Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska-Prizren

The new Diocesan Web Site is available at www.eparhija-prizren.com

2010-03-05T14:41:00.001+01:00

Bishops Atanasije and Teodosije receive the head of UNMIK and the KFOR commander in Gračanica Monastery

2010-03-03T14:55:00.001+01:00

Today (March 2), at 11 o'clock in Gračanica Monastery Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, and Vicar Bishop Teodosije received Lamberto Zannier, the head of UNMIK, who was accompanied by Mrs. Elizabeth Orlando and Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko. Mr. Zannier wished Bishop Atanasije luck in his work and expressed the hope that cooperation between UNMIK and the Serbian Orthodox Church will continue to be successful, as it has been with regard to the restoration of holy shrines destroyed in March 2004. Since the mandate of the Commission for Reconstruction, in which UNMIK officially represents Kosovo provisional institutions, expires at the end of this year, Mr. Zannier expressed readiness to assist in finding a model for continued restoration of churches, including those destroyed before March 2004, which would be acceptable to all interested parties. Bishop Atanasije thanked the guest for his understanding and cooperation so far, expressing readiness for further cooperation by the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, although he noted that he is only a temporary administrator until the meeting of the (Holy Assembly of Bishops).

Talking with KFOR Commander General Markus Bentler

Today at 2:30 p.m. in Gračanica Monastery Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, and Vicar Bishop Teodosije received the KFOR commander German general Marcus Bentler and the commander of Zone “Center” Finnish general Seppo Toivonen. General Bentler stressed that KFOR remains committed to the protection of the monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, adding that KFOR will not stay in Kosovo forever and that it is therefore necessary to gradually prepare the ground for the inclusion of other types of protection for the monasteries, referring to the Kosovo Police.

Bishops Atanasije and Teodosije emphasized that there is still no confidence in the Kosovo Police by the SOC because of bad experiences in the very recent past, and that the eventual withdrawal of soldiers from those monasteries that are in Serbian regions, e.g. Gračanica, could have not only security but also political consequences that are very negative and discouraging for the entire Serbian community. The situation in the entire region and particularly in Kosovo is still unstable, said Bishop Atanasije. In the end it was concluded that all the moves related to the safety of monasteries must be coordinated between KFOR and the Serbian Orthodox Church and that, as General Bentler put it, "there cannot and will not be any surprises” in this regard nor rush in implementation. Bishop Atanasije stressed that his service as administrator is only temporary and that his mandate cannot extend to such questions, that for this reason haste would certainly be a bad thing, and that situation should remain the same as before.

This was followed by a discussion regarding the enthronement of His Beatitude Patriarch Irinej in Peć, in which KFOR is interested in order to ensure full security. It was stressed that this ceremony has been delayed until the autumn in order to carry out all necessary preparations and give guests, especially high dignitaries of the Church, the opportunity to plan their visits in a timely manner. The bishops emphasized that this event will have a primarily religious character, in order to serve the peaceful coexistence of all who live in Kosovo and Metohija. The general pledged the full support of KFOR for our Church in this regard.

Bishops Atanasije and Teodosije served the Liturgy in Velika Hoča (Sunday 28.Feb)

2010-03-03T13:52:00.006+01:00

The administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija Bishop Atanasije today (Feb 28) served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of St. Stephen the Protomartyr in Velika Hoča with the concelebration of Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan and a number of priests of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren. Bishop Atanasije delivered his homily to the gathered faithful, monks and nuns of the feast day of St. Gregory Palamas on the meaning of Christian life, Communion and liturgical community within the Church of Christ. The church was crowded and a lot of the children took communion.

After Holy Liturgy Bishop Atanasije distributed candy and copies of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s magazine for children, Svetosavsko Zvonce, to the children, jesting and talking with them. He then visited the Dečani wine cellar and learned about wine production in the Hoča region. Bishop Atanasije, as the newly appointed administrator of the Diocese, also met with the priests who were present.

Bishop Atanasije also visited the monastery of St. John together with Bishop Teodosije. The monastery administrator, protosingel Miron, and the brotherhood welcomed the bishops.

Bishop Teodosije receives high delegation of the Italian Parliament

2010-03-01T18:45:00.000+01:00

His Grace Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan received today (Mar 1) in Visoki Dečani Monastery a high delegation of the Italian parliament. Mr. Stefano Stefani, chairman of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, led the delegation.

During discussion with the Italian parliamentarians Bishop Teodosije spoke about the problems faced by Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, especially in the realization of general human rights and property rights. Bishop Teodosije mentioned that many Serbian families, especially in Metohija, still could not recover their confiscated or usurped land, which is a form of pressure on the Serbs to sell their land. Later discussion concerned the need to protect the identity and property of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija.

The high delegation of the Italian Parliament is presently visiting Kosovo and Metohija, where it also visited the Italian forces within KFOR.

Communique of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Feb 27, 2010)

2010-02-27T23:55:00.004+01:00

A great deal of our media published these days news that no more no less than seventeen bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church asked for calling of a extraordinary Assembly so as to discuss there about events in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren.

Actually it is a rough misinformation - one of many within this theme - which was launched by someone unkown, and everyone else started repeating it, uncritically, not even checking the news at the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church or the services of the Holy Synod. No bishop has formally asked for the convocation of extraordinary Assembly, but many, virtually all, were interested - and they are still interested in - for the development of the situation because everyone, without exception, in the first place care about peace and love , good order and unity in our Church.
The whole thing has been brought to the absurd. How and why the Assembly would discuss it before the Synod, upon the church Constitution as the first instance for resolving differences and problems of this kind, generally examine available facts and supplement them by new facts and, taking its position, present it to the Assembly? Hence, the Assembly, in any way, is the final instance, as His Grace Bishop Artemije rightly stressed in his statement yesterday for the KIM Radio. Does the Supreme Court, for example, engage in some court case immediately or only after it passes through all the previous court instances?

Disagreements are nothing new in the course of the history of the Church, as our local St. Sava's , as well as the Ecumenical. They are overcome conciliar and synodical, and in obedience towards the Church when it says its last word. Who chooses disobedience and self-will, he excommmunicates himself from the church community, but also from the spiritual union with His Grace Bishop Artemije. Disinformation and insinuations, no matter from who originate, cause only general damages.

February 27, 2010
in Novi Sad

Bishop of Backa

Dr. Irinej

Bishop Grigorije: Stop hurting Bishop Artemije’s case

2010-02-27T23:00:00.000+01:00

Gračanica Monastery was visited today by Bishop Grigorije, a member of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Minister for Religions in the Serbian Government, Bogoljub Šijaković. In a statement for KIM Radio Bishop Gregory said he is happy to be in Gračanica and by the fact he was able to talk with the bishops about everything.

"I am happy to be in Gračanica, I am happy that the bishop received us so we could talk together about everything, but I am happiest of all because of what Bishop Artemije said. I believe that this impression will be shared by many of the faithful, by Orthodox Serbs across the globe, especially our Patriarch for whom it is very difficult that his patriarchal service began with such a difficult problem. You heard what Bishop Artemije said today: he called for peace and respect for the decisions of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It would be good if all those who love him stopped hurting his case in the way they have been doing but instead helped him by peacefully and serenely praying to God for him and for our church," said Bishop Grigorije.

When asked whether he came as an intermediary or to provide support to Bishop Artemije, Bishop Grigorije said that he had primarily came to visit Kosovo and Metohija. "I came here to visit Bishop Artemije and Bishop Atanasije and Bishop Teodosije but primarily Kosovo and Metohija. Because, as our children sing, Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. If we are Serbs, then Kosovo is our heart, too," said Bishop Grigorije.

Religions minister Bogoljub Šijaković said that he feels at home in Gračanica and that he will always here. "Kosovo is not only a symbolic part of our being but also a concrete part of the territory of the Republic of Serbia, and it will guard that integrity and never neglect it no matter what happens and no matter who makes whatever decisions. Whatever the solutions are, temporary or permanent, Kosovo is within us and it cannot go anywhere without us. As for our Church in Kosovo and Metohija, we all know how important and significant it is," said Šijaković.

Source: Radio KIM, February 26, 2010

BISHOP GRIGORIJE – STATEMENTS FOR “POLITIKA” AND “BLIC”

In a statement for the daily "Politika," Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, who visited Gračanica yesterday together with the religions minister Bogoljub Šijaković, explained that he had met with Bishop Artemije and learned from him that the Bishop of Raška and Prizren does not support the public turmoil that has ensued after the decision to temporarily relieve him of his duties.

“I spoke with the Bishop for two or three hours and told him that there was a lot of misinformation, a lot of wrong, false information in the media. He explained that he does not want to participate in this and that he does not want any sort of unrest. I also made the bishop aware that people who are supposedly protecting him and his interests are creating the impression in public that he was being kept prisoner here in the monastery. Bishop Artemije explained to me that his life in the monastery is quite normal, and that he respects the decisions of the Assembly and the Synod, after which I suggested to him that he say this publicly and that we send a single message of peace together, which he accepted,” said Bishop Grigorije.

******

Bishop Grigorije, who visited Gračanica yesterday to convey the full support of the Church for the work of the administrator, Bishop Atanasije, told "Blic" that Bishop Artemije has demonstrated that for him the unity of the Church is beyond question.

"This is great victory for our Patriarch Irinej, who has shown determination to solve problems but who made a great sacrifice, too. Now is the time for all of us to calm down during the fast, to guard the unity of our Church as St. Sava left it for us," said Bishop Grigorije.

He added that many falsehoods were made public, and that the subtlest is the one about the request of 17 bishops for an extraordinary meeting of the Holy Assembly.

"None of them signed, while four came to discuss matters and returned to their dioceses with the knowledge that the Patriarch and the Synod acted conscientiously and responsibly," said Bishop Grigorije.

Bishop Atanasije in Kosovo Pomoravlje (Saturday, Feb 27, 2010)

2010-02-27T21:31:00.001+01:00

The Administrator of the Raška and Prizren, Kosovo and Metohija Diocese Bishop Atanasije has visited today the clergy and the faithful in Kosovo Pomoravlje (Eastern part of Kosovo Province). Bishop Atanasije served the Holy Liturgy with eight parish priests and three deacons of the Gnjilane region at St. Elias church in the village of Cernica. In the village he was given a warm welcome by protoprebyter Fr. Dragan Kojić.

After the reading of the Holy Gospel Bishop Atanasije gave a sermon on the Gospel as Word and Truth of the Eternal Life explaining that the Holy Gospel is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Despite the difficult war and post-war years the village of Cernica in which 40 Serbian families live is demonstrating a true Serbian and Kosovo spirit based on faith and hope in the Lord. The people of Cernica offered their Bishop a warm hospitality, particularly the children whom the Bishop visited in their school, talked to them, made jokes and taught them.

At the village school Bishop Atanasije held an unforgettable lesson of history, geography, religion and the Christian ethics at the same time. In his previous visits to Kosovo Bishop Atanasije has been a frequent visitor of Cernica which became a symbol of Serbian suffering in Kosovo and Metohija.

Cernica and Binač

After his visit to Cernica Bishop Atanasije visited the church of the Holy Trinity in Parteš and the church of St. Nicholas in Binač. In Binač the people with their children and their parish priest warmly Zvonko Kostić warmly welcomed their Bishop. Their parish church has recently been reconstructed thanks to the donations of the parishioners despite their poverty and hard life. The Bishop with his priests also visited the destroyed monastery near Binač which was torched in 1999. and which will soon, God willing, be reconstructed.

Visit to Parteš

At the end of his pastoral visit to Kosovo Pomoravlje, Bishop Atanasije visited the church of St. Parasceva in Vitina.

Bishop Atanasije visits Gnjilane region

2010-02-26T23:13:00.001+01:00

The administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, Bishop Atanasije, today (Feb 26) visited the Gnjilane administrative district. In front of the church of St. Nicholas in Gnjilane Bishop Atanasije was met by protopresbyter Dragan Kojić, the bishop’s deputy for Gnjilane, and protopresbyter Zoran Kovačević, the elder of the Gnjilane church. Bishop Atanasije took part in the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts served by presbyter Dragiša Jerinić. About 50 faithful took part in the Liturgy and several children took communion.

After Liturgy Bishop Atanasije met in the parish home with the priests of the Gnjilane region to discuss problems they faced in their parishes, as well as current problems. After a shared lunch, Bishop Atanasije informed the priests that tomorrow (Saturday, February 27) he would serve Hierarchal Liturgy in the long-suffering village of Cernica, and then visit Parteš, Žitinje and the destroyed monastery of Binač.

Radio Television Serbia: Bishop Artemije accepts the decisions of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church

2010-02-26T20:30:00.000+01:00

I am willing to accept the decisions of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, although I do not agree with them, said Bishop Artemije in his first public address since his dismissal from the administration of the diocese. Bishop Artemije called for unity in the Church.

Bishop Artemije said in Gračanica that he accepts the decisions of the Synod of the SOC, although he does not agree with them, in the expectation that the Assembly of the SOC will adopt the most suitable solution with respect to his dismissal and possible abuses in the operation of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren.

"What I maintain is the position that is most important to preserve the unity of the SOC. I have told the Synod that I can never accept nor can anyone force me to tear the chiton of the Church of Saint Sava, i.e. to create a schism," said Bishop Artemije in his first public address after being dismissed from the administration of the Diocese by the Synod of the SOC on February 13.

This message should also serve as a guide to all those who, using our name and our present position, are creating the impression that Bishop Artemije and some of his supporters are creating a schism in the SOC, said the Bishop.

Bishop Grigorije and Minister for Religions in the Serbian Government Bogoljub Šijaković visited Gračanica Monastery today.

The dismissed Bishop Artemije said that “a great deal of commotion” had been raised in the media about his dismissal. He called on all those who respect and love him, and who, he said, represent no small number, to come to terms with the fact that he accepts and remains in obedience to the SOC and to demonstrate solidarity and love toward him and toward the SOC.

"I think that this problem that has emerged will be legitimately resolved at the meeting of the Assembly of Bishops; until then, things should be examined in peace, without commotion. Government bodies are also involved, let them examine all the facts, and then the Assembly will find the most suitable solution on the basis of its knowledge, the canons and the Constitution of the SOC," said Bishop Artemije.

Families of Herzegovina for the Families of Kosovo Campaign

2010-02-25T22:09:00.000+01:00

Dear brothers and sisters, a happy Great Fast to you and that the Holy Resurrection of Christ may bring us joy. Our God-protected Diocese is neither large nor rich in material goods but it is very rich in spiritual gifts, a great history, and especially in martyrs, saints, poets and heroes. Herzegovina and Herzegovians not need explanations of what Kosovo and Metohija is and where it is.

Recently, upon the request of His Beatitude the Serbian Patriarch Irinej and the Holy Synod of Bishops, our Bishop Atanasije has assumed a very difficult church duty - to lend courage and comfort to the Orthodox people in Kosovo and Metohija, just as he lent courage and comfort to us during the terrible times of the past war. We remember well that he did not give us strength only with holy services and divinely inspired homilies; he also fed us with bread and oil, without even mentioning the care he devoted to the wounded and to war orphans. Here is an opportunity for us to pay him back for his selfless and effective love, not by giving him personally a gift but by giving a gift to those poor people in Kosovo and Metohija for whom he is now responsible by the blessing of the Church. Therefore, let everyone, in accordance with his or her ability and goodwill gather and bring to their local parish home hygienic materials, oil, cans, pasta, school supplies, etc.

The campaign to collect aid for the people of Kosovo and Metohija called Families of Herzegovina for Families of Kosovo will run from February 26 to March 14, 2010.

We need all Church parishes, within the scope of their components, to organize the collection within the aforementioned period. Aid packages should include packaged foods with a longer shelf life, which are not in breakable containers (oil, pasta, sugar, fruit juices in cartons, canned food, rice, beans, etc.), and basic hygiene items (properly packaged and separated from food items). Packages should be properly packaged for transport, and the first and last names of the sender as well as the content of the package should be written on them for easier handling. For additional information please contact your local priest.

On behalf of the impoverished Orthodox population of Kosovo and Metohija, we sincerely thank you.

May the blessing of the Lord be with you all.

Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina

Grigorije

Bishop Atanasije and Bishop Artemije visit Gračanica abbess in hospital in Laplje Selo

2010-02-25T04:52:00.000+01:00

Today Bishop Atanasije, the Administrator of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, together with Bishop Artemije and two presbyters visited the ailing abbess of Gračanica Monastery, Mother Efrosinija, in hospital in Laplje Selo near Gračanica. Mother Efrosinija welcomed the bishops with great gratitude and thanked them for their visit.

Bishop Atanasije visits soup kitchens in Vitina and Novo Brdo regions, donation to Health Center in Gračanica

2010-02-25T04:49:00.000+01:00

Today (February 23) the Administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, His Grace Bishop Atanasije visited the soup kitchens in the Vitina and Novo Brdo regions accompanied by presbytera Svetlana Stević, the president of the NGO “Majka devet Jugovića” (Mother of the Nine Jugoviches), who runs the soup kitchens.

The purpose of Bishop Atanasije’s visit was to learn about the conditions and operation of the soup kitchens, as well as the intent to open yet another (fifth) kitchen, which would add another 250 socially most vulnerable Serbs from the territory of the municipality of Gnjilane to the current number of people served (1200). The villages that will be included in this project include Stanišor, Straža, Kusce, Koretište, Šilovo and Gnjilane itself.

Namely, there are plans to expand the capacity of the existing kitchen in Prekovac, which is the closest of the soup kitchens to the aforementioned Serbian villages, which would reduce the cost of transporting food to the people served, as well as the costs of constructing or adapting another building.

Soon, God willing, a sixth soup kitchen will begin working in Metohija for locations and villages where expelled Serbs have returned to their destroyed homes.

Bishop Atanasije’s intention is to compensate the monies that were stolen from the fund for the soup kitchens by Simeon Vilovski and the associates of Bishop Artemije as soon as possible and thus further justify the confidence of donors in the campaign "One SMS for one meal". The continuation of this humanitarian campaign will make it possible for the soup kitchens to continue their work to help the most vulnerable Serbs in the Province survive.

DELIVERY OF DENTAL APPARATUS TO HEALTH CENTER IN GRAČANICA

After returning from Novo Brdo Bishop Atanasije, together with Archimandrite Elie Ragot of the Monastère de la Transfiguration, Terrasson, France, and two other French Orthodox persons delivered a dental x-ray machine to the Gračanica Health Center. The apparatus was donated by Dr. Jérôme Galoup from France.

The Bishop and the guests from France were welcomed by Rada Trajković, the director of the Health Center, and physicians Nebojsa Labović, Bogoljub Ivić, Zoran Đorđević, Dragan Todorović and Desa Lukić. Also joining the event was the head of the French mission in Priština, who spent a short period speaking with Bishop Atanasije and Fr. Elie.

Our Orthodox brothers from France extended their visit to Kosovo and Metohija with a visit to Visoki Dečani Monastery, where they are expected to serve the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

Radio Television Serbia – Warrant issued for hegumen Simeon (Vilovski), February 23, 2010

2010-02-24T04:42:00.000+01:00

By order of the Serbian High Court an international warrant has been issued for the arrest of protosingel Simeon Vilovski. A decision has also been adopted to conduct an investigation against Vilovski.

An international warrant was issued for protosingel Simeon Vilovski because he is inaccessible to the judicial authorities of Serbia, said the spokeswoman for the High Court in Belgrade, Dušica Ristić.

Ristić told Beta news agency that the warrant issued by order of the High Court and that a decision was adopted to conduct an investigation against Vilovski and remand him into custody.

Two days ago an investigation was launched against the director of the Rade Neimar Diocesan Center Predrag Subotički and he is presently in custody.

Subotički and Vilovski are suspected of having illegally appropriated 350,000 euros intended for the reconstruction of monasteries.

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding Antonije (Davidović)

2010-02-24T04:40:00.000+01:00

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding Antonije (Davidović)

Regarding the announcement that monk Antonije, a brother of the Crna Reka Monastery in the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, will be holding a press conference tomorrow, February 24, 2010 in the Media Center in Belgrade regarding what the Media Center says in its announcement "events in the Diocese of Raška and Prizren that are causing confusion among the public”, we consider it our duty to explain who monk Antonije is and what his intentions and of those who stand behind him are.

Monk Antonije Davidović, former "deputy abbot" of Crna Reka Monastery, is already known to the public for his involvement in a protest that prevented the Anglican celebration of Christmas on December 24, 2002 in the Patriarchate. On that occasion, monk Antonije and the gathered pseudo-zealots verbally assaulted Serbian Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory and Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands in the crudest fashion. Only a month later, on January 29, 2003, monk Antonije and a group of some thirty like-minded persons organized a new protest in front of the Patriarchate building. On that occasion, Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory, who personally went down among the gathered people, warned monk Antonije that "his zeal is not reasonable" and that "he can address (the Church) only through his competent Bishop." Antonije’s reply to the Patriarch: "I do not need anyone's blessing to defend the Church from destruction and Orthodoxy from heresy," warning Patriarch Pavle "not to go to heretics because with these visits he has trampled on all the canons." (These actions themselves attest to the absence of any awareness of the church, and especially monastic conscience and spirituality in this man.)

Because of his disrespectful conduct, insulting the Serbian Patriarch and creating confusion in the Church, the Holy Synod of Bishops in April 2003 (act no. 737) and subsequently the Holy Assembly of Bishops on May 21, 2003 (decision AS no. 62/entry 122), kindly requested His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raška and Prizren “to bring the intractable monk Antonije Davidović, a brother of Crna Reka Monastery, before an ecclesiastical court, to remove his monastic rank and return him to the ranks of the laity”. The Holy Assembly of Bishops kindly requested Bishop Artemije “to forbid the monks of his Diocese of jurisdiction any activities outside of their home Diocese without the approval of the competent bishops”.

This decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops, which was signed by all the bishops, as well as many other decisions related to the uncanonical and anti-church behavior of individuals from the Diocese of Raška and Prizren was never carried out by Bishop Artemije, although it was repeated during the meeting of the Assembly in 2006 and 2009 along with decisions on the initiation of church proceedings against protosingel Simeon Vilovski and dissolution of the Rade Neimar company. Although monk Antonije has, in the meanwhile, "withdrawn" to a hermitage near Crna Reka, he remains active in his destructive actions against the Church. During the recent tragicomic protests in front of the Patriarchate on February 13 this year, and then in front of Gračanica Monastery, monk Antonije could be seen together with the other monks of Crna Reka and their hegumen Nikolaj.

Yesterday, February 22, 2010, monk Antonije went public with an interview for the daily newspaper “Pravda” in which he presented a whole series of impudent lies and slanders against the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding the current situation in the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, and announcing a press conference for February 24 in the Media Center in Belgrade (of course, contrary to church order, without the knowledge and approval of the Patriarch as the competent Archbishop of Belgrade-Karlovci).

He is, therefore, a man who lives outside every church and monastic order, in disobedience of the Church and his competent Bishop, who is now Bishop Atanasije. (We doubt that he would listen to Bishop Artemije, either, to whom he does not relate as his spiritual father but as a guru, if Bishop Artemije told him not to do what he is doing.) His past misdeeds undermine the reputation of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Unfortunately, Bishop Artemije protected monk Antonije for years, just as he persistently protected protosingel Simeon and others, who have inflicted and are inflicting enormous material and moral damage both to him personally and to the Diocese of Raška and Prizren and to our entire Holy Church.

We wish to inform all media employees that all statements, written or oral, given by monk Antonije Davidović are the personal opinion of an irresponsible man of completely unbalanced behavior, and cannot be considered by the serious media to be relevant statements regarding the situation in the Diocese of Raška and Prizren or the Serbian Orthodox Church in general.

Because of his damaging activities to date monk Antonije will in the very near future bear canonical consequences because the decisions of the Holy Assembly of Bishops adopted long ago in relation to him will be carried out.

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Submitted by Bishop Irinej of Bačka (by his own hand)

Bishop Atanasije visits parishes in Brezovica and Lipljan

2010-02-24T01:56:00.000+01:00

During the last two days, His Grace Bishop Atanasije, the Administrator of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, visited the parishes in Brezovica and in Lipljan in order to learn about the difficulties faced by the clergy and the faithful.

Visit to Lipljan Visit to Brezovica

Bishops Atanasije, Joanikije and Teodosije take part in celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy in Prizren

2010-02-21T21:10:00.000+01:00

Today on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, His Grace Bishop Atanasije, served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Orthodox Cathedral of St.. George in Prizren with the concelebration of Their Graces Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Nikšić, Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan and twelve priests including Protopresbyter Stavrophor Milutin Timotijević (Rector of the Prizren Seminary), Protopresbyter Radomir Nikčević from the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Coastlands, Archimandrite Sava, the hegumen of Tvrdoš Monastery, and ten priests from the Diocese of Raška and Prizren. Before the beginning of Hierarchal Liturgy, Bishop Atanasije reconsecrated the restored church.About 250 faithful from Prizren and various parts of Kosovo and Metohija (especially Velika Hoča, Brezovica and the north of Kosovo) eucharistically participated in the Divine Liturgy, including some thirty children who took part in the traditional procession with icons, which is performed on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Advisor to the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Mlađan Đorđević (who is a native of the Prizren region) also attended the Divine Liturgy and took part in the procession.

This is the first Hierarchal Liturgy to be served in the newly restored Orthodox Cathedral in Prizren, which, like other Serbian Orthodox holy shrines in Prizren, was torched during the March pogrom in 2004. In addition to St. George Cathedral, the Bishop’s Residence in Prizren has also been rebuilt as part of the reconstruction process, where the see of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren will soon be returning in accordance with the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops in May 2009. The Diocese of Prizren is one of the oldest in the Serbian Orthodox Church and the earliest preserved written records of the Diocese date back to the beginning of 11th century, even though there are traces of church life from earlier centuries. The second oldest Serbian diocese after Prizren is the Diocese of Sts. Peter and Paul (Petropavlovska) in Raška. In the year 1808 the Dioceses of Prizren and Ras merged to form the Diocese of Raška and Prizren.

In the city of Prizren, where 8,000 Serbs lived prior to the war in 1999, there are now only about 20 Serbs remaining, most of them elderly. The Diocese is confronted with the huge task of strengthening church life and presence in Prizren in order to encourage the return of refugees and to show that the Serbian Orthodox Church is not giving up her ancient church and historical see.

On the same day the Bishops visited Holy Archangels Monastery, where monastery administrator Fr. Benedikt welcomed them. They then visited the church of the Bogorodica Ljeviška (the Holy Virgin of Lyevish) and the newly rebuilt Prizren Seminary building (the Sima Igumanov Endowment).

Today's Holy Liturgy was also attended by the commander of German KFOR, General Manfred Hofmeyer, who accompanied the bishops during their visit to Holy Archangels Monastery.

His Grace Bishop Artemije served today in Gračanica Monastery.

EXCERPT FROM THE FESTAL HOMILY OF BISHOP ATANASIJE:

In his homily Bishop Atanasije spoke about the multifold importance of the feast of “the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Sunday of respect and veneration of the Holy Icon of God the Invisible, who became a visible man in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth . . . An icon is a window into heaven. It is not a mere photograph but an image of man transformed and perpetuated by the grace of God. It is a foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven. A light shines from the icon, which emanates from the entire psycho-physical being of man." Remembering Patriarch Pavle of blessed repose, who spent 33 years on the throne of the Bishop of Raška and Prizren, Bishop Atanasije said, “We, too, will stay and survive if we adhere to the window to Heaven, the Icon of the Living Christ, the Original. He is the Archetype, the Prototype of man because God, when creating man, first saw Christ, who was yet to become a man.”

Later in his homily Bishop Atanasije spoke about the Liturgy, which “is not only a religious service and veneration . . . Heaven is here today and from here we cross into Heaven; the proof of that is that we take communion and participate, we eat and drink the body of the God-Man, which was mortal but became immortal. It is a miracle that God came into this world and it is why there is salvation in this world.

"No matter in what state the world is and we sinners in it, we must never lose hope. There is salvation because there is a Savior. Sometimes we experience a great fall but keep in mind that the longer the fall, the greater the hope of salvation. With God it’s never say never. Adhere to your faith. Faith is new hope and new energy, a new sense and connection with the living and true God. Faith never suffers defeat, and faith, my brothers, is also love. Faith is not hate, it is not revenge. I was happy this morning that the people here greeted us and that we see a different face than the one when this church was destroyed. Thank God, never allow hatred and revenge to enter your heart. Man is responsible for his Paradise and his hell and what a man brings into his soul will live there, not only here but also up above. Nor will God impose or take away from man. That is why is a man responsible being, for he is a free and God-like being. Freedom is the primary feature of his likeness to God.

"We are sinful but God came to save sinners, and not the ‘righteous’ like the Pharisees. Today we also have Pharisees, unreasonable people, people who cannot weight things, supposed zealots who want a monopoly on salvation and Orthodoxy. But they are malicious and they slander, and you know what recently happened. God is great and the Church is the Body of the God-Man. It is an organization of this world but it is also a God/manly organism. It has lungs, a heart, organs and those are the holy mysteries. The presence of the Holy Spirit makes the Church a Church, ensures that it survive and awaits the second coming of Christ. The main mystery of the Church is Holy Liturgy and our participation and communion. We are invited to the table the Emperor of Heaven and let us not seek superficial excuses. We should fast and go to confession but do not let anything stand in the way of that which is most important.”

Concluding his festal homily, Bishop Atanasije said, "May this Liturgy bring you closer to salvation and encouragement. Not to hatred and revenge, to exclusion and isolation, but to the expansion of your hearts and lungs. Love God and your neighbor, for He wishes the Peace of God and God’s grace (blagodat).”

ADDRESS OF BISHOP TEODOSIJE:

After Holy Liturgy toys were distributed to the children and the faithful were served with refreshments. At that time Bishop Teodosije addressed them as follows:

"Much has been done to restore this church. There is still much that needs to be renewed. All the buildings in the Seminary complex need to be renewed and this will be a center where all Serbs will be able to gather. It will be both a spiritual and a cultural center where we can come together. Since this is the see of the Bishop of Raška and Prizren, the restoration and today's Liturgz are a call to all Serbs to return to Prizren. Throughout history Serbs have come and gone but there have always been those who have lived here and that is why life should continue here. Many have suffered here, but we know that after suffering comes the joy of Resurrection. Today is a new beginning and if God grants there will be regular services in this holy shrine.”

ADDRESS OF MLAĐAN ĐORĐEVIĆ, ADVISOR TO THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT:

"This celebration today is an encouragement for all those Serbs who want to return and an indicator that life in Prizren is possible, that return is possible to this city, where Serbs, Albanians, Turks, Muslims and Bosniacs lived together for centuries. Today this will also help to make life and return possible. It is important for all Serbs to know that the Church has returned to Prizren and that it will provide strong support to them. As His Grace Bishop Atanasije said that faith means love, and love does not mean hatred and revenge, this church will be the place from which a message of peace and love will go out to all the citizens of Prizren.”

Bishops Atanasije, Artemije and Teodosije serve in Priština and Gračanica on St. Theodore Saturday

2010-02-20T16:30:00.000+01:00

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH, PRIŠTINA – ST. THEODORE SATURDAY:

Today on St. Theodore Saturday His Grace Bishop Atanasije, Administrator of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, served in the newly restored church of St. Nicholas in Priština with the concelebration of a number of priests from the Diocese of Raška and Prizren and other Dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including the hegumen of Studenica Monastery, archimandrite Tihon; the hegumen of Tvrdoš Monastery, archimandrite Sava; deacon Radoš from the Diocese of Žiča and others. This is the first liturgy served in St. Nicholas Church since March 2004 when the church was torched.

About 250 faithful from Priština and other parts of the southern province attended the liturgy, most of them taking communion, including several Serbian children from Priština, who actively assisted during the Liturgy. Bishop Atanasije delivered a homily on the importance of the feast of St. Theodore, as well as on the celebration tomorrow of the feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy. The celebration of this feast day will be held tomorrow in the Orthodox Cathedral of St.. George in Prizren with the concelebration of a number of bishops and priests.In his homily, Bishop Atanasije said, "We have gathered today to take communion in faith, peace and love, and above all in the Body and Blood of Theanthropos Jesus Christ. We need to take communion more often because we are sinful. The thief on the cross, with just one word spoken from the depths of the soul, said, "Remember me, o Lord, when you come into your Kingdom" and the Lord told him that on the same day he would be with Him in paradise, while another thief began to blaspheme Christ.As Father Justin of blessed memory used to say, it is our great joy that the thief entered heaven first. It means there is hope for us because God came into the world to save us and the world. God will not save us without our participation. We build heaven within ourselves with the help of God but unfortunately, God will not save us if we build a state of hell within ourselves. So do not be intimidated by people speaking of conspiracies, apocalypses, black and red internationales. You must adhere to God and His justice, and everything else will be added by God."After Holy Liturgy in St. Nicholas Church refreshments were served for all who attended. Bishop Atanasije told journalists who were present and filmed the Liturgy that he "would give a press statement only to the children" who gathered around him in the churchyard and he then told the children several stories. Liturgy was attended by the head of the Greek office in Priština, Mr. Demetrios Moishopoulos (the newly appointed Special EU advisor on matters of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo). Also present were representatives of the U.S. Office in Priština, which actively assisted the reconstruction of the church of St.. Nicholas, as well as representatives of the U.K. Office. The residents of Priština who were present asked the Bishop to appoint a parish priest in Priština.

After the liturgy in St. Nicholas Church, Bishop Atanasije, together with hegumen Sava of Tvrdoš Monastery and the other priests also visited the unfinished Christ the Savior Church in the center of Priština, where hymns in honor of Christ the Savior were sung.

GRAČANICA MONASTERY – ST. THEODORE SATURDAY:

Today in Gračanica Monastery His Grace Bishop Artemije served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the concelebration of Vicar Bishop Teodosije, seven parish priests, hieromonk Andrej (Sajc) and hierodeacon Damjan. The atmosphere was eucharistic and liturgical, Serbian and Orthodox.

During the Liturgy Bishop Artemije delivered a homily to the faithful on the meaning of the Great Fast and the importance of fasting in preparation for the holy mystery of Repentance and the Eucharist. During the Liturgy in the crowded church of Gračanica about 200 faithful took communion.In his address to the faithful Bishop Artemije said: "The Church has set aside seven weeks to prepare properly for our encounter with the Risen Lord, to cleanse our souls of every dirt and sin, to strive in that which is pleasing and loved by God and to avoid what is contrary to the law of God. The Holy Great Fast is compared in church hymns with the open sea and we pray that the Lord gives us the strength to sail across the open sea without becoming shipwrecked. On the open sea there are frequently tempests, storms and waves, and it is natural that we who are also on the open sea of the Great Fast have tempests, storms and trials. But with hope in the grace of God, with our effort and endeavor, we should strive to cross the open sea of the fast without shipwreck and to arrive in the peaceful harbor of the Resurrection of Christ."Thus today we have experienced double joy.

Bishops Artemije and Teodosije at the Holy Liturgy in Gracanica Monastery today

FONET News Agency - Albanians ambush local Serb, February 20, 2010

2010-02-20T16:20:00.000+01:00

ISTOK -- Kosovo Serb Ljubiša Stepanović was assaulted early Saturday morning in the Kosovo village of Žać, near Istok, by a group of Albanians.

Stepanović was jumped by a group of four or five Albanians while on his way to buy bread in Osojane, according to return coordinator in the Serb municipality of Istok, Vesna Maliković. He was taken to the Kosovska Mitrovica hospital and the Kosovo police were informed of the attack.

Maliković said that the attackers waited for Stepanović hiding on the property of a Serb that visited several days ago with the intention of returning with his family. She said that the situation in Istok has drastically worsened over the last week, and that the attack has further upset Serbs living in the municipality.

“There are five homes almost complete for returning Serbs in Žać and it is obvious that someone does not like it,” Maliković said.

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RADIO KIM: Dimitris Moschopoulos – We will consult with the Serbian Orthodox Church to determine priorities and ways of protecting the religious heritage in Kosovo

2010-02-20T10:21:00.000+01:00

The head of the Greek Office in Priština, who last week assumed the position of Special Advisor to the EU on issues of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, attended Liturgy today in the restored church of St. Nicholas in Priština. Moschopoulos told reporters that protection of the religious heritage in Kosovo is very important for the EU.

"Exceptional attention will be dedicated to the protection of the Serbian religious heritage in Kosovo. This is important not only for our country but for the European Union in general. We are in constant contact with the Serbian Orthodox Church, we do not want to make any decisions at all on our own regarding what are the priorities but throughout this process we are consulting with representatives of the SOC in Kosovo. We want to identify priorities and tasks to which we will focus in cooperation with them," said Moschopoulos. He added that an action plan would be made in the near future listing the priorities and the complete work plan. In addition to the representative of the Greek Office, representatives of the U.S. and British Offices in Pristina also attended the liturgy.

Desecration of Serb graves continues, Beta News Agency, Feb 19th

2010-02-20T04:08:00.000+01:00

GNJILANE -- The grave of a Serb woman who was buried yesterday in Gnjilane, eastern Kosovo, was dug up during the night.

Kosovsko-Pomoravski District chief Dragan Nikolić told reporters today that the family found an open grave this morning, with the casket open and items removed from it. After that, the family laid the body to rest again in a different cemetery, in the village of Koretište.

"The deceased's last wish was to be buried in the upper part of the Gnjilane cemetery. This was the first burial in this cemetery since 1999. The digging up of her grave is a clear message to Serbs that they cannot even bury their dead in Gnjilane," said Nikolić. The town has a majority ethnic Albanian population. The case has been reported to the Kosovo police, KPS, the family said.

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Tanjug: Bishop Atanasije - The situation will calm down

2010-02-20T04:06:00.000+01:00

Everything will settle down in the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, said Bishop Atanasije and urged the faithful "not to listen to people who mislead".

Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, attended the liturgy served this morning (Feb. 19) in the church of St. Demetrius in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica and urged the faithful "not to listen to people who mislead”, transmitted Tanjug news agency.

"Do not listen to people who mislead. Bishop Artemije listened, but it seems that those who did not listen to him before but misused him have escaped from his obedience," said Atanasije.

He added that the situation in the Diocese of Raška and Prizren will calm down and that everything would settle down, reminding that "the people who have taken profit of the troubles of our people and our Church are already gone, that is, they have run away."

Bishop Atanasije expressed his satisfaction with the large number of children who attended the liturgy, calling on their parents to raise them properly.

Diocese Administrator Bishop Atanasije visits northern Kosovo

2010-02-20T02:14:00.000+01:00

Administrator of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren Bishop Atanasije today (Feb. 19) visited the north of Kosovo, where he attended the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts in the church of St. Demetrius in Mitrovica and met with priests and religion teachers of the Mitrovica administrative district. Bishop Atanasije also visited the monasteries of Sokolica and Banjska today, appointing hieromonk Danilo as acting hegumen (to replace the dismissed hegumen Simeon Vilovski).

