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The IV. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert of Sacral Songs 2008
The building of the historical city hall on Main street in Košice, where mayor Mr. František Knapík received the official guests, is truly magnificent.
The head of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia, Ms. Andrea Elschek-Matis during her meeting with the general consul of the Republic of Hungary in Košice, Mr. János Szerencsés.
His Eminence The Most Reverend Ján Babjak, Archbishop of Prešov and metropolitan of the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia greeting the organizers.
The mayor of Košice Mr. František Knapík talking to Mr. Jossi Steiner, Rabbi of the Jewish Religious Community in Košice and Mr. František Alexander, chairman of the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Slovak Republic. In the background, a conversation between Their Excellencies Ms. Inna Ohnivets, Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia and Mr. Vincent Obsitnik, Ambassador of the United States of America.
The organizers making a toast with His Grace The Right Reverend Milan Chautur, Greek Catholic Eparch of Košice.
NAPS President Peter Solej signing the Visitor’s Book of the city of Košice.
The guests who were received by the mayor of Košice then moved from the historical City Hall to the State Theatre building.
Mayor František Knapík welcoming His Excellency Mr. Michal Kováč, the first president of the Slovak Republic and honorary member of NAPS.
The first Slovak president who was elected in direct elections, His Excellency Mr. Rudolf Schuster, talking to the Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Czech Republic to Slovakia, Mr. Michal Ryšavý and the organizers of the event.
The event was, as usual, hosted by Mr. Martin Jedinák.
Among the most distinguished guests was also the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Slovakia, His Excellency Mr. Michael John Wyn Roberts.
The mayor of Košice, Mr. František Knapík, during his address.
The audience was greeted also by Mrs. Andrea Elschek-Matis, the head of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia.
Mr. Sándor Lezsák, the deputy chairman of the Hungarian Parliament spoke to the audience on behalf of the chair of the National Council of the Republic of Hungary, Her Excellency Mrs. Katalin Szili.
Pavol Paška, Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, was unable to attend the event after all, because his working agenda prevented him to do so. But he sent the organizers and the participating guests a greeting letter, which Peter Solej read to the audience.
After the opening speeches, everyone was eager to see the performance of the first choir.
Schola Cantorum Budapestiensis from Budapest presented Roman Catholic songs.
Chorus Comenianus, a youth choir from the Evangelical high school of J. A. Komenský in Košice.
Gréckokatolícke spevy zazneli v podaní Katedrálneho zboru sv. Cyrila a Metoda z Košíc.
During the break, Peter Solej thanked the presidents of the Slovak Republic for their personal support of the ecumenical event. Later on, he did the same onstage.
The Blaha Lujza Choir of the Reformed Christian Church from Rimavská Sobota.
The Ukrainian Boys' Choir from Mukachevo presented eastern liturgical chants typical for Orthodox rites.
Mr. Ervin Schönhauser, singer of Jewish songs from Bratislava.
Mr. Schönhauser was accompanied on the piano by the concert maestro Igor Bázlik. Martin Cubjak, vice-president of NAPS, presented the NAPS Letter of Thanks not only to the Jewish singer, but – on behalf of all choirs – also to all of their conductors.
Spiritual word by the Very Reverend Géza Erdélyi, bishop of the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia.
Her Excellency Ms. Inna Ohnivets, the Ukrainian Ambassador, reading the greeting sent to the event organizers and participants by the Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko.
NAPS President Peter Solej during his speech.
The event organizers.
Blessing of the Roman Catholic bishop, His Excellency Mons. Stanislav Stolárik.
Blessing of the bishop of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, the Honourable Mr. Slavomír Sabol.
Blessing of the Greek Catholic archbishop, His Eminence the Metropolitan Ján Babjak.
The atmosphere during the blessings was marvelous.
Blessing of the Orthodox Protojerej Ladislav Bilý.
Blessing of the Very Reverend Géza Erdélyi, bishop of the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia.
Prayer of the Jewish Rabbi Jossi Steiner.
The common chant of choirs presenting an eastern rite.
The final applause.
The atmosphere just before the end of he concert.
The reception started with the blessing of food performed by the Greek Catholic Metropolitan, Archbishop Ján Babjak.
The reception was held in the pleasant interior of the Slávia Café on the Košice Main street.