The IX. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert 2013
Arrival of guests at the State Theater in Košice cheered by pleasant tunes of the string quartet.
Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation of the Holy See for the Evangelization of Peoples entering the hall by tunes of fanfare.
Tribute to the anthems of Vatican, the Slovak Republic and European Union performed by the orchestra Musica Iuvenalis under the baton of Mr. Igor Dohovič and members of Choir of Saint Cecily in Košice.
The Master of Ceremonies of the 9th volume of the concert was once again Mr. Martin Jedinák.
The MC welcomed many distinguished guests. Among others the Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Ján Figeľ.
The 9th NAPS International Ecumenical Concert was an official event of The Meeting of Bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches in Europe attended by almost 40 hierarchs from many countries.
„March for Life, being the most crowded event of this year, has showed that culture does not mean the material but on the contrary the spirituality lifting us from earthy concerns somewhere high up,” stated His Grace The Right Reverend Milan Chautur, the Greek Catholic Eparch of Košice in his speech.
His Eminence Cardinal Jozef Tomko added that he feels very intensely about the Košice message spreading into the world, although living far.
The songs of the Western Catholic Church were represented by the Košice Choir of Saint Cecily accompanied by the orchestra Musica Iuvenalis.
Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession in Slovakia was represented by Chorus Comenianus at the Evangelic Gymnasium of Ján Amos Komenský in Košice.
The professional Choir of Saint Ephraim from Budapest performed various songs in Old Slavonic, Greek, Hebrew and Hungarian language, and thus representing the eastern liturgic songs typical for Greek Catholic and Orthodox Church.
The chants of Reformed Church were represented by the choir Cantus Firmus from Hungarian Miskolc.
Songs of the Jewish Community were performed by Mr. Shmuel Barzilai, the Chief Cantor of the Jewish Religious Community in Wien, backed up by the orchestra Musica Iuvenalis.
Maestro Barzilai and the conductor Igor Dohovič celebrating their success.
The founder of NAPS Peter Solej mentioned in his speech that not only God stood in the center of the concert but also Man coming from God, however not a man calling himself god with no humbleness just pretending and acting like God.
At the end of his speech he handed over His Eminence Cardinal Jozef Tomko a Letter of Thanks for his personal support of this year International Ecumenical Concert.
Organizers: Košice Eparch Milan Chautur and founder of NAPS Peter Solej with chief guest of the evening Cardinal Jozef Tomko.
Roman Catholic Cardinal Jozef Tomko giving his blessings in Latin at the end of the event.
His Beatitude The Most Blessed Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kiev and Halich and President of the Synod of Ukrainian Catholic Church giving his blessing in Old Slavonic language.
Bishop emeritus of Evangelic Church and former Chair of Ecumenical Board in Slovakia, the Revered Igor Mišina giving his blessing in Slovak.
Very Revered Róbert Géreši, Vice Chair of the Synod, representative of the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia giving his blessing in Hungarian language.
Prayer of Rabbi of Jewish Community in Pieštany and Head of CHABAD Center Central Slovakia Mr. Zev Stiefel in Hebrew language.
The tail end of the concert belonged to the song of Ave Maria sung by the Košice Opera House soloist and friend of NAPS, Mr. Jaroslav Dvorský.
End of the event. Reception at the Hotel Zlatý dukát in Košice.
With His Eminence Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation of the Holy See for the Evangelization of Peoples and Mr. Shmuel Barzilai, the Chief Cantor of the Jewish Religious Community in Wien.