His Grace Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan received today in Visoki Dečani Monastery NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), U.S. Admiral James Stavridis. Admiral Stavridis, who is of Greek and Orthodox descent, showed great interest in Visoki Dečani Monastery and the preservation of Serbian Orthodox holy shrines in Kosovo. In conversation with Admiral Stavridis, Bishop Teodosije emphasized the importance of the presence of international peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and Metohija, and added that it is especially important for the Serbian Orthodox Church that KFOR forces continue to provide security for eight of the most important Serbian holy shrines in the Province. Admiral Stavridis assured Bishop Teodosije that NATO will not take any further steps related to the protection of Serbian holy shrines without dialogue with Serbian Orthodox Church and that the concern of the SOC for security issues will be seriously taken into account.

In Gračanica today the 11 year anniversary of the beginning of the bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was marked with the consecration and placing of a cross brought from Herzegovina by monks from Tvrdoš Monastery, a memorial service for the victims and the lighting of candles in the spot where a monument is to be built to the victims of NATO bombing and the atrocities of the Albanian extremists in Kosovo and Metohija. Before the beginning of the memorial service, those present were reminded of the difficult days of bombing and suffering by air raid sirens.

The Sermon of Bishop Atanasije 3MB

Radio Television Serbia, March 21, 2010

Of the approximately ten thousand who lived here until 1999, today there are only 17 Serbs left in Priština, and only one child, five-year old Milica.

The consequences of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and Metohija are most apparent in the cities where the remaining Serb population can be counted with the fingers. This is also true of the ancient city of (Emperor) Dušan, Prizren, once proud of its multi-ethnic life, bringing together, in addition to the Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Goranis and Croats.

Of the approximately ten thousand who lived here until 1999, today there are only 17 Serbs left in Priština, and only one child, five-year old Milica.

A four-member delegation of Serbian Orthodox Church, headed by His Grace Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, were by the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops, on an official visit to Berlin and Paris in the period from March 15 - 19 2010. The serious concern of the Serbian Orthodox Church was conveyed to the high officials of these countries on the occasion of the announcement of a quicker process of reducing the number of KFOR soldiers in Kosovo and Metohia. During the talks the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church was particularly stressed that was not acceptable that the security of the Serbian Orthodox shrines, which currently the KFOR provides , entrust to the Kosovo police. The delegation informed international officials with all possible negative consequences of the eventual transfer of the security to the KPS, while insisting that it was a very hasty decision with possible disastrous consequences for the Serbian Church and the Serbian people in this area.

The Administrator of the Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija Diocese Bishop Atanasije has made a canonical decision today regarding the unmonastic and unchurch behavior of hieromonk Benedikt (Preradović), the heguman of the Holy Archangels Monstery near Prizren and his brotherhood. The text of the Decision is following:

Prizren - Gračanica, March 20, 2010

In the Bogorodica Ljeviška (Holy Virgin of Lyevish) Church in the center of Prizren, Holy Liturgy was served today for the first time since the March Pogrom by His Grace Bishop Atanasije with the concelebration of Vicar Bishop Teodosije and several priests from the Dioceses of Raška-Prizren and Zahumlje-Herzegovina. Taking eucharistic part in the Holy Liturgy were the sisters of Žiča Monastery with their abbess, mother Jelena, the sisters from the Peć Patriarchate and Končul Monastery, as well as the faithful from the Prizren region.

Statement of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija

The Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija expresses its serious concern due to KFOR’s intent to transfer protection of the memorial at Gazimestan to the jurisdiction of the Kosovo Police. Earlier this month (March 2) during a meeting between Bishop Atanasije and Bishop’s Deputy Teodosije with the KFOR commander, German General Bentler, in Gračanica Monastery, it was clearly said that it is unacceptable for this Diocese and the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija that holy shrines and buildings protected by KFOR be transferred to the protection of the Kosovo Police. Especially worrisome is that this intention is again coming up on the anniversary of the March Pogrom against the Serbs and the Serbian Church six years ago. We emphasize that the KPS does not inspire confidence in either the Church or the Serbian community in this southern province of Serbia. The transfer of the protection of the memorial in Gazimestan is not good because it can open the question of continued protection for other Serbian church and national Holy Shrines and Cultural Monuments.