TRAVEL REPORT The Hon. Michael Atkinson MP Attorney-General ...

Wednesday,18 August, 2004Bishop PorfirijeMonastery Kovilj -BiographyBishop Porfirije became a monk in the Monastery Decani in 1985 . Hereceived his diploma in Theology in 1986 and the same year the Bishop ofRaska - Prizren Pavle, today the Patriarch Pavle ordained him as a Heardeacon . After this, Bishop Porfirije went to Athens to advance his studiesrelating to the New Testament, where he stayed until 1990 . With the blessingof the Bishop of Backa he arrives at the Monastery Kovilj in October the sameyear .Also in 1990 he was ordained as a Priest. Soon after the Kovilj Monasterystarts to develop and a lot of young people came to the Monastery to becomemonks . Bishop Porfirije was promoted to the function Abbot . Residing in theMonastery Kovilj he prepared many lectures and he is especially determinedto fight the different types of religious sects that are widespread in hiscountry . He is a spiritual father to many young people in the world .In 1999 he was elected and consecrated as a Bishop .He completed his doctorate in 2004 at the Faculty of Theology in Athens .Meeting summaryBishop Porfirije reported on the resurgence of monastic life over the last 10years . After WWII, there were only two monks living in the monastery andthey were unable to do carry out much upkeep at the monastery . Ten yearsago, a group came and re-established the monastic community . A number ofvisitors to the Monastery come for spiritual renewal and other reasons toaccommodate these visitors they are building 15 units .The monks went outside the Monastery to preach and become involved in thelife of the community very quickly . They also started a program on television12 years ago, but try to keep the monastic life separate from socialengagements .The monastery is fortunate to have many young men seeking vocations here .Many young people express an interest to become monks or priests, but theymust make careful selections as many people confuse the spiritual with thepsychological .The nature of the monastic life here is a recurring 24-hour cycle . They rise at3 .30 a .m . have full holy liturgy service with Communion at 4.00 a.m ., finishingat 7.30 a.m . and eat their main meal at 8 .00 a.m . They then perform outdoortasks until 1 .00 - 2.00 p.m . such as icon paintings and the making of raika (avery strong liqueur), cheeses, candle making small factory and wood-work .Everyone is rostered to work in the kitchen . Upon completion of their tasks,Travel Report, Hon. Michael Atkinson, M.P. and Ms. Vini Ciccarello MP ., August, 2004 104