Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 13, 2004

EMINENT U.S. RELIGIOUS LEADERS ASTOUNDED BY VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIAN HERITAGE IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
ALL CHRISTIANS ARE VOLUNTEERS AT THE ATHENS OLYMPICS
INTERVIEW WITH HIS BEATITUDE ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS OF ATHENS AND ALL-GREECE

EMINENT U.S. RELIGIOUS LEADERS ASTOUNDED BY VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIAN HERITAGE IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

The twelve members of a delegation of U.S. religious leaders headed by Joseph K. Grieboski, the chairman of the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, arrived in the monastery of Gracanica on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 at about 8:00 p.m. accompanied by Mr. Damjan Krnjevic-Miskovic, Washington-based columnist for the Russian daily Izvestia, fellow of the Karic Institute for Strategic Studies and Development, and an assistant editor of The National Interest. The delegation is visiting upon the invitation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and during the course of its visit to Serbia will be hosted by Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic, consultant to the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

They were welcomed in front of the church at Gracanica by Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija and his associates. The Bishop greeted the guests from the U.S. in carefully chosen words and spoke of the tragic life of the Serbs and their holy shrines in Kosovo and Metohija during the past five years. The bishop emphasized that prior to March 17 of this year, 115 Orthodox churches and monasteries had already been destroyed, and on March 17 an additional 30. "To date not a single perpetrator has been found. Over 3,500 Serbs have been abducted or murdered. All this occurred not during a time of war but under the eyes of the international community. Unfortunately, five months later restoration has not even begun on a single church or monastery," said the Bishop. He told the members of the Institute on Religion and Public Policy that the Serb people have had enough of stories and promises and that they want to see concrete results.

The delegation of U.S. religious leaders set out yesterday on a tour of Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija. The delegation spent extra time in the monastery of Devic where the U.S. representatives, visibly shocked by the barbaric destruction of the monastery and church whose walls bear the acronyms of the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) and other Albanian extremist organizations, expressed their horror at the eradication of Christian culture in Kosovo and Metohija to gathered reporters.

"Attacks on these churches and monasteries are attacks on the entire Christian civilization, and the U.S. and the world cannot tolerate such violence," said Joseph Grieboski. The members of the delegation saw for themselves that five months after the most recent destruction of 30 more churches during the March pogrom, restoration has not even begun on any of the churches despite many promises that the damage done would compensated. The U.S. delegation was kept waiting in front of the gate of the burned ruins of the monastery of Devic for an hour and a half by French KFOR while members supposedly sought authorization for the visit. "If only we had been as enthusiastic in preventing the entry of Albanian extremists on March 17, this holy place would have been saved," commented a member of the U.S. delegation.

After its visit to Devic the delegation continued on to the monastery of Visoki Decani. On behalf of His Grace Bishop Teodosije, the abbot of Decani, the delegation was received by Fr. Sava Janjic. After guiding them to the church and acquainting them with the history of the monastery, the delegation was treated with traditional hospitality and a monastic lunch was served.

In his address to the eminent guests from the U.S., Fr. Sava said that Christianity in Kosovo and Metohija is exposed to systematic eradication and that the U.S. public needs to be told loudly and clearly that the U.S. cannot and must not tolerate the continuation of violence against Orthodox Christians regardless of the final status of the Province. "Many Kosovo Albanians live with perception that the U.S. unconditionally supports everything that is happening here. Your duty and responsibility is to inform the members of your Congress and Administration that ethnic and cultural genocide is being carried out here under the international administration of the UN and in the presence of NATO forces, and that the Serb community together with its holy shrines is on the brink of extinction. . . . The Serbian Orthodox Church's interest is to see that a peaceful and dignified life ensured for all citizens of Kosovo and Metohija and it is shameful that in the 21st century in the middle of Europe people are being killed and churches destroyed solely because they meet with the disapproval of their neighbors with another language, religion and culture. The world must clearly let Kosovo political leaders know that this Province, regardless of the status it is to have, will never have an open door to the civilized world as long as the values of Christian culture and civilization are being heedlessly destroyed. The future of the citizens living in this territory cannot be built on the ashes of churches and ancient icons but on the values representing the basis of modern civilization: first and foremost, religious tolerance, respect for human rights and the dignity of each and every individual," said Father Sava.

After Visoki Decani the U.S. delegation visited the destroyed churches of Prizren and spent extra time visiting the monastery of Holy Archangels, which was torched on March 17, 2004. The monks of the monastery have returned and are awaiting for the restoration of the destroyed holy shrine to begin.

In the next few days the delegation of U.S. religious leaders will be meeting with representatives of the local administration, UNMIK and KFOR in order to discuss the protection of Orthodox holy shrines and population, among other things, and to convey its bitterness due to the attitude of the majority Albanian population toward Orthodox Christians and Christian culture in Kosovo and Metohija.

INTERVIEW WITH HIS BEATITUDE
ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS OF ATHENS AND ALL-GREECE

ALL CHRISTIANS ARE VOLUNTEERS AT THE ATHENS OLYMPICS

Your Beatitude, what led the Holy Synod of the Greek Church to assist the Olympic Games Committee in Athens 2004 and subsequently sign an agreement with the organizers of the Olympics?

The reasons that led the Greek Orthodox Church to assist and sign an agreement with the Olympic Games Committee in Athens are to participate actively in the effort of the Greek people, which is in accordance with the mission of the Church, and to present the spiritual character of Olympism as it is seen by all Orthodox Christians.

Is it important for Greece and Orthodoxy that the Olympics is being held in Athens?

This fact is important for all of humanity because the Olympics after many decades is returning to the place where it originated. The Greeks will send a message of peace to the whole world. We respect the cultures of all peoples because by doing so the people present their tradition to the world and show the originality of their way of life. Modern Olympism is not a pagan event, and those of us here experience the Olympic Games in the light of Christ’s Gospel, which teaches conciliarity, peace and love among all people, regardless of race or faith.

Nevertheless, the holding of the Olympic Games in Athens also requires much work, responsibility and effort. That is why the Orthodox Church has agreed to accept a part of the responsibility.

How is the Greek Orthodox Church helping in preparations for and during the Olympic Games?

By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church a body has been established to help the Olympic Committee. It is headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos. The Church is helping in three areas: recruitment of volunteers to help the Olympians, because the life of our Church is based on acts of love towards those close to us. Second, hospitality; and third, the church is helping with the organization of the Cultural Olympics, which is taking place at the same time. This is the Church’s contribution to the holding of the Olympic Games.

Do you believe that Greece will succeed in serving all participants and fans of the Olympic Games and organizing the Olympics at the highest level?

Of course. I believe that the organization of the Games and accompanying cultural events will be successful and that hospitality will be at a high level. We must not be content with the level of organization of previous Olympic Games; we must be guided by the global values of Olympism and advance them. I believe that the Games will be held with the help of modern technological achievements but also on the basis of the ascetic tradition and Greek dignity.

As the Archbishop of Athens and All-Greece, what is your message to all participants, organizers and viewers of the Olympic Games?

I hope that the Lord will give strength to all to achieve their goals, and to us here to show the world that Greece is a part of Western civilization. The Organization Committee has a huge responsibility and I share that responsibility with them.

[Serbian Translation Services]