ANNOUNCEMENT OF SERVICES FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (February 20 and 21, 2010)

On Saturday, February 20, 2010, on St. Theodore Saturday, His Grace Bishop Atanasije will serve Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the restored church of St. Nicholas in Priština. Prior to the Holy Liturgy, which will begin at 9:00 a.m. the recently rebuilt church will be reconsecrated. Taking into account that the remaining Serbs in Priština and the Serbs who fled from the city have asked a number of times that liturgy be served in this church, this will be the first opportunity for many natives of Priština to gather in the church in prayer and for the first time since 2004, when the church was torched, for the bells on this Serbian Orthodox church to ring once again.

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, February 21, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Bishop Atanasije will serve. Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the newly restored Orthodox cathedral of St. George in Prizren, where he will also first reconsecrate the church, which was completely rebuilt after being torched in March 2004. The arrival of many natives of Prizren is expected from various parts of Serbia as well as of the remaining faithful in the Prizren region. After the liturgy a procession with icons will be held. Bishop Atanasije’s intention is to establish regular church life as soon as possible in Prizren and that the see of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren, in accordance with the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops in 2009, return to the newly restored Bishop’s residence. This will give additional impetus to the return of expelled Serbs to this ancient Serbian medieval capital.

EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton visits Visoki Dečani Monastery

2010-02-20T01:24:00.000+01:00

Today (February 19) His Grace Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, together with protosingel Sava (Janjić) and hieromonk Andrej (Sejc), received the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton in the monastery of Visoki Dečani. Lady Ashton was accompanied by Yves de Kermabon (head of EULEX), Pierre Mirel, European Commission Director for Western Balkans), Robert Cooper (Director-General for External and Politico-Military Affairs in the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU), Dimitris Moschopoulos (head of the Greek office in Priština and the newly appointed special adviser to the EU for Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo) and their associates.

Bishop Teodosije welcomed Madam Ashton to the monastery, which, he said, is one of the most important Serbian Orthodox holy shrines in Kosovo and Metohija, along with the Patriarchate of Peć, the historic see of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Gračanica and the holy shrines of Prizren. "The protection of human and religious rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija is certainly one of the most important priorities of the Serbian Orthodox Church in this region and we hope that conditions will be created for the return of a large number of displaced Serbs," said the Bishop, adding that "our people in the enclaves still live under very difficult circumstances and better conditions must be created for their life and future".

He stressed that "the Church is particularly concerned about the issue of the protection of her holy shrines and monuments of Serbian culture in Kosovo and Metohija, and that he is happy the European Union has appointed a Special Advisor for issues of Serbian cultural heritage, Mr. Moschopoulos, who during his stay in Kosovo so far as the head of the Greek office has established very good contacts with representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church". Bishop Teodosije expressed the hope that in the future the EU will continue to make a contribution to the protection of the interests of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church, noting that the issue of protecting the names and identity of Serbian heritage as well as the property rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church is particularly important.

"The existing serious political questions must be resolved through the dialogue of relevant political factors, but the Church is also willing to give its contribution by working to build bridges of trust and reconciliation among ethnic and religious communities in Kosovo and Metohija, carrying out its centuries-old mission of witnessing the truth of Christ," stressed the Bishop. Bishop Teodosije also mentioned the issue of the security of the monastery, emphasizing the need to keep the most important Serbian holy shrines that are guarded by KFOR under the protection of international peacekeeping forces because "the political situation is still very delicate."

Madam Ashton expressed her admiration for the beauty of the monastery and stressed the great importance of preserving the Orthodox shrines in Kosovo and Metohija, in which the newly appointed Special Adviser on affairs of Serbian cultural and religious heritage, Mr. Moschopoulos, will provide a special contribution. "In the EU you have many friends who recognize and respect your vision for the future of the Western Balkans in which all peoples will live in peace and mutual respect. We are ready to do everything to help to realize that vision for the benefit of all," Madam Ashton concluded, adding that she is very happy and privileged to have visited such an important and beautiful place, which must be preserved for future generations.

At the end of their one-hour visit to Visoki Dečani Monastery Catherine Ashton visited the Dečani church and learned about the monastery’s centuries-old history.

Financial committee of the Holy Synod continuing work in Gracanica Monastery

2010-02-19T19:08:00.000+01:00

Starting today, the financial committee of the Holy Synod is continuing its work in Gracanica Monastery in order to thoroughly verify all aspects of the financial operations of the previous diocesan administration and to prepare a comprehensive report for the next session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. At the same time, finances, personal accounts and illegally acquired property of the closest associates of Bishop Artemije are under investigation by the Serbian police. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told Tanjug yesterday that "the public be informed very soon" about the results of the investigation.

Vicar Bishop Teodosije said: "We are faced with a great test, because if we as religious servants do not follow evangelical principles, how can we expect the faithful to follow our words. The Lord says: "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored?” (Mat 5:13). The clergy, monks and nuns in Kosovo and Metohija must set an example, and not be a stumbling block and a cause for distress and therefore our responsibility is even greater because of severe circumstances in which we live here. National and spiritual unity is our greatest task, and this can not be achieved on the basis of some secular ideology nor some individual, but only in community, in Liturgy, in the Church of Christ."

Director of Rade Neimar Diocesan Building Center arrested

2010-02-17T19:04:00.000+01:00

Belgrade, February 17 (Tanjug) - Today in Belgrade police arrested the director of the Rade Neimar Building Center of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren Predrag Suboticki, a close associate of the dismissed Bishop Artemije, sources in the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs told Tanjug.

Suboticki is said to have been arrested on suspicion of illegally appropriating about 300,000 euros that were given to him without a receipt for monastery reconstruction. The Rade Neimar company was engaged in reconstruction and rebuilding of monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija in the period from 2004 to 2009.

The arrested man is the kum [best man or godfather] of the brother of Simeon Vilovski, Bishop Artemije’s secretary, who is said to have fled.

On Saturday, February 13, the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church replaced Bishop Artemije from administering the Diocese of Raska and Prizren on suspicion that there are financial irregularities in the operation of the Diocese.

Atanasije Jevtic has been appointed Bishop Administrator.

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Additional information about Predrag Suboticki:

Although he permanently resides in Belgrade, Suboticki was appointed a member of the diocesan executive council of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, and recently also special supervisor for all financial matters of the Diocese. The Rade Neimar company, which was closed at the end of last year, was simply replaced with the “Diocesan Building Commission” with none other than Predrag Suboticki appointed as its head. In the diocesan archive there is a document whereby the Bishop establishes that no building on the territory of the Diocese can be built without the engagement of the Diocesan Building Center headed by Suboticki. Although an electrical technician by trade, for years Suboticki had a complete monopoly on all construction jobs that were performed on the territory of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren.

James Jatras launches petition against decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

2010-02-17T17:01:00.000+01:00

We have learned from sources in the United States that James George Jatras has launched a U.S.-based online petition against the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the request that the decision on suspending His Grace Bishop Artemije be annulled. It is important to mention that this is the same man who, as director of the lobbying firm Venable, according to data available on the website of the U.S. Department f Justice, in 2006 signed a contract with the Diocese according to which he was to be paid $600,000 for political lobbying purposes without, of course, the consent of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Since it is apparent from available documentation that a part of the money for "lobbying" came from humanitarian funds and the funds for the restoration of churches in the Diocese, Mr. Jatras’ petition is extremely hypocritical, to say the least, because the same man cost the Diocese and the hungry Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija hundreds of thousands of dollars, regularly receiving payment for even the most bizarre costs of his "lobbying".

This petition brings further confusion to the many honorable Orthodox Christians in the U.S. who empathize with the struggles and sufferings of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as to spreading various other misinformation regarding the current situation in the Diocese.

Communiqué of the NGO "Majka devet Jugovića" (Mother of the Nine Jugoviches)

2010-02-17T14:36:00.000+01:00

Following information that is appearing in the daily press about the misuse of financial resources collected for the soup kitchens in Kosovo and Metohija, we feel morally responsible for informing the public about the facts relating to this unfortunate case.

The NGO "Majka devet Jugovića" has been operating since the year 2000 and thanks to the campaign "an SMS for a meal," we succeeded in establishing four soup kitchens, which have been operating all these years and providing meals for the socially most vulnerable food Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. With the blessing of the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, money collected for the soup kitchen was deposited to the diocesan bank account and not on a separate bank account for the NGO. Funds for our needs were withdrawn from the treasury of the Diocese, and the NGO regularly submitted reports to the Diocese and to donors on funds spent.

In the recent period the NGO "Majka devet Jugovića" has not been given complete information regarding the state of the bank account and the amount of funds for the use of the soup kitchens. This raised suspicions, and not only in our NGO, that funds were being siphoned off for other purposes, which was quickly proven by an investigation of a commission of the Holy Synod of Bishops.

Our four soup kitchens continue their work with the blessing of the Administrator of the Diocese, Bishop Atanasije, and provide food for 1200 people. We are currently working on opening a fifth kitchen in the Gnjilane region. We take this opportunity to note that the cost of one meal per person is not 750 dinars, as some media erroneously published, but 75 dinars.*

We call on our donors and all people of goodwill not to stop helping the soup kitchens and the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija because of these unfortunate events because the Holy Synod of Bishops has undertaken timely measures to protect the fund collected for the soup kitchens and thus preserved the moral dignity of our NGO and our whole Diocese.

Our NGO is hopeful that in the future with the support of our donors and faithful we will succeed in justifying their full confidence.

