Srijemska Mitrovica, (IKA) – On Sunday, October 26, the re-establishment of the ancient Srijem Diocese and the assumption of the office of the diocesan bishop of Srijem were celebrated in the Sremska-Mitrovica cathedral, the minor basilica of St. Demetrius, with a Mass, beginning with a formal procession to the cathedralled by Bishop Đuro Gašparović of Srijem, together with 25 bishops and approximately 50 priests from Srijem, Croatia and neighboring countries. The celebration was also attended by a large number of the faithful from the parish of Srijem who participated in this historical event, some of whom were wearing traditional folk costumes. The celebration was also attended by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Government of the Republic of Croatia, Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the Republic of Serbia, and state and local authorities.
During the procession to the cathedral before the Mass, the coat-of-arms of Msgr. Đuro Gašparović, the bishop of the re-established ancient Srijem Diocese, was carried. It was then displayed prominently following the reading of the Papal bull issued by Pope Benedict XVI on the re-establishment of the diocese.
The decrees of the Holy Father were read aloud in the Latin language by the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Serbia, Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro, and in the Croatian language by the Most Rev. Eduard Španović, pastor and dean of Srijemska Mitrovica. This was followed by the reading of the Papal bull on the appointment of Msgr. Đuro Gašparović as the bishop of Srijem.
Bishop Gašparović spoke during the homily of the glorious martyrs of the Church in Srijem (ancient Syrmia). “By venerating the holy Srijem martyrs today, the Church places before our eyes and impresses into our hearts an example of steadfastness in faith. Today’s saints provide us with a model for the love of the Word of God that they heard, safeguarded and proclaimed. They are a model for us of victories in moments of trial, perseverance to the end,” said the bishop of Srijem. “May the blood of the martyrs, like a grain of wheat which has died, yield an abundant harvest of peace, understanding, respect for each person, recognition of each life, co-existence among people, and may the faith of our ancestors grow in us that we may grow into true disciples of Christ,” said Bishop Gašparović.
The bishop briefly reviewed the history of the Srijem Diocese, which goes back to the times of the apostles. The Church was already well organized in many cities of Pannonian Syrmia at the beginning of the 4th century, where it safeguarded and transmitted the faith in families despite heresies and enemy attacks. The Srijem Diocese continued to exist until the year 1773 when two dioceses, Đakovo (also known as Bosnian) and Srijem, were united for pastoral reasons and requirements, and continued to exist together under the leadership of a single bishop. “The growth of the Church in Srijem was neither halted by the Second World War nor the Homeland War. All of our bishops honorably led and built our diocesan community, which reached a level of maturity that allowed us today to live to see the re-establishment of the ancient Srijem Diocese separated from the Đakovo Diocese,” said the bishop of Srijem, pointing out that the basic principle for this division was “the salvation of souls,” i.e. greater promotion of joint pastoral activities with neighboring dioceses and improving the relationships of the diocesan bishops. “We believe in good cooperation among dioceses and in this new ecclesiastical territory we shall promote the continued advancement of the life and activity of the Church in our regions. We are aware that Slavonia, with Baranja and Srijem, comprise an ecclesiastical territory, truly strengthening the Catholic Church among the Croats,” said Bishop Gašparović.
On Saturday, October 25, the eve of the main celebration of the re-establishment of the ancient Srijem Diocese, the assumption of the office of the bishop of Srijem, and the feast of St. Demetrius, the patron saint of the Srijem Diocese; the Liturgy of Vespers was led by the archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek, Msgr. Marin Srakić.
The re-establishment of the ancient Srijem Diocese and the assumption of the office of the diocesan bishop of Srijem, together with the establishment of the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocese, represent the culmination of the events in this region during the past two decades, from which it is possible to single out the 1100th anniversary of the death of St. Methodius, metropolitan of Srijem; the celebration of the Second Diocesan Synod, the Apostolic Visit by the Servant of God Pope John Paul II to Osijek and Đakovo, and the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Srijem martyrs in Srijemska Mitrovica.