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#Serbian #Orthodox #Church Diocese of Raška and Prizren Responds to Kosovo Institutions' Initiative to Repair Damage at Banjska #Monastery In light of the initiative by Kosovo institutions and the Minister of Culture of Kosovo, Mr. Hajrulla Çeku, for the Ministry to assess and repair the damage at Banjska Monastery caused during recent armed conflicts, the Eparchy of Raška and Prizren has adopted the following stance: We believe it is essential to repair the damage, and our Diocese has been working for years with the help of local and international benefactors to restore and protect our holy sites, including Banjska Monastery, a significant legacy of Saint King Stefan Milutin from the 14th century. We are deeply disappointed by Minister Çeku's public statements on Twitter (X), where he again refused to acknowledge the proper name of our Church and failed to identify it as a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church, where regular services are held, a monastic brotherhood resides, and many worshippers come for prayer. This approach not only appropriates the cultural heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church and denies its identity but also indicates a preference for the monastery’s early Christian history over its current status as a living monastery, revealing the real attitude of Kosovo institutions towards our cultural heritage. Banjska Monastery is not just a cultural and historical monument cared for by our Church and the state for years but, above all, a holy site of the Serbian Orthodox Church, crucial for the spiritual life of our faithful, especially in northern Kosovo. Mr. Çeku's statement refers to an early Christian church, overlooking Banjska’s status since the 14th century as one of the most important sanctuaries of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the burial church of St. King Milutin, significantly restored in recent years. Our Diocese has been facing continuous denial of the church’s spiritual and religious identity in Kosovo and Metohija for years, with the aforementioned minister leading this trend. These same institutions are denying the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija basic religious rights, evident in the non-execution of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo’s ruling on the land of Visoki Dečani Monastery, not registered in the municipal cadastral records for seven years, despite persistent appeals from international representatives and esteemed international organizations dealing with religious rights and cultural heritage protection. The Kosovo institutions consistently deny our Church access to several of our religious sites, preventing our clergy and faithful from entering, contrary to both international standards on religious freedoms and Kosovo’s own laws, which these institutions should uphold foremost. These institutions are currently also adopting laws intending to revoke some of the last rights remaining to the Serbian Orthodox Church from the so-called Ahtisaari Plan, despite these being internationally guaranteed rights. In this unacceptable situation, our Diocese is not able to accept the interference of Kosovo institutions in the life of our Church and the assumption of protection of Banjska Monastery. We primarily see this initiative as a political act aimed not only at placing the religious and cultural heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija under the political control of Kosovo institutions but also as a step towards further degradation of our basic religious freedoms and rights and the cultural appropriation of our churches and monasteries. The Diocese of Raška and Prizren is capable of engaging independent experts to assess the incurred damage, to restore what has been damaged with our own resources and the contributions of our benefactors, as has been the case with other churches and monasteries damaged or nearly destroyed by K/Albanian extremists over the past two decades. Diocese of Raška and Prizren (SOC) 28/9/2023 eparhija-prizren.com/en/stat…

Troparion in honour of the Dormition of the most holy Mother of God from today’s Holy #Liturgy at Visoki Dečani #Monastery Troparion of the Dormition, Tone 1 In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for thou wast translated into life, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death. – at Kosovo

An American actor, musician, and author, Jonathan Jackson, made a stirring song titled “#Kosovo - the Joy of All Who Sorrow” in 2020. Deeply inspired by his Orthodox #Christian faith, the song is a moving tribute to the #Orthodox #Christian #Serbs who have lived in Kosovo for centuries. Their spiritual fortitude, strengthened by their faith and sacred sites, infuses the song with a profound sense of respect and admiration. youtu.be/V-uZhYEWi6k Kosovo (The Joy of all who sorrow) A people born of God A nation set-apart A beautiful song Rising in the dark A glorious sun Dawning upon us A lasting-peace Cut down in the night But unless a seed dies How can you know what's inside? Kosovo.. Kosovo The world will never know your sorrow Kosovo… Kosovo You know the Joy of all who Sorrow Saint Sava kneels Right there before Your throne So many questions The answers already known Have we turned away? Blind to love and truth Judged by the bones Of Saints in their tombs. But unless a son be chastised How will he know what is right? Kosovo… Kosovo The world will never know vour sorrow Kosovo.. Kosovo You know the Joy of all who Sorrow Saint Nikolai Why do our mothers cry? So many years Praying without our home Centuries of war And captivity A history torn And crucified But unless a heart sacrifice How will it know the strength of love? Kosovo. Kosovo The world will never know vour sorrow Kosovo. Kosovo Pray to the Mother of all who Sorrow – at Kosovo

