Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 6, 2004

INTERRELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
COMMUNIQUÉ
HIS HOLINESS SERBIAN PATRIARCH PAVLE COMMUNICATES WITH OFFICIALS FROM INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS REGARDING THE VIOLATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN FYROM

INTERRELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

COMMUNIQUÉ
19 MARCH 2004

We most strongly condemn the violence in Bugojno, in Kosovo and Metohija, Nish and Belgrade. We especially condemn the murders of innocent people of all communities. We lament the destruction and attacks perpetrated against sacred edifices in all of these places and invite the people to exercise constraint and to move forward on the path of peace.

We invite all the regional religious leaders to stand up and openly speak out against this violence and to publish that the murder of innocent peoples or the desecration of religious edifices cannot be executed in the name of any religion whatsoever.

We invite the domestic and international authorities to undertake all necessary measures to quell the situation and bring peace to all those who suffer or are imperiled.

We also invite the media to restrain themselves from evoking new tensions by avoiding provocative expressions and statements. It is extremely important for all – individuals, citizens, and military institutions to act in common during this critical time so that our region will not be caught up in violence.

May the Lord God grant us strength and wisdom so that we can fight for peace and justice and not vengeance.

Monsignor Mato Zovkic
Vicar General Vrhbosnian Archdiocese

Jacob Finci
ICB President

And, by authorization:

Dr. Mustafa Ef. Ceric
Reis Al-ulema
Islamic Community of B-H

Bishop of Jefrem of Banja Luka

HIS HOLINESS SERBIAN PATRIARCH PAVLE COMMUNICATES WITH OFFICIALS FROM INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS REGARDING THE VIOLATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN FYROM

(BELGRADE) – His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle on behalf of the Holy Synod of Bishops, regarding the terror against the hierarchs, clergy, monastics and faithful of the Autonomous Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid, forwarded letters to Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of the World Conference of Religions for Peace; Ambassador John V. Hanford III of the Office of International Religious Freedom at the US Department of State; Mr. Joseph R. Crapa, Executive Director of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom; and Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, noting among all else:

"The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church feels the need to express its shock and dismay at the tragic developments orchestrated against the hierarchy, clergy, monastics and faithful of the Autonomous Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid, under the leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Jovan of Veles and Povardarije, by official institutions and media in the Republic of Macedonia. Relative to the same, please find enclosed a press release from the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church of 21 February 2004 on the torching of the Monastery of St. John Chrysostom near Bitolj, the physical abuse of two nuns, the confiscation of liturgical appointments, and what clearly appears to be an attempt on the lives of the bishops. These unpleasant events transpired in the immediate aftermath of the imprisonment of Metropolitan Jovan, allegedly predicated on the grounds of "provoking national, religious and racial hatred and religious division".

It must be stated in no uncertain terms that Serbian Orthodox Church, as the competent, and therefore universally acknowledged, regional Mother Church, has reinstated the existence of the once Archdiocese of Ochrid, to reestablish canonical order and norms among the Orthodox faithful in the FYR of Macedonia. It was never, nor is it, the intention of the Serbian Orthodox Church to establish a Serbian Orthodox Church, or branch thereof, in the Republic of Macedonia, nor to thwart the freedom of religious expression to the adherents of the self-proclaimed "Macedonian Orthodox Church". However, as everyone is equally entitled to the right of religious self-determination, the same must be extended unequivocally also to those desiring to be in communion with canonical Orthodoxy, which sadly is not case with the "Macedonian Orthodox Church". Here is must be emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church retains an open door policy with regard to the "Macedonian Orthodox Church", despite many signed agreements—broken on the part of the "MOC", in anticipation of on-going dialogue.

Further, we fear that the existence of a "Macedonian Orthodox Church" is being abused in terms of political manipulation to promote self-serving nationalism. This is clearly evidenced in the recent declaration of the Macedonian Parliament expressing support for the "Autocephalous Macedonian Orthodox Church". While we do not deny their right to existence, under whatsoever guise they choose, we do question their right to exclusion in terms of the existence of the clergy, faithful and property of the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ochrid. Such exclusivity has as its obvious and tragic consequences the inhuman persecution and full denial of the religious rights of the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ochrid, and as well questions basic human rights of the clergy and faithful, such as the freedom of existence, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of ownership and the like.

We therefore, most respectfully, call upon the USCIRF in its unbiased capacity to monitor and report on international violations of religious freedom and human rights, to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into this intolerable and now violent situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. We must add our sense of urgency, given the dire nature of the situation and the continued, pending threats to the lives and property of the hierarchs and proponents of the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ochrid", states the letter of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle.