The XII. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert 2016

Welcoming of the Chair of Board of Directors of Prvá stavebná sporiteľňa, Mr. Imrich Béreš and partner.

The Slovak Minister of Agriculture and Regional Development, Mrs. Gabriela Matečná with husband have endorsed the 12th NAPS International Ecumenical Concert by their presence.

The Ambassador of Indonesia to Slovakia, H.E. Mr. Djumantoro Purbo has been a long-year supporter of NAPS ecumenical activities.

The director of Bratislava Cultural and Information Center, Mr. Vladimír Grežo with partner greeting Mr. Mikuláš Milko, Director General of Hydrotour and his spouse.

The Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. Mrs. Éva Czimbalmosné Molnár has been supporting the event since her office of General Consul of Hungary in Košice.

The actor of the Theater of Andrej Bagar in Nitra, Mr. Ján Greššo with partner arriving together with NAPS founder Peter Solej and his spouse Lenka.

Traditionally opening of the concert in tribute with Slovak and EU anthems.

The gala evening has been hosted by the MC Mr. Ľubomír Bajaník.

For the third time it was the final event of the Cultural Summer and Castle Festivals Bratislava officially opened by the speech of the Mayor of the Capital City of Bratislava, Mr. Ivo Nesrovnal.

Spiritual thoughts by the Very Reverend László Fazekas, Bishop of Reformed Church and Vice-Chair of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia.

Unique music from Jerusalem performed by Shmuel Barzilai, Chief Cantor of the Jewish Religious Community in Vienna.

Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia and Kazakhstan. These are the countries of birth of the artists of the Orthodox Male Chamber Choir from Prague conducted by the founder, Mr. Aleksey Kleptsin.

Cantate Domino. Sing to the Lord. This is the name of the youth choir of Reformed Church in Slovakia with 20 years of history. The members come not only from Slovakia, but also from Hungary. Their mission is to spread bottomless mercy, kindness and love of God through sacral songs.

At the break. From the left: Special EU Envoy for promoting of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU, Mr. Ján Figeľ with spouse, Founder of NAPS, Peter Solej with spouse, Ambassador of Japan to Slovakia, H. E. Mr. Jun Shimmi, Ambassador of Jordan King to Slovakia with the seat in Vienna, H. E. Mr. Hussam Al Husseini, Ambassador of Germany to Slovakia, H. E. Mr. Joachim Bleicker, spouse of Japanese Ambassador, Madam Shimmi, Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia, H. E. Mr. Lin Lin with spouse and Secretary of Holy Synod of Orthodox Church in Czech Lands and Slovakia, the Very Reverend prot. Milan Gerka.

Mr. and Mrs. Solej with NAPS Friend – popular Slovak dancer Tomáš Surovec and his partner.

Evangelical Bishop Milan Krivda talking to the President of Comenius University in Bratislava, Mr. Karol Mičieta and Roman Catholic Priest, the Reverend Marián Červený.

Greek Catholic chants performed by an extraordinary Choir of Saint Ephraim from Budapest celebrated by the audience by thunderous applause.

Girl’s Choir Feliciana from Bratislava performed chants typical for ceremonies of Evangelic Church of Augsburg Confession.

Chants of Latin Rite of the Catholic Church performed by opera soloists of the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava, Mrs. Eva Hornyaká and Mr. Pavel Remenár.

The gala evening was accompanied by the orchestra under the baton of the great conductor and promoter of Slovak vocal-instrumental music, Mr. Adrian Kokoš.

“When the Pope Francis visited the concentration camp Oswiecim during the Krakow World Youth Day he remained there in silence… Let’s quiet down and together contemplate and submit to God all our joys and wishes as well as pain and suffering. Let’s think about nations living in unrest and wars,“ stated in his speech Peter Solej, NAPS founder. He said for the media that the message of ecumenical concert rests upon tolerance with the common denominator in biblical values of respect and friendship to have originated in the Jewish-Christian tradition of our region. For the first time in the history of the concert it has been held under the common patronage of presidents of two countries: the Hungarian President, H. E. Mr. János Áder and the Slovak President, H. E. Mr. Andrej Kiska.

Final blessings by: The Reverend Marian Červený in Latin, the Reverend Milan Krivda, Deputy of General Bishop and the Bishop of the Western District of Evangelic Church of a. c. in Slovakia in Slovak, Metropolitan of the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia, Archbishop Ján Babjak in Old Slavonic, The Reverend László Fazekas, Bishop of the Reformed Chirstian Church and Vice-Presidnet of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia in Hungarian language, The Very Reverend prot. Milan Gerka, Secretary of Holy Synod of Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia in Greek; joined by prayer by Mr. Baruch Myers, Rabbi from Bratislava Jewish Community in Hebrew language.

The finale of the concert : Christian chant “Budi imja Gospodne blagosloveno“ sung in Old Slavonic language by Choir of Saint Ephraim from Budapest joined by Orthodox Male Choir from Prague.