The VI. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert of Sacral Songs 2010

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Patriarch Gregory III received by the Košice mayor Mr. František Knapík in the historical building of City Hall. The audience with the sole leader of the Greek Catholic Church in the world was attended by Mr. Rudolf Schuster, Former President of Slovakia, Mr. Hassan El-Laithy, the Egyptian Arabian Ambassador to Slovakia and Metropolitan of Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia Archbishop Ján Babjak, SJ.

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Signing the Visitor’s Book of the town of Košice.

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Discussion of His Eminence the Most Reverend Despotis Ján Babjak, Greek Catholic Archbishop and Metropolitan with His Excellency Mr. Rudolf Schuster.

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Patriarch entering the concert hall of the theatre with the sound of ceremonial fanfares.

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The event was traditionally hosted by Mr. Martin Jedinák.

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Patriarch’s Gregory III speech in the spirit of love, dialogue and common prayer.

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Roman Catholic songs performed by the Choir of St. Cecilia from Košice.

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Church representatives.

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Evangelic songs sung by Košice Chorus Comenianus.

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Ukrainian singers from Uzhgorod Choir of All Saints presenting Greek Catholic songs.

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50-member choir composed of Debrecen and Oradea choir representing the Reformed Church in Hungary and Romania.

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Orthodox Church represented by the singers from Metropolis Trymithountos Choir from Cyprus.

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Janka Orlická and her fellows Michal Matejčík, Jakub Rizman, Roman Kozák a Juraj Dufek represented once again in a unique way the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia and songs of older brothers in the faith.

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… “I do not know If know what a miracle is” these were the words of the last president of Czechoslovakia welcoming the Pope John Paul II twenty years ago… Each parent says the greatest miracle in the world is a child. Thank you all, who are seeing NAPS concert off – the six-year-old child- to his future journey…

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Common blessing in six languages by Christian hierarchs and Rabin of Jewish Religious Community: Patriarch Gregory III in Arabic, Roman Catholic Bishops Bernard Bober and Evangelic Bishop Milan Krivda in Slovak, Greek Catholic Bishop Milan Šášik in Old Church Slavonic, Reformed Christian Bishop Géza Erdélyi in Hungarian, Orthodox Archbishop George in Greek and Jewish Rabin Jossi Steiner in Hebrew.

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Gounod’s Ave Maria sung by Mr. Jaroslav Dvorský, soloist of the State Theatre in Košice and NAPS Friend.

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The event was backed by the chamber orchestra Musica Cassovia under the baton of Mr. Petróczi, Maestro of the State Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Toast of the Egyptian Arabian Ambassador to Slovakia H.E. Mr. Hassan El-Laithy at the opening of the reception.