelicus sung by Mr. Jaroslav Dvorský, soloist of the State Theatre Opera in Košice, who was accompanied by the Church Choir of Paul Apostle from Brezno and the chamber orchestra Musica Cassovia.
Traditionally, raised funds from the voluntary entrance fee shall be donated to the Sovereign Order of Knights of Malta for charity activities in Slovakia.
The 7th NAPS International Ecumenical Concert 2011 in Košice was attended by the Presidents of the Hungarian and Slovak Constitutional Courts together with other high-ranking diplomats, Christian and Jewish hierarchs, and members of academic community and representatives of social life. Among them, H. E. Mr. Jukka Leino, Ambassador of Finland H. E. Mr. Francis Martin O’Donnell, Ambassador of the the Sovereign Order of Knights of Malta, H. E. Mr. Antal Heizer, Ambassador of Hungary, high-ranking diplomats from Ukraine, Germany, Indonesia and Belgium, Mr. Pavol Magyar, Secretary of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia, Mrs. Ľudmila Benkovičová, President of the Slovak Statistical Office and representatives of state administration and local governments. Mr. Richard Raši, the mayor of the town of Košice honored the guests with his presence during the banquet at Zlatý Dukát Hotel.
Media partners:
Slovak Television,
Press Agency of the Slovak Republic,
Daily Korzár,
Weekly Slovenka
Magazine DIMENZIE.