Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
December 25, 2002

Of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas On the Destruction of Spiritual and Cultural Property in Kosovo and Metohija

Whereas the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) is committed to religious freedom, filial love, tolerance, and respect for the religious and cultural heritage and property of all faiths and peoples;

Whereas SCOBA represents over 6 million Orthodox Christians of diverse ethnic backgrounds in the United States of America and Canada;

Whereas SCOBA is grieved by the growing incidence of violence throughout the world against holy sites sacred to Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other faiths;

Whereas the protection of religious shrines and cultural heritage property against acts of violence, intolerance and eradication is the responsibility of every civilized society, as confirmed by U.N. Resolutions A/RES/56/157 and E/CN4/RES2002/40, et al.

Whereas the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, affirm the right of everyone to manifest their religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance;

Whereas the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, in force since 1956, prohibits theft, pillage, vandalism, or reprisals against cultural property during periods of armed conflict, and requires governing authorities to take measures to protect such property;

Whereas UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor on May 5, 1999 called for those involved in the Kosovo conflict to "respect the museums, archives, libraries, religious and educational institutions, as well as monuments and sites that are evidence of the civilization and history of the Region";

Whereas SCOBA and all Orthodox Christian faithful throughout the world are deeply grieved over the continuation of acts of vandalism, pillage and violent destruction that have damaged or destroyed over 120 Orthodox Christian churches, monasteries, and shrines, as well as the desecration of numerous Orthodox Christian graves, since the war in Kosovo ended in June 1999;

Whereas the leadership of the World Council of Churches and of the Conference of European Churches on August 16, 2002 expressed "profound concern at the continued violence facing members of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its cultural and spiritual property in Kosovo", and;

Whereas Reno Harnish, Chief of Mission of the US Office in Pristina condemned the recent violence in Kosovo on November 18, 2002, stating: "Any attacks on religious sites of any faith are attacks on the very heart and soul of society and should be denounced in the strongest possible terms by all political and religious leaders."

Therefore, be it resolved that the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA):

1. Deeply deplores the most recent violent attacks on the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren in Kosovo and Metohija on November 16 and 17, 2002, which caused extensive damage to the Church of Serbian Saints in Djurakovac and totally destroyed the Church of Saint Basil of Ostrog the Miracle Worker in Ljubovo;

2. Condemns all acts of vandalism, pillage and violent destruction of religious and cultural heritage sites sacred to Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, Muslims, Jews or any other religious group in Kosovo;

3. Joins with the United Nations, the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the international community in calling for respect, tolerance and reconciliation among all religious and ethnic communities in Kosovo;

4. Urgently requests the United Nations authorities and NATO peacekeeping forces in Kosovo to strengthen measures to protect all vulnerable religious property and shrines in Kosovo, and not only those of historical importance, and;

5. Urges the international community, in consultation with the affected religious communities, to support the restoration and reconstruction of all religious and cultural heritage property in Kosovo deliberately vandalized, pillaged, damaged or destroyed by acts of violence.

December 17, 2002
South Bound Brook, New Jersey

+Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

+Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

+Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary
Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada

+Metropolitan HERMAN
Orthodox Church in America

+Metropolitan CONSTANTINE
Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA

+Metropolitan JOSEPH
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church

+Archbishop NICOLAE
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada

+Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA

+Bishop ILIA of Philomelion
Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), established in 1960, brings together the canonical hierarchs of the Orthodox jurisdictions in America. The purpose of the Conference is to make the ties of unity among the canonical Orthodox Churches and their administrations stronger and more visible. The hierarchs meet twice annually for discussions and decisions on matters of common concern. Various commissions and committees have been established to implement the decisions of SCOBA. Among these are the Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC); International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC); the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC); the Military Chaplaincy Commission; the Study and Planning Commission; the Scouting Commission, the Orthodox Campus Commission and the Social and Moral Issues Commission.

Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America
V. Rev. Protopresbyter Ilia Katre, Vicar General
6455 Silver Dawn Lane • Las Vegas, NV 89118
Tel.: (702) 221-8425 • Fax: (702) 221-9167

American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox
Diocese in the U.S.A.
Most Rev. Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos
312 Garfield Street • Johnstown, PA 15906
Tel.: (814) 536-9143 • Fax: (814) 536-4699

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
of North America
Most Rev. Metropolitan Philip
358 Mountain Road • Englewood, NJ 07631
Tel.: (201) 871-1355 • Fax: (201) 871-7954

Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church
Most Rev. Metropolitan Joseph
550-A West 50th Street • New York, NY 10019
Tel.: (212) 246-4608 • Fax: (212) 246-4608

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Most Rev. Archbishop Demetrios
10 East 79th Street • New York, NY 10021
Tel.: (212) 570-3500 • Fax: (212) 570-3592

Orthodox Church in America
Most Rev. Metropolitan Theodosius
P.O. Box 675 • Syosset, NY 11791
Tel.: (516) 922-0550 • Fax: (516) 922-0954

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese
In America & Canada
Most Rev. Metropolitan Joseph, Iocum tenens
19959 Riopelle Avenue • Detroit, Ml 48203
Tel.: (313) 893-8390

Serbian Orthodox Church
in the United States & Canada
Most Rev. Metropolitan Christopher
P.O. Box 519 • Libertyville, IL 60048
Tel.: (847) 367-0698 • Fax: (847) 367-7901