Belgrade, April 17th 2013 – Anent the series of lectures about the Edict of Milan and Emperor Constantine held at Nebojša Tower located at the Lower Town of Belgrade Fortress on April 16th 2013, the introductory lecture was given by His Grace Bishop Andrej of Remesiana.

Before a large number of visitors Bishop Andrej spoke about the importance and essence of the Edict of Milan, with special emphasis on the role of the state in the freedom of the Christian religion. Based on the very principles of the Gospels and the teachings of the Apostle Paul, the Christian tradition in its very essence expresses an understanding of freedom, for which the concept of the interconnectedness in responsibility and cooperation is constituent. Christianity with its genesis in ancient pagan Roman Empire has developed an outstanding social model and an ideal of communicational and cooperative freedom. Emperor Constantine and his followers took this very ideal as a starting point when they declared the Edict of Milan in 313. The Emperor accepted the Christian understanding of freedom as a relational concept of mutuality, whose key feature is the reciprocity. Through dialogue and cooperation we represent our beliefs and traditions in the Republic of Serbia to this very day, said Bishop Andrej.

Among the distinguished guests of the last night`s lecture were the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hočevar, Dean Archpriest-Stavrofor Branko Mitrović and Deputy Chairman of the City Municipality of Čukarica Uroš Janković.

After the lecture attendees were able to visit a permanent exhibition in Nebojša Tower.