By Mladen Aleksic
Bishop Teodosije of Raska and Prizren (Serbian Orthodox Church) supported Vucic’s initiative for taking additional steps to encourage Serbian people to survive and stay in their centuries-old homes.
At the meeting with the political representative of Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, in Kursumlija on Friday, February 26, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that Serbia would assist financially the unemployed Serbs with 200 euros, and the employed and each child with 100 euros.
Also, he announced the construction of the Clinical Hospital Center in Gracanica and the modernization of the existing Clinical Hospital Center in Kosovska Mitrovica as well as the main road from Jarinje to Kosovska Mitrovica.
All of this was welcomed by the Diocese of Raska and Prizren in its statement on Saturday, February 27. It is mentioned that “the State of Serbia clearly sends the message to stay firmly with its people in Kosovo and Metohija.” The Diocese thanked the Serbian State, Serbian people in Central Serbia and the diaspora for its selfless help.
The Diocese also noted that the State and the Church were of key importance for the survival of the people and the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija. For Bishop Teodosije, the Diocese has been surviving with its clergy, monks and faithful people with the help of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
It should be noted that just three years ago, Bishop Teodosije and Serbian President Vucic exchanged harsh words over Kosovo policy.
In August 2018, commenting on President Vucic’s words that there are no Serbs in Djakovica, Bishop Teodosije said: “I want to thank our president for remembering our shrines, not only here but elsewhere. But I do not thank him for the words he is addressing Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija these days.”
During that period, authorities in Serbia have announced that the demarcation with Kosovo is Belgrade’s official position. Because of that, some Bishops had very strong statements against President Vucic.
At the annual meeting of the Assembly of the Bishops in May 2019, President Vucic had the chance to talk to the bishops and present his Kosovo policy.
Bishop Grigorije of Düsseldorf and Germany stated in an interview for the weekly Vreme magazine (May 23, 2019) that he did not have the opportunity to hear Vucic’s plan on Kosovo, nor did anyone else who was present at the time. He added that the conversation turned into an attack on Bishop Teodosije.
“It was not a dialogue; it was simply an attack without any basis, which certainly wasn’t appropriate. Bishop Teodosije once again showed astonishing patience and calmness, although the meeting went in the wrong direction and, in my opinion, it was rendered meaningless,“ Grigorije said.
On May 28, 2019, Kosovo Special Forces arrested 21 Serbs in northern Kosovo. Bishop of Raska-Prizred Teodosije condemned “excessive use of force by the Kosovo Police in northern Kosovo.” He added that these events were aimed at intimidating Serbs, and that were to the advantage of those who advocate territorial division.”
As a reaction to Bishop’s statements, on May 29, 2019, President Vucic said that Bishop Teodosije liked to be involved in politics.