May 17th is the 1,700th anniversary of the legalization of Christianity via the Edict of Milan, issued by Saint Constantine the Great. Some links from:
On a personal note, I am saddened by the pettiness of both the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. I do agree with Patriarch Irinej, who hopes for an apology from the Roman Catholic Church for the crimes Croatians perpetrated against the Serbian people during World War II and the wars of the Yugoslavian breakup. To be fair, however, there was much blood spilled by Serbia, and they, too, have much to apologize for. Charity comes from both sides, but the greater man must show that much more humility.
The modern city of Niš, which is in Serbia, is the birthplace of the man who legalized the Christian faith in the Roman Empire. That old wounds haven’t yet healed shows us that we have a long road to go in terms of reconciliation, and we both blaspheme the name of Christ for keeping His church divided due to human pride.