Chair of NGO "Majka devet Jugovića" [presbytera] Svetlana Stevic

Activity of anti-church sites aimed at undermining the authority of the SOC continues

2010-02-17T01:22:00.000+01:00

The administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren Bishop Atanasije yesterday criticized the opening of a new anti-church website under the name of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, where articles are being signed by certain "monks of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren":

"These are uninformed and misguided people who with their lies are further aggravating the position of Bishop Artemije, in whose best interest they are supposedly writing. They are thus only demonstrating that they do not know what the Church is nor order within the Church and thus continuing the misdeeds of Simeon Vilovski, who brought his bishop and the Diocese into this position."

For the last few years, an ultra-radical group of monks and laity in the Serbian Orthodox Church has launched the work of several anti-church sites, including Gazimestan, Ihtus, Maranata, Borba za veru (the Struggle for Faith), Novinar.de, etc. In the files of Simeon Vilovski in Gracanica Monastery, a folder was found with a series of articles he wrote for these forums along with a few other monks of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren. Especially prominent among these were hieromonk Benedikt Preradovic, the administrator of Holy Archangels Monastery, who was removed two days ago from Gracanica Monastery for failing to accept the blessing from the competent bishop and for his arrogant behavior. Most active beside him was hieromonk Ksenofont Tomasevic from the same monastery, who was removed in 2005 from Decani Monastery by the unanimous decision of the brotherhood for creating discord and unbalanced psychological behavior. It is known that they also actively aided by some monks from Crna Reka Monastery with the blessing of hegumen Nikolaj, especially by hieromonk Naum. These and other "loyal children of Bishop Artemije" as they call themselves, are also behind the latest anti-church site, which propagates the most impudent fabrications against Bishop Atanasije and the Synod of the SOC.

These para-church sites have for years been regularly publishing the worst lies and insults, including those directed against Patriarch Pavle, now against Patriarch Irinej and against the most eminent bishops of our Church. Unfortunately, the writings of these deluded people is being uncritically repeated by certain printed media, especially prominently by Frankfurtske Vesti, in which reporter Rada Loncar has for years been giving a distorted picture of events in the Diocese in a highly unprofessional way and conducting a personal media campaign against Bishop Teodosije and Decani Monastery.

In the continuing investigation into the uncanonical activities of Simeon Vilovski and his accomplices in the Diocese, special attention will also be devoted to the anti-church activities of this group of “monks from the Diocese of Raska and Prizren”, some of whom began two days ago to actively distribute emails and phone messages lies about the alleged imprisonment of Bishop Artemije in order to cause unrest in the monastery. One member of Pokret 1389 (the 1389 movement), who was embittered by the attempt to misuse this movement in Gracanica on February 14, testified that they were personally instructed by hieromonk Ksenofont in Holy Archangels Monastery on how they should free the monastery “from the usurpers Atanasije and Teodosije”.

Bishops Atanasije and Teodosije serve memorial service for victims in Livadice

2010-02-16T16:04:00.000+01:00

The administrator of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, His Grace Bishop Atanasije and Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, with the concelebration of protosingel Mihajlo from Prizren, served a memorial service today in the church of St. Nicholas in Pristina for the victims of the terrorist attack on the Nis Express bus in the village of Livadice near Podujevo.

Today’s memorial service in Pristina was attended by about fifty family members of those killed, survivors from the bus and the faithful.

"I pray to God to grant the victims of Livadice a place in the kingdom of heaven together with all of God's people in the embrace of Abraham. The embrace of Abraham is the hand of the Lord, which holds the righteous as it is beautifully shown on the frescos in our monasteries. We commemorate them and sing their eternal remembrance. Children, brothers and fathers, it is important that God mentions and remembers us,” said Bishop Atanasije.

He reminded those present that no one has answered for the crime, as well as the fact of attempts to cover up the crime in Livadice and manipulate the numbers of passengers killed and maimed. "For days KFOR and UNMIK did not want to give the number of victims; they hid this because if the number of dead over ten, then it is an act of terrorism, while they wanted to describe this attack as an act of common crime. When doctors from Serbia performed the autopsy, they too were forbidden from disclosing the exact number; we were told that there were seven dead. Serbian pathologist Dr. Sasa Dobricanin, who participated in the identification of bodies, said at that time that he was not allowed to say exactly how many victims there were in Livadice because German pathologists stated that if he said that there were more than ten dead, he would not be able to participate in further autopsy," said Bishop Atanasije.

Bishop Atanasije conducted the requiem service for those killed in Livadice in 2001 in Gracanica Monastery in the absence of Bishop Artemije, who was then traveling in the United States.

Nis Express bus after the terrorist attack, February 2001

From Radio KIM news:

The only suspect for this crime, Florim Ejupi, was acquitted by the decision of the Supreme Court upon appeal due to the lack of evidence. EULEX then initiated a new investigation, and the head of the team of EULEX prosecutors Theo Jacobs (sp?) stated in June last year that the case was being handled by people from the office of the special prosecutor who are responsible for war crimes cases, while Florim Ejupi is still at large.

The victims of the attack on the bus are hurt the most that after nine years no one has been punished for the crime. "I’m most hurt that the investigation has not yielded any results. Florim Ejupi was released last year, two months after of the start of the EULEX mission. After UNMIK conducted an investigation for 5-6 years everything was tossed in a drawer, the only suspect was acquitted and no others were found. We would like to know how EULEX is conducting the investigation; they should notify the victims of this, as UNMIK used to do, so we know how the investigation is progressing," Gorica Scepanovic, one of the surviving passengers of the Nis Express, told KIM Radio.

Gordana Djoric, who was also in the bus that day, thought the same: "It hurts me that we still do not know who did this or why he did it. It hurts me that whoever is responsible for this attack has not yet been punished. It hurts me that no one considers it important or asks the families of the victims how they have fared these nine years without their loved ones. It hurts me that I still live in a time of lawlessness and without the rule of law. I live in a region where there is only a display of force. I remember everything that happened that day, the little child that played with all of us in the bus and the young married couple; I remember Mirjana and everyone who was around me. I remember the mangled bodies on the road; I remember everything and I will never forget it," said Gordana.

The Association of Culture and Education of Kosovo and Metohija organized a gathering in Laplje Selo today of poets, students, teachers, relatives and friends to commemorate the nine year anniversary of death and maiming of the passengers of the Nis Express bus in a planted explosion near Podujevo. The explosion of the mine, which was planted under a bridge on the main road from Nis to Pristina, blew up the first of six buses carrying displaced Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija for Memorial Saturday services in Gracanica and was escorted by KFOR troops. Twelve Serbs were killed and 43 were wounded.

Bishop Artemije’s associates investigated

2010-02-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

16 February 2010 | 09:37 | Source: Blic daily, Belgrade
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BELGRADE -- Bishop Artemije’s closest associates and advisors are being investigated, according to Belgrade daily Blic.

The daily writes that the bishop’s chief advisor took RSD 700,000 for a humanitarian campaign for the hungry in Kosovo to tie together his employment years. The Interior Ministry (MUP) is expected to begin an investigation into the financial abuses on Tuesday, according to this.

The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) forwarded all documentation to the police on Sunday. The bishop, who heads the Raško-Prizren Eparch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, was temporarily dismissed from his duties on Sunday.

According to the suspicions of the police, the money that was being sent to the Eparchy for the soup kitchens in Kosovo was going straight to private riches and luxurious lifestyles for several of Artemije’s closest colleagues, including Monk Simeon Vilovski, his brother Vladimir Vilovski, his godson Predrag Subotički and Gordana Markovic, who was the director of the State Bureau for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in 2007.

Much of the money as given to the so-called office for heritage of the Rska-Prizren Eparchy, which has done little other than creating several pamphlets, writes Blic.

At first Eparchy money funded the office, but once it ran dry, Vilovski started using money that was donated to the soup kitchens in Kosovo, the daily writes, adding that the money was meant to help feed 1,200 hungry Serbs in four such soup kitchens in the province.

Reply from Gracanica on lies and ignorance of journalist E.V.N.

2010-02-16T04:10:00.000+01:00

Bishop Atanasije, Administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren responded yesterday with a letter to the editors of Vecernje Novosti to an article published by a journalist of this paper under the pseudonym E.V.N. Bishop Atanasije’s letter follows:

First ignorance/lie: ''Bishop Atanasije served the new Liturgy'' and slightly below that, using different words: ''not according to the established church order, but with some new elements''. – Response: Bishop Atanasije served according to the official Sluzhebnik of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The story of ignorant persons about “the established order” deserves the response: Which and whose “established order” do you mean? The one from the former Austro-Hungary? – No, the one from printed Serbian Sluzhebniks, which was transmitted in the modern Serbian language in the Synod Sluzhebnik. Unfortunately, what we have happening, especially in the newspapers, is ignorant people preaching to the Synod and the Bishops. And bishops serve the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, which is eternally old and eternally new (Mat 13:52).

Another lie: ''A large number of those present (at the Liturgy in Gracanica) demonstrated their indignation by not waiting for the end of the service.’ The news is false and malicious (unless you take into account that a small number of Serbs more or less always leaves Church before the final dismissal). Here, on the contrary, most faithful stayed to the end of the Divine Service; all the children and many of the elderly took communion, then attended the cutting of the slava cake cutting by the Mother Abbess of Gracanica and the baptism of two children. After that most people moved into the monastery dining room to refresh themselves and to remain in prolonged conversation with the new Bishop.

Third lie: The abbess of Gorioc Monastery has supposedly been “dismissed”! – She has not been dismissed. It is erroneous news such as this that “creates further division” among the people, among the naive.

Fourth: The comments of self-proclaimed “experts on canonical law” (such as the unfortunate case of the renowned poor fellow Zeljko Kotor, who probably studied canonical law in one of Suvar’s schools* but does not know the Holy Canons; he can be considered an “expert” only by the ignorant E.V.N. and others like him). – Such a pretentious comment wants to say that the Holy Synod of Bishops theologians do not know the Canons of the Church! The Holy Synod, however, duly called Bishop Artemije three times (each time by a different delegation) to come to a meeting of the Synod, but he either refused or tricked it; he then tried “a private conversation'' with the Patriarch, to which His Beatitude, having learned a lesson from the previous “beating around the bush”, answered: ''Come to the meeting of the Synod; I do not make decisions alone but communally,” and Bishop Artemije left the Patriarchate. He arrived only on the last day and hour in the Holy Synod to tell his brothers, the members of the Synod that they were “in too much of a hurry”. Whoever understands – let him understand!

