Archimandrite Ephraim: Kosovo is part of Serbia, where the heart of Serbian heritage lies

The abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery, Archimandrite Ephraim, stated that Kosovo is part of Serbia, that it is the heart of Serbian heritage, and that he cannot hide his sorrow and anguish over Kosovo. He emphasized that God's grace is helping the Serbs remain there in sufficient numbers to preserve their monasteries and traditions, RTS reported.

“I am wounded by Kosovo and Metohija, because Kosovo is part of Serbia. Serbia is there. The heart of Serbian heritage is there. Can we say that Mount Athos is not in Greece? Can it be taken away from us? It is the foundation, the alpha and the omega. What I wish to say is that I cannot conceal my sorrow and pain because of Kosovo,” Archimandrite Ephraim said.

He asked, “How is it possible that Kosovo and Metohija should now become Albanian? How did that come about, and for what reason?”

“Yet God’s grace helps our Serbian brethren remain in sufficient numbers in Kosovo and Metohija so that they may preserve their monasteries and their heritage. The rest is in God’s hands. Where is God? God is always with those who suffer injustice. Saint Paisios used to say that Christ blesses with both hands the person who is wronged,” emphasized Archimandrite Ephraim, the abbot of Vatopedi Monastery.

Asked how he views the situation in the world today, he replied that he sees a world filled with suffering and unhappiness.

“Given the nature of my ministry, I meet many people. On average, only one in fifty is truly happy. People today are not happy. Why? Because they have forgotten spiritual life. As I have said before, I do not condemn Europe, because Europe is a federation of states. It has advanced in many areas and invested substantial resources in medicine. This has extended human life expectancy. Unfortunately, however, it has failed in the spiritual sense,” Archimandrite Ephraim explained.

He added that Europeans come to Mount Athos seeking to become Orthodox Christians.

“They ask to be baptized, and that is the saving path into Orthodoxy. Europe has forgotten man’s spiritual origin, emphasizing the body and the intellect. But man is not limited to these, because there is also the immortal soul. As the Holy Fathers teach, the immortal soul is the spiritual foundation of human existence. If a person succeeds in healing his spiritual being, then he becomes peaceful and happy. Otherwise, nothing can satisfy him. Without deliberately seeking such encounters, I have met all kinds of people—emperors, statesmen, wealthy individuals—but above all the poor, with whom I most enjoy spending time. I have observed that many people who possess wealth and fame, who are economically and socially successful, still lack peace in their souls. They are unhappy because they lack Christ. As Saint Porphyrios used to say: ‘Christ is everything,’” stressed the abbot of Vatopedi Monastery, who brought the Belt of the Mother of God to Serbia.

Addressing the Serbian people, he said that their true strength does not lie in natural resources or anything else, despite having a beautiful country, but in Orthodoxy.

“Protect and preserve it, because Orthodoxy is not preserved through theories. Orthodoxy is not an idea, an ideology, or a philosophical theory. It is life; it is experience. We preserve Orthodoxy by adhering to the Gospel of Christ, which lives within the Church. We must be people of the Church, living within the life of the Church, breathing the air of the Church. We must nourish ourselves through the holy mysteries of the Church, especially Holy Confession and Holy Communion. This is our true wealth. Guard it as the apple of your eye, and you will inherit the Kingdom of God,” he emphasized.