Summary of the latest developments in Kosovo (from several media sources): Imminent Danger of Escalation in #Kosovo Following Series of Arrests and Kosovo’s Armed Forces Build-up in Mitrovica In the wake of continued arrests by Kosovo police today in North Mitrovica where one more Serb was arrested, coupled with the build-up of armed Kosovo security forces in South Mitrovica from the early morning, seemingly ready to suppress the Serbian-inhabited North, there is a mounting threat of dramatic escalation in Kosovo. (See video clips) The Chief of Staff of the Serbian army, General Mojsilović, in an extraordinary public address this afternoon, called upon KFOR to take immediate, urgent measures to avert potential violence that could lead to unpredictable outcomes. Belgrade has previously expressed that it would be difficult to passively overlook another assault on Kosovo Serbs akin to the 2004 K/Albanian riots in Kosovo. That violent outbreak resulted in the death of 17 individuals, displacement of 4,000 Serbs, and destruction of 35 Serbian Orthodox churches. Analysts argue that the Kosovo Police have demonstrated an inability to secure a safe environment for citizens of all ethnicities and have lost the trust of the Serbian population in Kosovo, who now view them more as an occupying force rather than a law enforcement agency. Their strategy to pressure Kosovo Serbs into submission through police crackdowns and arbitrary arrests seems to be pushing the situation towards direct conflict, rendering the prospect of the political dialogue continuation unattainable. With the latest police and armed forces build up, it is evident that the Kosovo government remains also unwilling to withdraw its special police and relocate Kosovo Albanian mayors from northern municipal buildings as requested by both the EU and the US. Commenting on this international request, the Foreign Minister of Kosovo made a statement to Austrian newspaper Der Standard, declaring, “Kosovo cannot commit political suicide, even for its closest friends." This further deterioration of the situation, marked by new provocative measures implemented by the Kosovo Government, comes just a day after high-ranking EU officials in Brussels urged both sides to take steps towards de-escalation. Peaceful Serb Protests Against Arbitrary Arrests Across Kosovo Today, peaceful protests by Serbs took place in the northern, central, and eastern parts of Kosovo in response to the arbitrary arrests of Kosovo Serbs. These demonstrations of discontent come at a time when the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security expressed his particular concern about the ongoing arbitrary arrests, marking their cessation as an essential step towards de-escalation. – at Kosovo

Commemorating Father Stefan Purić (1964-1999) Today 20 June we honor the memory of Fr. Stefan Purić, a #Serbian #Orthodox a priest-monk from Budisavci #Monastery, situated near Klina, Kosovo. In the tumultuous aftermath of the #Kosovo armed conflict, local Serbian villagers sought sanctuary in the monastery fleeing from the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Kosovo's Albanian paramilitaries, who were seizing control over the region, notwithstanding the presence of KFOR peacekeepers. Faced with a scarcity of provisions, Father Stefan and a local teacher braved the danger and ventured into the local Albanian village in a bid to secure food for those sheltered within the monastery. Confidential accounts suggest that they were abducted by KLA members, brutally tortured, and subsequently killed. Tragically, their bodies have never been found, and no investigation has been initiated by either local or international authorities to date. Father Stefan's legacy lives on in the collective memory of our #Church and our people. Remembered as a compassionate man of noble spirit, he has been venerated among the people as a new martyr, alongside Fr. Hariton who suffered a similar fate near Prizren only days earlier. May their memory be eternal! – at Kosovo

Statement from the Visoki Dečani Monastery: For the past 24 years, the Visoki Dečani Monastery has been under KFOR's protection, primarily ensured by Italian soldiers. We extend our sincere gratitude for this protection; without it, normal life would be untenable in the face of four post-war extremist attacks and the challenging circumstances we've endured since the Kosovo armed conflict in 1999. In recognition of their significant contributions to the protection of Christian Orthodox sites in Kosovo, the Italian Army was honored with the highest Serbian Orthodox Church award, the Saint Sava Medal, in 2005. We want to emphasize that the regrettable violent incidents during the recent protests in North Kosovo should not impact the historically solid relations between the Serbian and Italian peoples. Yesterday's protests resulted in injuries to both local Serbs and Italian soldiers. It is crucial to understand that these protests were not directed against KFOR but rather against the forceful occupation of Northern Serbian municipalities by heavily armed Kosovo police. To date, the Italian military has made considerable contributions to peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo. They've safeguarded Serbian people and other vulnerable populations in Kosovo, facilitated the return of many displaced individuals, and preserved crucial Serbian Orthodox monasteries. We vehemently condemn all forms of violence and call for peace and dialogue. Our prayers go out for the swift recovery of all those injured. We are committed to working with KFOR and all individuals of goodwill to protect our people in the highly volatile conditions we face in Kosovo. The Brotherhood of the Dečani Monastery May 30, 2023 Reference: jfcnaples.nato.int/newsroom/… @Esercito @NATO_KFOR @JFC_Naples @NATOpress @jensstoltenberg @ItalyinKosovo @ItalyatNATO – at Kosovo