Patriarchs John of Antioch and Irinej of Serbia on Kosovo and Metochia
Patriarch of Antioch and all East John and Serbian Patrijarh Irinej payed a visit to the Pec Patriarchate Monastery and the Visoki Decani monastery on October 17, 2018.
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej and His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All East, visited the ancient See of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the monastery of Pec Patriarchate. In a warm address to the High Guest, His Holiness irinej exposed briefly history of the Patriarchate of Pec and explained in more details the events from Serbian history that had caused exodus of the Serbian people from the southern Serbian province.
Speaking about the present-day life of the Serbs in the province, Patriarch Irinej pointed out that “everything happening nowadays seems to be an intention that the Serbs should not return to their native land”. “The monasteries that have not been demolished so-far, present a hope for our people that they will return to these places once, said Patriarch Irinej.
His Beatitude Patriarch John X expressed his deepest feelings at being at the centennial See of the Serbian Church. “You are the Church of Saints, the Church that loves the Lord to the very end, said the Primate of the Antiochian Church, and pointed out " that he felt as if he was in the Cathedral church in the city of Antioch”, because the throne of Serbian Patriarchs in Pec reminded him precisely of that sacred place. Our Churches are Churches of Martyrs, and we need to protect our holy lands, our monasteries and churches, which have taught us about our fathers and ancestors,” said Patriarch Jovan.
“This visit is a voice of truth and faith and an indication of love between our Churches”, Patriarch of Antioch Jovan underlined.
Primates of the Antiochian Patriarchate and the Serbian Orthodox Church were greeted ceremoniously in the Visoki Decani Monastery by His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Raska Prizren, abbot Archimandrite Sava and by many priests and monastics of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren. The Patriarchs venerated the relics of the Holy King Stefan of Decani, the patron saint and heavenly protector of the monastery.
Source: Radio Slovo Ljubve
