Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
November 25, 2005

HIS HOLINESS SERBIAN PATRIARCH PAVLE
MEETS WITH MARTTI AHTISAARI

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, together with His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic and Protopresbyter Savo B. Jovic, chief secretary to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox church, received Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for negotiations on the future status of Kosovo, together with his deputy, Mr. Albert Rohan, and their associates, in the Belgrade Patriarchate today.

Patriarch Pavle informed the eminent guests that he had served as bishop in Kosovo and Metohija for 34 years, and was well acquainted with local conditions there. He also informed them about the major expulsion, unprecedented in modern world history, of some 250,000 Orthodox Serbs and ethnic minority members, and the destruction of 150 churches and monasteries since 1999, when international forces assumed administration of the southern Serbian province. This is the biggest act of ethnic cleansing ever carried out "in a time of peace" anywhere in the world. Nevertheless, the most tragic and irreparable tragedy of all is the loss of a large number of human lives. "We are now hoping that the international community, together with the Serbs and the Albanians, will do everything that is necessary to finally bring peace back to Kosovo and Metohija. It is important that Mr. Ahtisaari and his associates familiarize themselves thoroughly with the real situation on the ground, and toward that end that they speak with the Albanians, the Serbs and members of the minority communities," emphasized Patriarch Pavle. "We pray to God for peace and that what has befallen us does not befall any other people in the world. We pray to God for peace, justice and freedom for all, for the Serbs, the Albanians and all others equally. We hope that you, too, are here as men of good will who will help in establishing peace, justice and freedom."

Mr. Ahtisaari informed Patriarch Pavle and the other representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church that he and his associates had received a mandate from the Secretary-General of the United Nations to conduct negotiations on the future status of Kosovo and Metohija. Toward that end, in addition to the Albanian leaders in Kosovo and Metohija, he had already met with His Grace Bishop Teodosije in Visoki Decani Monastery and seen for himself the difficult living conditions of that monastic community under the essential military protection of Italian soldiers and lacking even the right of freedom of movement. "Our intention, in cooperation with the UNMIK leadership, is to open up the local society so that all communities can live freely. My impression is that Decani Monastery is a place that survived. The only positive example in the present situation. The orders and instructions of the UN Secretary-General, as well as of the member countries of the Contact Group, are to ensure the protection of all communities and cultural heritage. In this I see the great contribution to be made by the Serbian Orthodox Church and you personally, considering the great influence you have on the people. The visits to Pristina and Belgrade, and the talks we have held this time are our first attempt to get a grasp on the problem."

Metropolitan Amfilohije briefly outlined for Mr. Ahtisaari with the entire tragic history of Kosovo and Metohija from the great migrations of the Orthodox population under Ottoman rule and constant conflicts which continue to the present day. Later, during World War II and the occupation, approximately 250,000 Serbs and minority members were expelled from Kosovo and Metohija, and an additional 150,000 during the time of Communist rule. The torching of the Pec Patriarchate in 1981 signified the new awakening of Albanian nationalist chauvinism and the intent to ethnically cleanse Kosovo and Metohija, emphasized the Metropolitan. "If Kosovo and Metohija become independent, there is no doubt that the Serbs and the ancient Christian culture there will experience the same kind of catastrophe and the Greeks and their culture in Asia Minor after World War I. Hence, your task is far from simple. It is clear that international forces cannot remain forever in the region but the International Community must find a way for displaced persons to return to their homes. Refugee returns is not only an essential matter of enabling basic human rights and a matter of humaneness but a prerequisite for the survival of the remaining holy shrines. It is essential to protect our ancient churches and monasteries - the Pec Patriarchate, Gracanica, Bogorodica Ljeviska and others - following the model of special protection zones such as that around Decani Monastery; however, the holy shrines exist for the people and if there are no people they will perish despite the protection zones. In this sense, you have the full support of the Serbian Orthodox Church to carry out your difficult and demanding task. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and its full implementation could contribute to finding a model for the future status of Kosovo and Metohija. This solution is the only realistic solution that can bring peace to Kosovo and Metohija and Serbia, as well as to the entire Balkan peninsula.

At the conclusion of the meeting with Mr. Ahtisaari, His Holiness Patriarch Pavle presented him with copies of the Communique of the Serbian Assembly of Bishops following its discussion on Kosovo and Metohija, and the Memorandum of the Holy Assembly of Bishops on Kosovo and Metohija, both official documents of the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding this issue.

