Prayer for the Salvation of the Serbian People in Kosovo and Metohija

A service of prayer for the salvation of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija in view of the current situation in our southern province was officiated at the Memorial Church of Saint Sava at the Vracar Plateau. The service of prayer was officiated by the Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coastlands Dr. Amfilohije Radovic, in the name of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, assisted in service by several diocesan bishops from Serbia and abroad, with members of the clergy and deacons from other Belgrade churches, as well as the St. Sava's church choir "Mokranjac''.

The service of prayer was officiated at the entrance to the Memorial Church in front of the icon of the Mother of God (Theotokos): "Queen of Heavens - Grateful Heavens", which is a present of the Russian Orthodox Church in sign of support to the suffering Serbian people of Kosovo and Metohija.

Metropolitan Amfilohije called upon the people to turn to the Lord in prayer so He may strengthen us in our faith and love and to preserve our people in Kosovo and Metohija. He also addressed the Western countries, inviting them to think twice about the repercussions of the decisions they are about to take on Kosovo and Metohija.

He made a special appeal to the Vatican, hoping that it, as a center of western christianity, would prevent the destruction of Kosovo. Metropolitan Amfilohije called upon the particiapants of last night's riots not to be destructive in their justified revolt, but rather to protest peacefully and with dignity.

H.H. Prince Alexander II Karadjordjevic also addressed the people present. He had just returned from a visit to the Serbian parts of the province. The apostolic nuncio to Serbia, Most Rev. Eugeinio Sbarbaro, has also attended the service of prayer in the name of the Roman Catholic Church, while Rev. Vitalij Tarassev, the Patriachate of Moscow's chief representative, also assisted. The government was represented by the Minister for Kosovo and Metohija, Prof. Samardzic and the Minister of Religion, Mr. Radomir Naumov. The participants of today's student protest joined the hundreds of Belgrade citizens.