Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 25, 2004

INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
GIVES GIFT TO SERBIAN PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES

The Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church has presented every deputy in the Serbian Parliament a copy of the map The Serbian Spiritual Heritage in Kosovo and Metohija as a gift. In this manner the most responsible representatives of the people can familiarize themselves with the scope of the real property and heritage of the Serbian Orthodox church and the Serbian people in the southern Serbian province.

The map The Serbian Spiritual Heritage in Kosovo and Metohija graphically depicts 1,181 churches and church sites, 113 monasteries and monastery sites, 48 ascetic retreats, 8 memorial chapels and mausoleums, totaling 1,350 church sites. In addition, there are 534 old Serbian cemeteries, 96 fortresses, medieval cities and 14 palaces built by Serbian nobles. This map is the most striking “deed” to the land that lies within the administrative borders of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. If the number of churches and monasteries is divided by the total surface area of Kosovo and Metohija, it is apparent that there is hardly a foot of land that is not sacred.

The intent is to immortalize these sites, some of which were destroyed long ago with only their ruins and Serbian names remaining to our times, in this manner as well. We are afraid that in the future not only will the sites themselves disappear but even their names will be erased. The majority population in the region of Kosovo and Metohija is thoroughly destroying our inheritance, removing the very stones, digging up foundations and erasing names so that not even a trace or memory remains. Our map records 1,994 toponyms, all Serbian. What the map does not reflect is the 37 new wounds, the 37 churches and monasteries destroyed during the March pogrom, which need to be added to the list of 107 previously destroyed during the period from June 1999 to May 2003. The tragic total of destroyed holy shrines now equals 144 just since the arrival of international forces in Kosovo and Metohija.

FIRST HOSPITAL CHAPEL IN SERBIA AFTER BELGRADE

On August 23, 2004 His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Zica consecrated the Sts. Cosmas and Damian Chapel in Dr. Dragisa Misovic Hospital in Cacak.

This place of worship will serve patients, medical staff and other faithful for their spiritual needs, including confessions, communions, reading of prayers and everything necessary to an Orthodox Christian. The chapel will include a library of Orthodox and spiritual titles and will serve for the spiritual initiation and guidance of patients. The experience of the Church has shown that spirituality and its expression through prayer, as well as reading books of a spiritual content, eases various spiritual and physical ailments.

The initiative for the opening of this chapel was launched by the Cacak church parish together with the Christian community of the Holy Abbot Pajsije and Deacon Avakum and was readily received by the hospital management headed by then director Dr. Kosta Milosevic. Collaboration continued with the present director, Dr. Momcilo Spasic. During the last several years the Church has been present in this health institute through its priests, who have conducted the holy sacraments of confession, communion and prayer, as well as distribution of token gifts for the major church holidays.

This is just a temporary solution because there are plans to build a new church in immediate proximity to the hospital dedicated to Sts. Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenary Physicians.

It appears that the chapel in Cacak Hospital is the first such to open in Serbia with the exception of the capital of Belgrade. We hope that other cities will follow our example in Cacak.

Protopresbyter Branko Kerkezovic

[Serbian Translation Services]