Kotor, September 2012. The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations and Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland, HE Mr Anthony Bailey visited the historic city of Kotor and the surrounding Bay, as part of his wider visit to Montenegro at the invitation of the country’s Head of State.
Kotor, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, is a magnificent illustration for the world of both the historic and contemporary importance of the Catholic Church in Montenegro. It is also the heart from which the Catholic and Orthodox faithful foster greater inter-religious understanding with other Christian denominations and faiths throughout the country and region.
The Delegate and his wife, HSH Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg attended a celebration of Holy Mass by Rt Rev Mons Ilija Janić, Bishop of Kotor, which was followed by a procession around the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Prcanju. The beautiful Church, which was built on the bay side, was in part paid through donations received from Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I and the Heir Presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian Throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Anthony Bailey visited the premises of the newly established Don Branko Sbutega Ecumenical Centre in Prcanj and offered the Constantinian Order’s support in promoting the Centre internationally.
After mass the Delegate attended a lakeside dinner hosted by Bishop Janić and Captain Milan Sbutega and Mrs Antun Sbutega, wife of the Montenegrin Ambassador to the Holy See and the Order of Malta.
The next day the Delegate and his wife visited numerous historic Orthodox and Catholic churches in Kotor before visiting the Catholic Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace.
During a press conference with the Bishop of Kotor, Delegate Anthony Bailey was presented with the golden medallion of the diocese which was produced to celebrate the 1200th anniversary of St Tryphon. The medallion was awarded in recognition of the Delegate’s longstanding contribution to inter-religious understanding and especially for his work in Catholic-Orthodox relations.
The Delegate presented the Bishop of Kotor, in the name of the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro, with the golden medallion of the Constantinian Order.
For more information on Kotor please visit www.opstinakotor.com