A Lecture Held on the Topic: “Cults as a Contemporary Social Problem”

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Fotije of Zvornik and Tuzla, and organized by the Serbian Educational and Cultural Society “Prosvjeta,” a highly-regarded lecture entitled “Cults as a Contemporary Social Problem” was held on March 30 in Doboj. It gathered a large and curious audience, and was one of the significant spiritual and social events in the “city on three rivers.”

The lecture was delivered by Zoran Luković, Coordinator of the Apologetics Section of the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci, whose authority and many years of experience in the field of studying sectarian activity attracted the attention of the wider public. The event took place in the congress hall of the “Park” Hotel, which was nearly filled to capacity.

The significance of this gathering was further enhanced by the presence of clergy from the Doboj Archpriestly Vicariate, as well as numerous citizens who demonstrated a keen interest in contemporary issues related to the activity of cults and various forms of manipulative spiritual practices.

The professionally and precisely prepared presentation covered a range of contemporary phenomena and challenges, shedding light on the mechanisms of operation of cult groups, their methods of influencing individuals and society, as well as the ways of recognizing and responding adequately to these phenomena. The lecture unfolded in an atmosphere of attentiveness and interaction, with the audience following the presentation with great interest.

Following the lecture, a dynamic discussion with the audience ensued, during which a large number of questions were raised, further testifying to the relevance of the topic and the engagement of those present. The programme lasted more than two hours, leaving a strong impression and enabling further education on the subject as well as social dialogue.

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Protopresbyter-Staurophorus Vajo Jović

Protopresbyter-Staurophorus Vajo Jović was born in 1956 in Ugljevik, Srpska.

Priest in Zagreb and Secretary of the Diocesan Board of the Metropolis of Zagreb and Ljubljana since 1979.
From Zagreb, he served the missionary parish in Maribor.
Parish priest at the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Belgrade since 1991.
Since 2000, Elder of the same church and Director of the Orthodox Missionary School until his retirement in 2023.

Forty-two years of priestly service are characterized by intensive missionary work.

Recipient of the Order of St. Sava, third degree.

Protopresbyter-Staurophor Radivoj Panić

Protopresbyter-Staurophor Radivoj Panić is the coordinator of the Parish Mission Department of the Missionary Department of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovci. He was born on April 1, 1961 in Novi Sad. He completed the seminary in Sremski Karlovci in 1981.

From 1986 to 1991, he was engaged as a librarian at the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Belgrade.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1992. He began his pastoral ministry as a parish priest in Kosova Polje, where he served from 1992 to 2001. After that, from 2001 to 2009, he was the parish priest at the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky, and since 2009 he has served as the parish priest at the Church of St. Sava. He completed his theological studies in 2008, at a time when he was already serving as a parish priest.

He is particularly involved in organizing pilgrimages to Kosovo and Metohija, as well as in humanitarian work. He collaborates with the organization “Our Serbs” from Chicago, through which he actively participates in providing assistance to the Serbian people in Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija, as well as in supporting domestic organizations operating in these areas.

Father Radivoj Panić is considered one of the most respected priests of the Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovac.