U.S. Embassy Funds New Roof for Rakovica Monastery

American Ambassador William Montgomery and Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle signed an agreement today providing U.S. Government funds to replace the roof on the Rakovica Monastery.  The signing ceremony took place at the Monastery. 

This grant comes from a new fund -- the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation -- established by the U.S. Department of State that enables American Ambassadors around the world to compete for small grants to preserve endangered examples of the cultural heritage of their host countries.  Ambassador Montgomery's nomination of the project to restore Rakovica Monastery's roof was among the few selected.  The Embassy hopes that the successful implementation of this project will attract further attention to the many important sites and artifacts in Yugoslavia that can be saved for posterity with modest funding and careful engineering.  The Embassy looks forward to nominating other worthy projects in the future.

The U.S. Embassy is very pleased to be assisting in the preservation of this beautiful and important part of Yugoslavia's cultural and spiritual heritage.  The Rakovica Monastery, established in the 14th century as a monastery church, over the centuries has also housed a monastic school, the Belgrade Theological College, a women's monastery, and more recently, a sanctuary for refugees.   The Monastery also contains valuable collections of religious icons and books.

The U.S. Congress, in approving funding for the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, noted, "By taking a leading role in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, we show our respect for other cultures."  The American Embassy in Belgrade views this preservation grant as an important sign of the American people's respect for Serbian culture and of the renewed friendship between the Serbian and American peoples.

In his remarks, Ambassador Montgomery cited former President John F. Kennedy who said: "I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battles or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit."  The Ambassador emphasized that this grant was important not for its size, but for its contribution to the human spirit.

Arriving at Rakovica Monastery for the signing ceremony providing funds for the restoration of the roof are (left to right) Ambassador William Montgomery and journalists, met by Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle.

Walking from the Monastery church towards the dormitory are (left to right) Ambassador William Montgomery, the Patriarch’s secretary and Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle.

16. oktobar, 2001.

SAOPŠTENJE ZA ŠTAMPU

Ambasada Sjedinjenih Američkih Država

Američka ambasada finansira izgradnju krova na manastiru Rakovica

Američki ambasador u Beogradu Vilijam Montgomeri i Njegova Svetost, Patrijarh srpski Pavle potpisali su danas sporazum kojim će Američka vlada obnoviti krov na manastiru Rakovica.  Svečanost potpisivanja se održala u prostorijama manastira.

Ova finansijska pomoć dolazi u okviru jednog novog programa - "Ambasadorski fond za očuvanje kulturnih dobara", koji je oformio Stejt department i koji omogućava američkim ambasadorima širom sveta da konkurišu za programe manje finansijske pomoći za očuvanje ugroženih objekata kulturnog nasledja u pojedinim zemljama.  Projekat ambasadora Montgomerija za obnovu krova na manastiru Rakovica je jedan od malobrojnih koji su prihvaćeni.  Ambasada se nada da će uspešna realizacija ovog projekta privući pažnju i na mnoge druge objekte i umetničke tvorevine u Jugoslaviji koji mogu biti sačuvani za potomstvo uz pomoć skromnih finansija i pažljivim upravljanjem.  Ambasada sa nestrpljenjem očekuje nominaciju drugih vrednih projekata u budućnosti.

Američka ambasada izražava zadovoljstvo što će pomoći u očuvanju ovog divnog i značajnog objekta jugoslovenskog kulturnog i duhovnog nasledja.  Manastir Rakovica je izgradjen u 14. veku kao crkva, a tokom vekova tu je bila i manastirska škola, Beogradska teološka škola, ženski manastir, a od skora služi i kao utočište za izbeglice.  U manastiru se nalazi i vrlo vredna kolekcija ikona i religijskih knjiga.

Odobravajući budžet za Ambasadorski fond za očuvanje kulturnih dobara, Američki Kongres je istakao sledeće:  "Preuzimajući vodeću ulogu u naporima za očuvanje kulturnog nasledja, mi pokazujemo poštovanje prema drugim kulturama".  Američka ambasada u Beogradu smatra da ova finansijska pomoć predstavlja važan izraz poštovanja američkog naroda prema srpskoj kulturi, kao i znak obnovljenog prijateljstva izmedju srpskog i američkog naroda.

U svom govoru, ambasador Montgomery je citirao bivšeg predsednika John-a F. Kennedy-ja koji je rekao: "Siguran sam da ćemo, nakon što vekovna prašina prekrije naše gradove, i mi biti upamćeni ne po našim pobedama ili porazima u bitkama ili u politici, već po našem doprinosu duhovnim tekovinama".  Ambasador je istakao da je ova finansijska pomoć značajna ne po svom obimu, već zbog doprinosa ljudskoj duhovnosti.