CONCLUSIONS OF THE INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE
FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE IN TIRANA

The Inter-religious Conference for Southeast Europe on the topic “Improvement of Peace and Stability through Regional Cooperation” was held in Tirana from 16 to 19 November. Hieromonk Irinej (Dobrijevic), consultant to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, attended on behalf of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle.

At the end of the conference a joint statement was issued in which the religious representatives encouraged one another in promoting inter-religious dialogue and establishing inter-religious councils which would support conflict resolution, building peace, and development. Domestic and international political factors were called upon to create legal system under which every ethnic group would be equal, and which would ensure equal rights and possibilities for every citizen to live in his/her full national, religious and cultural identity.

SCHOOL LIBRARY IN VARVARIN RECEIVES BOOK DONATION

On Thursday, November 24, the feast of Holy King Stefan of Decani, “Svetosavsko Zvonce” and Sinalko donated a package of books to the Jovan Kursula Primary School in Varvarin. This was the second such donation by the Orthodox children’s magazine and the eminent company since they organized their campaign at the Belgrade International Book Fair this year and made their first donation of 100 books to the Zmaj Jova Jovanovic Primary School in Belgrade.

The students and teachers of the school in the Pomoravlje region were delighted with the gift, as their school library formerly did not have a single book of spiritual content. A small ceremony was held at the school which was attended by Archimandrite Aleksej (Bogicevic), the abbot of St. Luke’s Monastery; Protopresbyter Ljubisav Kovacevic, the hierarchal administrator of Temnic; the school director, teachers, pupils, and parents.

The Sinalko and “Svetosavsko Zvonce” campaign has already attracted much attention from the media because this is the first time that a company is involved in ensuring that school libraries also contain books of spiritual content for children and adults. At the beginning of December the campaign will continue with the donation of book packages to primary schools in Leposavic and Gorazdevac.

ST STEFAN’S DAY CELEBRATED AT VISOKI DECANI MONASTERY

On Thursday, November 24, 2005 Visoki Decani Monastery celebrated the feast of its founder and endower, St. Stefan of Decani. Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the concelebration of his vicar, Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, who is also the abbot of Visoki Decani, and a number of other abbots, priest-monks and priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Approximately 800 faithful from Kosovo and Metohija, other parts of Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska attended the festivities.

The celebration of the feast of the Holy King Stefan of Decani, who founded this monastery in the 14th century, began the night before with a monastic vigil service, which included the tonsure of novice Slobodan Rojevic, who received the new monastic name of Petar after St. Petar of Cetinje, an 18th century Serbian bishop in Montenegro. During the Holy Liturgy Bishop Artemije elevated Monk Kiril Djordjevic to the office of hierodeacon, thus introducing another young monk originally from Pristina to the order of the servants of the Holy Altar.

Also attending the celebration were UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen; Italian general Claudio Mora and his officers; representatives of the EU and the Council of Europe; and the heads of international diplomatic missions of several countries, including the U.S., Russia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Greece. Groups of Orthodox faithful from Albania and Romania were also among the guests.

The festivities at Decani were secured by strong Italian KFOR forces and by the Kosovo Police Service, and no incidents were recorded.

With the blessing of Bishop Artemije, Bishop Teodosije addressed the guests who were present during the banquet luncheon, expressing gratitude to the Lord that so many people from different parts had come together in the monastery despite a surprise blizzard. He also thanked the members of Italian KFOR and UNMIK for the care demonstrated toward the monastery and the monks, emphasizing that without their help, the monastery could not survive in these difficult times. Bishop Teodosije added that the monastery has brought together people of good will for centuries, and that it needs to continue this mission in the future in order to demonstrate that spiritual values far outweigh the transiencies of the time in which we live.

UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen stressed the importance of Visoki Decani Monastery and other Orthodox holy shrines in Kosovo as a part of the general heritage of civilization and all of humanity. He mentioned that he issued an executive order placing the monastery and its environment under special protection as a UNESCO World Heritage List site, saying that in the future all citizens of Kosovo and the International Community should contribute to the preservation of cultural and spiritual treasures.

After Decani Monastery the UNMIK chief and representatives of the Council of Europe continued on to Prizren to visit the church of Bogorodica Ljeviska (the Most Holy Theotokos of Ljevis), which recently had a part of the lead covering stolen from its roof (see more in the UNMIK press release on this event at the end of today's bulletin).

In a recent letter addressed to Bishop Teodosije, the UNMIK chief informed him of the status of the investigation into the theft of the lead roof, stressing that KFOR will undertake special protective measures to ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not reoccur.

Source: www.kosovo.com

[Serbian Translation Services]