Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
November 11, 2004

SERBIAN AND NOT KOSOVO HERITAGE

Churches in Kosovo and Metohija are not "Kosovo heritage" but Serbian heritage because they were built over the centuries by the Serbian people and are consequently owned exclusively by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Speaking at a press conference in Belgrade’s Media Center on November 9, 2004, His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija emphasized that he presented Serbian principles for protection of the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija to the Council of Europe representatives in Strasbourg, particularly concerning its name. “In regard to our churches we cannot speak about "Kosovo heritage" but about Serbian heritage because they were built over the centuries by the Serbian people and are consequently owned exclusively by the Serbian Orthodox Church. Our principles are based on facts and they must be respected in the process of reconstruction of destroyed churches and monasteries. The international community must help financially and it must send experts because it allowed the destruction of Serbian cultural and historical heritage in Kosovo and Metohija,” said Bishop Artemije. “The UN mission in Kosovo cannot do anything without cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church, which will adhere to and protect its principles. Before leaving for Strasbourg I received the support of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian prime minister Dr. Vojislav Kostunica. Finally, I wish to emphasize that the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija has already begun the reconstruction of the monasteries of Devic, Holy Archangels and Zociste.”

PATRON SAINT’S DAY OF KOSOVSKA MITROVICA CELEBRATED

On Monday, November 8, 2004, cultural manifestations took place in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica to mark the patron saint’s day of that city, the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios. After Holy Liturgy in the church of St. George in Zvecan, religious processions passed through the streets of Northern Mitrovica. Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, the abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, and poet Dobrica Eric addressed the faithful from Sumadija Square. The program included members of the Kosovski Bozur Cultural Arts Society and pre-school children, and the best elementary school students received awards.

LIBRARY OPENED IN KOSOVSKA MITROVICA

On the patron saint’s day of the city of Kosovska Mitrovica, the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios, the opening ceremony for an Orthodox library took place in the offices of the church council for the building of a church to this saint in the presence of His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, members of the youth organizations Dveri Srpske and Svetosavska Omladina from cities in central Serbia and other guests.

Bishop Teodosije blessed the beginning of work of the library where, in his words, “our children especially will acquire spiritual knowledge”. “We have inherited much and we can do nothing greater than to preserve our spiritual legacy and turn in over to our children,” said Bishop Teodosije.

He thanked all whose efforts and donations helped to open the Orthodox library in Kosovska Mitrovica. Speaking on behalf of the guests, youth organization representative Bosko Obradovic, the editor in chief of a magazine devoted to national culture and social issues published in Cacak, expressed his gratitude and presented the Orthodox clergy with honorary membership cards of this organization. Obradovic said that Serbian youth is grateful to have been able to help in the opening of this library. “Serbian young people can never forget Kosovo and will always return here.”

Plans for opening an Orthodox library were drafted by Boban Kovacevic, a teacher of religious instruction in Kosovska Mitrovica. His plan received support from the church council for the construction of the church of St. Demetrios, which graciously provided the facilities.

The library will be open every day and calls on citizens to donate books to enlarge the library’s collection.

BISHOP JOANIKIJE VISITS RETURNEES TO BELO POLJE NEAR PEC

On Tuesday, November 9, 2004, His Grace Bishop Joanikije and a group of priests and faithful from the Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic visited the Serb returnees in Bijelo Polje near Pec. On that occasion they provided the returnees with humanitarian aid in supplies collected by the Church Parish of Bijelo Polje in Montenegro. In conversation with Bishop Joanikije, the returnees acquainted him with the difficulties faced by this thirty-member community in its struggle for survival in Metohija.

Thanks to Italian KFOR units, the Bishop and his delegation were able to visit the desecrated Serbian cemetery where he served a memorial service above the destroyed gravestones and dug up graves. He also visited the cemetery chapel where Albanian extremists torched the iconostasis.

In the Serbian imperial lavra of the monastery of Visoki Decani, Bishop Joanikije and his delegation were welcomed by Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, the abbot of Decani, and the brotherhood. In the afternoon Bishop Joanikije set out for the Pec Patriarchate where he served the Vigil, and on the next day Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on the feast of St. Arsenije II, the Serbian Archbishop who founded this holy family. On the holiday itself Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic met with Italian KFOR general Danilo Errico in the presence of Mother Fevronija, the abbess of the monastery of the Pec Patriarchate.

PATRIARCH PAVLE CONSECRATES FUTURE SITE
OF FIRST SERBIAN COLLEGE IN AUSTRALIA

Since Sunday, November 7, 2004, there is a monument made of white stone on the huge estate of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Varroville (southwest Sydney). It states that His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle has consecrated this site intended as the future location of the St. Sava Serbian College.

In addition to the Patriarch’s name, the monument records the names of the bishops who took part in the ceremony with him: Bishop Milutin of Australia and New Zealand, Bishop Irinej of Nis, Bishop Longin of America and Canada (New Gracanica Metropolitanate), Bishop Georgije of Canada, and Bishop Jovan of Sumadija.

