Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 22, 2004

PROMOTION OF SPIRITUAL MUSIC ALBUM BY THE GROUP "LEGENDE"
FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF KFOR CONTROL CHECKPOINT, SERBS FROM VITINA ANNOUNCE THEIR DEPARTURE
SERBS FROM BELO POLJE NEAR PEC RETURN A SECOND TIME TO THE BURNED RUINS OF THEIR VILLAGE

PROMOTION OF SPIRITUAL MUSIC ALBUM BY THE GROUP "LEGENDE"

The Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the group "Legende" and the HI-FI Center held the promotion of the a spiritual music album by the group "Legende" called "The River of Orthodoxy". The promotion was held today, April 22, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at the Princess Ljubica Residence in Belgrade.

This album was recorded with the blessing of His Beatitude the Serbian Patriarch Kyr Pavle and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It was produced by the HI-FI Center.

This work is a pioneering effort in the domain of Serbian spiritual music in contemporary form.

The promotion was attended by many distinguished guests, including His Grace Bishop Chrysostom of Zica, many priests, legendary Serbian traditional music singer Predrag Cune Gojkovic and other performers who assisted in the realization of this unique project, as well as reporters who enjoyed the spiritual music of the group "Legende". Mr. Sava J. Miric, the secretary-general of the Association of Serbian Choirs, headed the program on behalf of the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

A part of the proceeds from the sale of this album will go toward the completion of St. Sava Orthodox Cathedral in the Belgrade quarter of Vracar.

FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF KFOR CONTROL CHECKPOINT, SERBS FROM VITINA ANNOUNCE THEIR DEPARTURE

On April 22, 2004 in Vitina the remaining 150 Serbs are tense and fearful after the withdrawal of a U.S. KFOR control checkpoint in front of the Serbian Orthodox church. The checkpoint was set up immediately after last month's violence and contributed to the return of some of the Serbs to Vitina who lived in the town before March 17. Thanks to the checkpoint, the school located next to the church resumed working.

In a telephone conversation with parish priest Dragan Kojic we learned that the situation is increasingly difficult with each passing day. According to Fr. Dragan the Serbs feel unsafe and many of them are unable to sleep at night for fear of possible Albanian attacks. The children are no longer going to school because their parents fear for their safety. As well, Serbs from Vitina area villages are no longer visiting the church because they do not feel safe. Fr. Dragan informed the public that on April 22 yet another Serb family left Vitina.

SERBS FROM BELO POLJE NEAR PEC RETURN A SECOND TIME TO THE BURNED RUINS OF THEIR VILLAGE

Seventeen Serb returnees from the village of Belo Polje near Pec on April 21, 2004 once again returned to the burned ruins of their recently rebuilt homes which were torched a second time in an attack by over 5,000 Albanians on March 17, 2004. At that time several of the Serbs were lightly injured and about 20 of the restored returnee houses were looted and burned down. Italian soldiers evacuated the Serbs at the last moment from the parish home which was already in flames. The Serbs were evacuated to the nearby Italian KFOR base while the Italian soldiers made great efforts to assist in restoration of the home in the past month. It will be used to lodge the returnees until the remaining Serb houses can be restored and the rest of the village's Serb families can return.

The consecration of the restored parish home with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren was performed by Fr. Teodosije (Theodosios), the abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery and monks from the monastery and in the presence of nuns from the monastery of the Pec Patriarchate. The ceremony was attended by 17 Serb returnees, as well as representatives of Italian KFOR, including general Alberto Primiceri with his officers and soldiers who assisted in the restoration of the home. Residents of Belo Polje have already begun to clear the church of the Most Holy Mother of God which was destroyed in last month's riots, and soon they will also begin work on restoring their homes, which have been burned down a second time.

In his homily Abbot Teodosije first thanked the Italian general Alberto Primiceri and representatives of Italian KFOR who on March 17 saved the lives of the Serb returnees and made it possible for them to return again to their native village. He compared their Christian deed with that of the "good Samaritan" (Luk 10:30-35) who not only saved the life of the wounded traveler but tended to his wounds and placed in him in "an inn" where he could be taken care of. The Decani abbot also addressed words of encouragement to the Serb returnees who are returning for the second time to the burned ruins of their home firmly determined to remain in their centuries-old homes, reminding them of the evangelical words of the Lord Jesus: "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luk 12:32)

"This noble gesture by Italian KFOR is a unique example in all of Kosovo and Metohija because the KFOR soldiers not only participated in the protection of the return of the expelled Serbs but with their own hands took part in clearing the burned remains of the parish home and its restoration," stated Abbot Teodosije.

The return of the Serbs to Belo Polje was attended by the UNMIK representatives but not by a single representative of the local (Albanian) municipal authorities.

According to the decision of international authorities, the entire damage done to Serb homes and holy shrines throughout Kosovo and Metohija is to be compensated by Kosovo (Albanian) institutions, and special funds will be made available to the municipalities where Serb houses and churches were torched.

Italian KFOR also successfully protected the returnee villages of Bicha and Grabac although Serbs were evacuated on March 17. Only one house in Bicha was burned down while all the other returnee homes were protected despite the fact that the Albanian extremists shot for hours from firearms at KFOR troops protecting these Serb villages.

At the suggestion of the Italian soldiers the parish home in Belo Polje has been named "the House of Hope" - La casa della Speranza.