Belgrade, May 22nd 2013 – As part of “The Edict of Milan Emperor Constantine” series of lectures at Nebojša Tower visitors had a chance to hear the fourth lecture on the topic “Love thy neighbour” held by a priest of Catholic Archdiocese of Belgrade, the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Čukarica, father Jurij Devetak member of the Order of St. Lazarus.

In the Old Testament, the Jews regarded their countrymen – Jews, as their neighbours. New Testament Christians consider all people regardless of their skin colour, nationality or religion to be their neighbours.

While talking about the love of Christians father Jurij reminded us of Christ`s words:
John 13.46.34. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”

In the second part of the lecture, visitors were introduced to the history and the mission of the Order of Saint Lazarus. The founder of the order was Vinko Pavlovski who began his mission in Paris in 1625, gathering a brotherhood that took care of the sick, orphans and the poor. He soon founded a female order “Daughters of Christian love” whose task was to care and help the sick and the poor at their homes and later in hospitals. Daughters of Christian love, as female order were always in the vicinity of Lazarian monks, performing their joined mission of loving thy neighbour. During the World War I realizing the hard work of nuns and their care for wounded Serbian soldiers, Serbian doctors asked for French nuns to be sent to work in Serbian hospitals. But since the Order of the Daughters of Christian love was already existent in Slovenia, nuns were sent to Belgrade from Slovenia with the consent of the Serbian Orthodox Church. From 1928 to 1929 Lazarian monks and nuns of the Daughters of Christian love in Belgrade, located at Banovo Brdo, were a true testimonial to the love of sick, poor and all fellow humans, regardless of their nationality, skin colour and religion as faithful followers of Christ`s commandment on love.