Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Belgrade hosted an international symposium on November 18-19, 2004. The Symposium was dealing with two historical events: 950th anniversary of the Great Schism (1054) and 800th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the crusaders (1204).
The opening ceremony took place at 9:00 a.m. in the amphitheater of the Faculty of Theology on Thursday, November 18, 2004 after Holy Liturgy had been celebrated. Introductory remarks were delivered by Rev. Vladan Perisic, Ph.D., Dean of the Orthodox Faculty of Theology, and His Eminence Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije, Th.D., as the official representative of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle. Symposium participants were also greeted by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade His Excellency Stanislav Hocevar.
Speakers during the first working session, presided by Dr. Ioannes Tarnanides of the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessalonica and Dr. Milos Antonovic of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade, were Rev. Dr. Jure Zecevic of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Zagreb (Fortieth Anniversary of the Removal of the Anathema of 1054), and Rev. Dr. Bogdan Dolenc of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Ljubljana (Difference Between Universal and Eucharistic Ecclesiology: Two approaches to the unification of the two Churches). An open discussion followed.
Second working session began with Radivoj Radic, Ph.D., of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade (The Divided Empire: Byzantium on the eve of 1204), followed by Ljubomir Maksimovic, Ph.D., of the Institute for Byzantine Studies of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences (Serbia and the Consequences of the Fourth Crusade), and Mirjana Zivojinovic, Ph.D., also of the Institute for Byzantine Studies of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences (Athos Circa 1204). First working day was concluded with an open discussion.
On Friday, November 19, 2004, third working session began with Dr. Ioannes Tarnanides of the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessalonica (Autocephaly of the Serbian and Bulgarian Churches in the Diplomatic Plans of Emperor Michael VIII the Paleologue and the Unionist Conference in Lyon), followed by Milos Antonovic, Ph.D., of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade (Serbia and the Union of Lyon, 1274). Final speaker of the Symposium was His Grace Bishop of Novi Sad and Backa Irinej, Th.D., of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Belgrade (Theological Problems and Controversies Prior to the Great Schism of 1054). Third session also ended with an open discussion.
Closing remarks were delivered by Protopresbyter Radomir V. Popovic, Th.D., who gave thanks to all participants for their valuable contributions.
Members of the Committee for preparation and organization of the Symposium were Protopresbyter Radomir V. Popovic, Th.D., Protopresbyter Predrag Puzovic, Th.D., David Perovic, Th.D., Dragana Janic, Ph.D., Mr. Vladislav Puzovic and Mr. Petar Serovic.
Symposium was sponsored by The Ministry of Religion of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.