The rest will be said by the Holy Synod and the Holy Assembly in due course.

"Let the children come to me,

for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven"

Bishops Atanasije and Grigorije of Herzegovina with "a little deacon"

* Trans. note: Stipe Suvar, former Croatian education minister, leading Communist of the 1970s and 1980s

Bishop Atanasije on the Break into Gracanica Monastery

2010-02-15T12:53:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, February 14, 2010, a group of about twenty monks of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren which opposes the decision of the Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, led by the hegumen of Crna Reka Monastery Fr. Nikolaj and a number of civilians from the north of Kosovo, forcibly broke into the courtyard of Gracanica Monastery with the intent of “protecting the dismissed Bishop Artemije”. After unsuccessful attempts to enter through the main gate, the group of perpetrators led by the monks of Crna Reka physically assaulted the monks who are helping Bishop Atanasije in performing his duties. After a clash the group broke into the monastery using a side entrance. Shouting, they broke the entrance door of the bishop’s residence and one civilian even snatched a rifle from a Swedish soldier. (Swedish KFOR has been providing security for Bishop Artemije and the monastery for years.) The incident concluded after the group reemerged from the bishop’s residence, having convinced itself that Bishop Artemije “is not being held prisoner”.

Comments of Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren regarding this unfortunate event:

„One cannot “defend” Bishop Artemije by creating small para-church groups, “para-synagogues” (the first canon of St. Basil the Great), which threaten not only the unity of the Diocese but the entire Serbian Orthodox Church. One cannot build a personality cult around one man, while at the same time trampling the authority of His Holiness the Patriarch, the Holy Synod and the Holy Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Likewise, Kosovo cannot be defended using an anti-Kosovo ethic, i.e. with violence, just as good cannot be created in an evil manner for in the words of the Holy Fathers “good done in a way that is not good – is not good!”

Without a trace of human and Christian conscience, heinous lies have been spread about an alleged “assassination attempt”, the “expulsion” of the sisterhoods of Gorioc and Gracanica and the use of NATO troops (which have provided security this monastery during all the years Bishop Artemije has stayed here). Quotes were made up that yesterday’s Liturgy on the feast of the Meeting of Our Lord was “attended only by the followers of Hashim Thaci, even though there were about 200 faithful in the Gracanica church, including a substantial number of children, two of whom were baptized yesterday, and all the children and many others took communion.

Such a dishonorable campaign carried out by the followers of Simeon Vilovski only confirms that there has been a spiritually ailing and canonically out of step situation in this Diocese for years. However, in the Church of the Meek Christ not only can there not be brigandage (Jhn 2:16) but there is order and good acts, respect for the traditional and liturgical order of the Church, so that “all things should be done decently and in order” (1Cr 14:40).

Comments of Bishop Atanasije on the present status of replaced Bishop Artemije in Gracancica Monastery (until the next meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops):

"By the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of February 13, 2010, Bishop Artemije has retained his episcopal title and dignity, with the exception of the right of administering the Diocese. Bishop Artemije’s return to his earlier duty depends only on him and his attitude toward the structure and order of the Church of God. If he supports mobs like these it will be to his own disadvantage. The behavior of people calling themselves his “spiritual children” does not serve that purpose and is causing further damage to his spiritual authority and person, and the proper solution of his status. I stress that Bishop Artemije in his chambers in the bishop’s residence in Gracanica enjoys full personal freedom and can serve liturgy with the knowledge and consent of the competent Bishop Administrator and the Holy Synod of Bishops (due to possible abuse by irresponsible persons). Spiritual leadership plays a significant role in church life but it cannot be above a bishop’s authority and the canonical order of the Church. Insinuations that Bishop Artemije is supposedly “imprisoned and should be freed” are completely untrue, as Bishop Artemije himself testified yesterday before yesterday’s perpetrators whom he told to go home and honor the decisions of the Holy Synod of Bishops, which he personally signed on Saturday in the Patriarchate in Belgrade.

The bishop also has at his disposal four monks whom he wished to remain with him and every claim of his “captivity” is nothing more than common defamation which inflicts the most damage to Bishop Artemije himself, in whose name violence is being carried out and calls broadcast with alarming content for “the release of the imprisoned bishop”.

Due to abuses of the former official site of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, it was decided to bring the site under the control of the new administration. With respect to this, Bishop Atanasije said:

Due to ongoing efforts against the church on the former website of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, we were forced to temporarily shut down the site until a new presentation is prepared. The articles are full of passionate hatred, lies and slander that have no place on a site that bears the St. Sava seal of our Church and the title of this martyred Diocese. Any activity on behalf of the Diocese without the blessing of the Administrator of the Diocese will be considered an abuse. The website of the Diocese has been used for years for the publication of various petty political and subversive news items that undermined the reputation of the Diocese and the Serbian Orthodox Church throughout the whole world. This site was used to reflect a false situation that protected everything that was done in the name of Bishop Artemije, whose devastating effects were best seen yesterday in the unmonastic and unchristian behavior of some of his “spiritual children”. Unfortunately, a few hothead pseudo-zealots and pseudo-monks create the impression that this Diocese is ruled by a “monkocracy”, not a “Christocracy” and because of such persons the honorable clergy, which is already humiliated, and the faithful are repressed and practically pushed out from serving God and building a God-manly Body of Christ.

Bishop Atanasije explained new details about the case of Simeon Vilovski and his canonical crimes and financial frauds:

The Holy Assembly of Bishops explicitly warned Bishop Artemije twice, in 2006 and 2009, of the devastating activities of his secretary, Simeon Vilovski, and of the spiritually unhealthy situation in the Diocese he has headed and passed decisions to that effect which, unfortunately, were not implemented. Once it was established that the lawlessness exceeded all measures, the Holy Synod of Bishops was forced to take this measure and to send an administrator for the Diocese who could, with the help of the clergy and the faithful, repair the situation and return the Diocese to the full order of the church.

While reviewing diocesan documents it was established that Simeon Vilovski arbitrarily took money from the NGO “Majka Jugovica” which was intended for four soup kitchens that feed 1200 most vulnerable Serbs for which donations are collected by SMS. He used this money for personal luxuries, purchases, equipping an office in Belgrade and other purposes against the will of the authorized priest’s wife, Svetlana Stevic, who heads the NGO and who has made great efforts to prevent the siphoning of funds for the hungry. It is these very facts for which there is detailed documentation that show how grave was the moral fall of Vilovski, whom Bishop Artemije gave full authority and control over finances and even personnel matters within the Diocese, even though the Holy Synod and Assembly ordered him several times that this man be dismissed from all church duties for earlier canonical transgressions and financial frauds.

We also wish to point out the inverted logic of the aforementioned rebellious monks: "We do not recognize the Synod, but only Assembly!" If they were thinking clearly at all, these people could have concluded: that the Assembly elected this Patriarch, that two other members of the Synods were candidates for Patriarch, and that the same Patriarch presides over both the Assembly and the Synod. What happens when some members of an Assembly, whether this one or any other one, whether existing today or in the past, do not agree was resolved long ago by the sixth canon of the First Ecumenical Council: “If two or three object due to their argumentative nature, may the voice of the majority prevail.”

Bishop Atanasije serves Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in Gracanica Monastery on the feast of the Meeting of Our Lord (Sunday, February 14 /1, 2010)

2010-02-15T11:42:00.000+01:00

The newly appointed Administrator of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija His Grace Bishop Atanasije (Jevtic) served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy today on the feast of the Meeting of Our Lord in Gracanica Monastery with the concelebration of Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan and the clergy, monks and nuns of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren. Liturgy was sung by the nuns of Gracanica together with Abbess Mother Efronija, and attended by some 200 faithful from Gracanica with their children, two of whom were baptized after Liturgy.

Gracanica nuns with children at the Liturgy

In his homily Bishop Atanasije informed the faithful that by the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church he had been appointed administrator of the Diocese. He explained that he had come to repair the situation in the Diocese where a group of monks led by Simeon Vilovski had sullied the reputation of the Bishop and the Diocese with their anti-canonical actions and financial frauds, as well as by creating discord and division within the Diocese as well as outside the borders of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren. The Holy Synod of Bishops, said Bishop Atanasije, was forced to take emergency measures to protect order and unity of the SOC, especially on the territory of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren. In the continuation of his homily, Bishop Atanasije spoke about the significance of the feast of the Meeting of Our Lord and preparations for the forthcoming Great Fast as a period of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation and participation in the joy of the Resurrection of Christ the God-man.

After the Divine Liturgy, Bishops Atanasije and Teodosije invited the faithful, led by the head of the district of Pristina (of the Republic of Serbia) Mr. Goran Arsic, as well as clergy, monks and nuns to refresh themselves with food and drink and to talk in the monastery’s guest dining room.

Bishop Athanasius is already known to the faithful in Kosovo and Metohija. He personally spent the most difficult years of the war and post-war suffering in the region, helping first former Bishop (later Patriarch) Pavle and then Bishop Artemije, and visiting every part of the Province. There is hardly a village, monastery or cemetery that Bishop Atanasije has not visited, and he has especially close ties with the much suffering village of Cernica in the Gnjilansko Pomoravlje area. He personally took many photographs of destroyed churches that were later included in the book Crucified Kosovo. Bishop Atanasije is also the author of the book Od Kosova do Jadovna (From Kosovo to Jadovno) and a coauthor of the large momentous monograph The Holy Shrines of Kosovo and Metohija. He is one of the top experts on the situation in this region. Bishop Atanasije enjoys great respect among the clergy, the faithful and the monks and nuns on the territory of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren and his appointment as Administrator of the Diocese has resulted in open satisfaction on the part of many familiar with his tireless effort and love.

