The Holy Synod of Bishops of Serbian Church took an official stance on the tragic incident, the attack that took place at Banjska monastery on Sunday in northern Kosovo. As a result, three Serbs were killed and a Kosovar police officer.
Sunday’s attack marks serious escalation in Kosovo after months of mounting tensions with Serbia.
The Holy Synod of the Serbian Church in an announcement published pointed out the official stance it has taken on the Kosovo issue and rebutted all the claims regarding its meddling in the events.
“We recall that the Serbian Orthodox Church has always advocated, as it does now, that misunderstandings in Kosovo and Metohija be resolved peacefully and through dialogue, in order to achieve a peaceful coexistence of Serbs, Albanians and all other peoples living in the area,” they reiterated.
“Many people from Pristina and the world, but, even from Belgrade” has been gunning for the Serbian Church in regard to the events that took place on Sunday: “The goal of those who want to drag the Church into tragic conflicts at all costs is to drive the Serbian Church and its faithful out of Kosovo and Metohija,” they stressed in the announcement.
“Countless attacks have been carried out on our shrines, on our people, even on Serbian children. In recent months, people have been arrested without any evidence or on the basis of fabricated evidence,” they added.
And finally, they concluded: “We point out that for the Serbian Orthodox Church, Kosovo and Metohija are an inseparable part of the state of Serbia. We support and encourage the continuation of peaceful dialogue in order to achieve peace and resolve vital issues for all who live in the Province.”
Read the full announcement of The Holy Synod of the Serbian Church:
With great sadness in our hearts, we pray to the Savior to welcome into the Kingdom of Heaven all Serbs and Albanians who suffered on September 24, in Banjska, Kosovo. We extend our deepest condolences to the relatives of the victims and pray to the Most Holy Mother of God to give them comfort.
We also invite the faithful people to pray to the Lord for all the victims, so that God would give peace to everyone, for the future of both Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija. We must know the simple truth of the Gospel that we cannot ask God for peace only for ourselves, but that we must also pray for those with whom we live, with our neighbors.
We regret to note, however, that many people from Pristina and the world, but, even from Belgrade, with different ideologies, are trying to portray the Serbian Orthodox Church as a participant, even in the culprits, conflicts and tragic events. The goal of those who want to drag the Church into tragic conflicts at all costs is to drive the Serbian Church and its faithful out of Kosovo and Metohija.
Therefore, we recall the ten-century uninterrupted presence of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren in Kosovo and Metohija, and more than anything, that the Serbian Orthodox Church, with its clergy, monks, nuns, and faithful people, has survived there in all times, in all conditions, despite the most terrible persecutions, sufferings and martyrdom of monks, priests and believers, solely because they were Orthodox Serbs, faithful to Christ and the Kosovo pledges.
We also recall that the Serbian Orthodox Church has always advocated, as it does now, that misunderstandings in Kosovo and Metohija be resolved peacefully and through dialogue, in order to achieve a peaceful coexistence of Serbs, Albanians and all other peoples living in the area.
We continue to pray and support Bishop Teodosije of Raska and Prizren, priests, monks, nuns, and believers.
The Serbian Orthodox Church has many times pointed to the extremely dangerous policy imposed by the authorities in Pristina, whose only goal is the complete expulsion of the Serbian people and the creation of an (ethnically-speaking) only Albanian Kosovo.
To this end, countless attacks have been carried out on our shrines, on our people, even on Serbian children. In recent months, people have been arrested without any evidence or on the basis of fabricated evidence, the land owned by Serbs has been seized, in short, Kosovo and Metohija is today a country, in which there is neither freedom nor normal life for Serbs.
We send a message of boundless love and paternal care to our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija. The Serbian Church will continue to help you, its suffering but proud people in Kosovo and Metohija. We hope to be able to give you comfort, warmth and hope in these difficult days.
Finally, we point out that for the Serbian Orthodox Church, Kosovo and Metohija are an inseparable part of the state of Serbia. We support and encourage the continuation of peaceful dialogue in order to achieve peace and resolve vital issues for all who live in the Province.