The event was attended by an exceptionally large number of our people who gathered from all sides to share in the joy of this great day, which will be recorded in gold lettering in the history of the Serbian people and Church. Approximately 10,000 people attended Holy Hierarchal Liturgy served by His Holiness Patriarch Pavle with his bishops, the clergy of the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, and the priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church from New South Wales and Victoria.

After the service, Protopresbyter Srboljub Miletic delivered a sermon on the reason for this great gathering: “In the past millennium many tumultuous events brought a large number of Orthodox Serbs and us, as their priests, to this land. All of them sowed the seeds of the tradition of St. Sava on this continent, too, and the Lord granted that those seeds flourished and that today we have a large number of churches and parishes, and two dioceses. The Lord has blessed us with this beautiful property near the biggest city in Australia. We have dedicated it to the first Serbian teacher, St. Sava. We want to build a Church and a school here. Today we ask for your blessings and holy prayers that we may complete what we have begun. You did not mind coming here with the bishops of our Church to visit your children who are geographically so far but spiritually so near to you.”

Gough Whitlam, the former Australian prime minister, also extended warm greetings to His Holiness Patriarch Pavle and his delegation. The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church replied that we must not forget that we are the descendants of our holy forbears, and that we must not be ashamed when we stand before them and their Lord and ours. “That is the purpose and goal of our lives, that is the purpose of our visit here, to see you, to speak with you and to express our support for you. The times are serious and difficult, we truly need the support of all in order to stay and survive on the path of God. May the Lord and St. Sava to whom this place is dedicated grant that the classes that will be held in this school serve the purpose of maintaining our faith and our people.” His Holiness Patriarch Pavle concluded his address with a prayer for the well being of the young. “Lord, help us to endure to the end on your road which is long and narrow, and at the narrow gate which leads to Your Heavenly Kingdom, like our forbears endured. May the Lord and his saints help these young people to live life in better peace, freedom and justice than was our lot.”

After the luncheon prepared for the guests, they were greeted by Ilija Glisic on behalf of the College Council, and by Phillip Ruddock, the only minister to show objectivity and understanding toward the Serbs of Australia during the 1990s and the civil wars in the Balkans. “One of the characteristics of modern Australia, Your Holiness, is respect for others, their roots and their heritage. The school system can be an important link in this. I have no doubt that the Serbian Orthodox school will be solidly supported by the community but it will also be strongly supported by the Government under our program for the establishment of new schools,” said Mr. Ruddock in his address.

Justice Minister John Hatzistergos then also greeted the guests, and Protopresbyter Rade Radan, the director of St. Sava Serbian School, then asked the Patriarch to present gifts to the first patrons of the school, Vasa and Suzana Despotovic, and Anthony Jeffries.

RECEPTION FOR PATRIARCH HELD IN SERBIA-MONTENEGRO EMBASSY IN CANBERRA

His Eminence Bishop Milutin of Australia and New Zealand welcomed His Holiness and their Graces the bishops to arrived on an official visit to Australia, expressing his joy that “the Patriarch has met all of us, our dear friends, from whom we can ask for help if necessary, and to whom we can also offer help if necessary. We are happy that you, too, have met His Holiness, a man who is a great peacemaker and who has always spoken only the truth. He has told the truth in the most difficult moments for the Serbian people, he has told the Serbian people what it should be like, and he has told the truth about the Serbian people in the great world capitals and metropolises, before the treat statesmen of the world.” Bishop Milutin thanked Serbia and Montenegro ambassador Milivoje Glisic for organizing the reception for His Holiness. New Zealand High Commissioner Kate Lackey welcomed the Serbian Patriarch and extended her invitation to visit New Zealand at the next opportunity.

After a sincere discussion, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle presented Mr. Glisic with a copy of the monograph “Ikone manastira Hilandar” (Icons of Chilandar Monastery) to remind our diplomatic representation of these Serbian spiritual treasures. A formal luncheon was held in honor of the delegation attended by the doyen of the diplomatic corps in Canberra, Argentine ambassador Nestor Stancanelli, New Zealand High Commissioner Kate Lackey, Greek ambassador Photios Jean Xydas, Cyprus High Commissioner Achilleas Antoniades, Lebanese ambassador Michel Bitar, Bulgarian ambassador Dr. Lubomir Todorov, and Bosnia and Herzegovina ambassador Dr. Zdravko Todorovic. “This is the first time that the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church has visited the Australian continent and we want to share this joy with you, our friends. I will be so bold as to state on behalf of His Holiness and His Grace Bishop Milutin of Australia and New Zealand that we will always be your friends and we will always extend every possible form of assistance to you. Our Patriarch is renowned throughout the Orthodox world as a great peacemaker and man of good will. He is also known among our own people as an exceptionally modest man, said Mr. Glisic.

[Serbian Translation Services]