Information Service of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle sent a letter to Mr Zoran Zivkovic, Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia today, expressing gratitude as regards the standpoint of the Serbian Government in the recent settlement of the problem of FYRM’s violating freedom and dignity of the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, especially of the Monastery of Saint Prohor of Pcinja. The letter reads: Dear Mr Zivkovic, We all know the outcome of the events connected with an entire series of complex problems caused by the offence that the state bodies of the Republic of Macedonia committed against the freedom of movement and human dignity of bishops, priests and monastics of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including the monastics of the Monastery of Saint Prohor of Pcinja. Thereat they openly justify persecution and terror committed over our Church in their State. At the same time they express their intention to come to the Monastery of Saint Prohor of Pcinja – not recognizing either the brothers of the Monastery, or the Diocese of Vranje, or the Serbian Orthodox Church to be hosts in that Monastery – on the feast of Saint Elijah the Prophet and do there whatever they intended to. We are genuinely grateful to you personally and to the Government of the Republic of Serbia for an inventive, correct and democratic approach to the problem, followed by the observance of integrity, dignity, rights and property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. We hope that the persons taking responsible positions in this State who did not show enough personal responsibility in this case are going to draw necessary conclusions regarding this displeasing event, on the basis of your attitude and the attitude of the Government you are heading. With blessing, President of the Holy Synod of Bishops |