Communiqué from the administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, Bishop Atanasije

2010-02-15T11:39:00.000+01:00

By the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church no. 131 dated February 11, 2010, which is signed by His Beatitude the Serbian Patriarch Irinej, His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija has been dismissed from the administration of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren until the conclusion of canonical proceedings that have been initiated or until the next session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. His Grace Bishop Artemije is not banned from religious service and may reside in his bishop’s seat or another place or monastery or another Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the consent of the newly appointed administrator or the pertinent Bishop of the relevant other Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

At the same time, by this decision and by a special act of the Holy Synod of Bishops, no. 132 dated February 11, 2010, the undersigned was appointed administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren with all the rights and duties of the diocesan bishop. Both these acts are personally delivered to His Grace Bishop Artemije at a meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops on February 13, 2010 in the Patriarchate, with the explicit indication that both acts go into effect immediately. At the same time, using the car of the Synod and accompanied by one of the members of the Synod commission who participated in the previously conducted review of the situation in the bishop’s seat of the Diocese, we were sent directly to Gracanica Monastery, where we arrived yesterday, February 13, in the early afternoon. We were greeted by all the hierarchal administrators and a number of brother priests, monks, nuns and faithful of this Diocese, as well as by Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan and the abbess of Gracanica Monastery, Mother Efrosinija.

On that occasion, both of the above acts were read to all present. There were no objections to them because the local clergy and faithful have long expected the final resolution of the difficult situation in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, which resulted from the lawless, uncanonical and church destroying actions of Simeon Vilovski and his collaborators.

Upon arrival in Gracanica, by authorization of the Synod, we took over the Info-Service office, as well as the office of the secretary and cashier of the same Diocese. We entered the chambers of the bishop’s residence, not touching anything else and awaiting the return of His Grace Bishop Artemije. We took over the two above mentioned offices immediately after our arrival because of a founded suspicion that they could be abused, especially as we found out that the uncanonically appointed bishop’s deputy Simeon Vilovski had secretly fled from the seat of the Diocese to Greece the previous night. (At the same time, we wish to declare that possible broadcasting over the official website of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija (www.eparhija-prizren.com) by abusing this or another title of the Diocese is invalid until normal operation of the Info-Service of the Diocese is established with the authorization of the Bishop administrator.)

At the same time, we wish to inform the Holy Synod of Bishops, all parishes and monasteries of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren and the general public that we have taken over the administration of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren as the canonically appointed administrator, asking brother priests and the faithful, as well as the monks and nuns, to fully respect the decisions of the Holy Synod of Bishops, which are actually the implementation of the decisions of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and to conscientiously contribute, with genuine Orthodox faith and love in Christ the Chief Pastor, our Savior and the Savior of all people and all the world, to the peaceful overcoming of the canonical and financial disorder created by the anticanonical actions, more precisely, the church destroying behavior of the above mentioned Simeon Vilovski and his unscrupulous and anti-church associates. (The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church had already requested canonical proceedings against hieromonk Simeon Vilovski two years ago, directing Bishop Artemije to remove him from all clerical and administrative duties but unfortunately Bishop Artemije failed to do so, as he failed to carry out a series of other decisions by the Assembly and the Synod.)

At the same time, we call on all uninformed people in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren not to allow themselves to be deceived by individuals or groups and small groups that are maliciously spreading misinformation regarding the decisions of the Holy Synod and Assembly and slandering the Holy Synod and Assembly, thus directly opposing the competent ecclesiastical authority of our Church, and trying to create a schism in this tormented Diocese of St. Sava and St. Lazar, and beyond throughout the Church.

Some of these pseudo-zealots, instructed by the aforementioned Vilovski and others, whose selfish, criminogenic interests are threatened, and whose actions are subject to canonical and judicial sanctions, or stirred up by hegumen Nikolaj of Crna Reka and his submissive followers, were in front of the Patriarchate in Belgrade yesterday in order to pressure and hinder the work of the Holy Synod. His Beatitude the Patriarch reacted to this and asked Bishop Artemije to dismiss these rebels and subverters of law and order in the Church or be faced with additional charges and the assumption of even greater responsibility in his own case. This he did in front of the Patriarchate. We also pointed this out to His Grace our brother Artemije today and canonically requested that he remove a few monks from Crna Reka and Holy Archangels from Gracanica or that we would request a new intervention by the Holy Synod and the Patriarch, which will be at his expense, and for this we again received the approval of the Holy Synod and the Patriarch. If misled people, whether they are faithful or monks, truly want to help our brother and co-celebrant Bishop Artemije, let them do so by fasting, calmness, prayer and obeying His Holiness the Patriarch and the Holy Synod and Assembly, and consequently the Church of Christ. The monks especially should know that our Church is communal and communally hierarchically arranged and administered in the Holy Spirit, and that we are all subject to canonical order and canonical sanctions – if we are an Orthodox Church.

We greet our brother priests and faithful, as well as the monks and nuns of this ancient and sacred, divinely salvational Diocese of the great martyred Kosovo and Metohija, from Prizren to Raska and we prayerfully wish everyone a happy beginning of the Forty Day Great Fast, which introduces us to the Resurrection of Our Lord from the Cross and our own resurrection with the prayerful wish and blessing that we quietly and in prayer, repentance and hope in the Resurrection pass the days of the paschal fast and with a pure heart and peaceful conscience welcome the opportunity to revere Christ’s suffering and Resurrection – the God-manly Mysteries-Events of our salvation – with mutual forgiveness and brotherly love, taking part in these holy days as often as possible in religious services, especially in the Divine Liturgy, and taking communion as well, as frequently as possible, in the holy and life-giving Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, Crucified and Resurrected for us and for our salvation.

We also wish to announce that we will, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, visit parishes and monasteries and serve in all Kosovo-Metohija and Raska-Prizren churches and monasteries, including destroyed and renewed holy shrines.

Thus we will, with Holy God, already be serving on St. Theodore Saturday in the destroyed and renewed church of St. Nicholas in Pristina, and on the Sunday of Orthodoxy in the Orthodox cathedral of St. George in imperial Prizren, the ancient seat of this Nemanjic in spirit and pre-Nemanjic by date of founding, ancient Christian Diocese.

On Sunday before the beginning of the Holy Paschal Fast,
on the Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord, in the year of Our Lord 2010

Administrator of the Diocese of
Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija
+ Bishop Atanasije

Criminal proceedings initiated against archimandrite Simeon Vilovski and Predrag Suboticki

2010-02-13T19:20:00.000+01:00

The Diocese has been informed today that criminal charges were filed today in the High Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade against clergy member of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren archimandrite Simeon Vilovski and former member of the Diocese executive council Predrag Suboticki (better known for his former company Rade Neimar). Criminal proceedings were initiated on the basis of an investigation conducted by a commission of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church due to founded suspicions that Vilovski and Suboticki were involved in a series of illegal activities. According to state officials, last night (Friday, February 12) Vilovski fled from Gracanica to Macedonia by way of the Blace crossing using an unknown vehicle with Macedonian license plates. Early in the morning the next day (Saturday, February 13) he crossed the border between Macedonia and Greece at Djevdjelija in another vehicle with Belgrade license plates.

The police investigation will continue intensively and it is expected that the Greek authorities will soon be asked to extradite the suspect so he can answer to charges before judicial institutions of the Republic of Serbia for embezzlement of money from funds for the hungry in Kosovo and Metohija and other crimes. Vilovski’s flight abroad, when he realized that his financial transactions could not be hidden best demonstrate his responsibility and the responsibility of those who for years permitted various illegal actions and rewarded them with church titles contrary to the persistent demands of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SOC to dismiss Vilovski from all church duties in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren.

A commission of the Holy Synod of Bishops for the investigation of financial operations will soon continue in order to fully examine all other issues related to concrete operations and manipulations of the leading people in the Diocese.

Bishop Atanasije, administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, arrives in Gracanica Monastery

2010-02-13T16:56:00.000+01:00

The newly appointed administrator of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija Bishop Atanasije (retired Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina) arrived this afternoon in Gracanica Monastery to assume the duty of the administrator of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija. Bishop Atanasije was welcomed by Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan with monks, regional administrators, the abbess of Gracanica Monastery Mother Efrosinija and the abbess of Devic Monastery Mother Anastasija and the sisters. After a short prayer service in the Gracanica church Bishop Atanasije addressed the clergy, monks and nuns who were present with a relevant homily in which he informed them that by the decision of the Holy Synod of bishops he had arrived to assume the duty of administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren. After prayers in the church Bishop Atanasije stayed to speak with the present clergy, monks and nuns.

Bishop Atanasije stressed that special efforts would be made to intensify pastoral life and liturgical life in the restored churches in order to create stronger ties between the faithful and the Church and that would personally actively tour the Diocese in order to lend courage to the faithful in the present situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

Communique of the Holy Synod on Bishop Artemije's canonical responsibility

2010-02-13T16:48:00.000+01:00

Today at the session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, chaired by Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, it has been decided to initiate the procedure of determining the canonical responsibility of His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren in the first instance (Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church art. 70, sect. 20 and 356), with His obligation to cooperate during the procedure, and to be removed from the management of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren until the completion of the initiated procedure, or until the next regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops.

His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren can stay and serve in one of the monasteries or in a different place on the territory of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren or beyond it until the completion of the procedure, in an agreement with the administrator, or with the permission of the competent diocesan bishop, but without any intervention in the jurisdiction of the administrator or any of diocesan bishops.

On the basis of art. 70. sect. 21 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Grace retired Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina to be established as the Administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren with all the rights and duties of the diocesan bishop.