New hopes for a better and happier future are opening up, the metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and all Italy, Jovan Pavlovic, said in Zagreb's Church of the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord during Friday's Orthodox Christmas eve liturgy, which was also attended by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.
The metropolitan said Josipovic and Milanovic had brought Serb Orthodox believers great joy and done them a great honour by attending tonight's service.
"The coming Christmas opens new hopes for a better and happier future. May 2012 be full of blessings, with much faith and optimism," he said, voicing confidence that the state leaders would effect change so that there was less negativity and more good and mutual respect.
Also in attendance were Serb People's Council president Milorad Pupovac and Slobodan Uzelac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party, as well as many Serb Orthodox believers.
