Djuric meets with Head of the Coptic Church: Destruction of Serbian Holy sites in Kosovo is a red alert

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric met today with Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, Tawadros II, who is currently on his first official visit to Serbia.

Expressing his pleasure at the opportunity to host the head of the Coptic Church, Minister Djuric conveyed his belief that this historic visit would further contribute to the deepening of the traditional friendship between Serbia and Egypt, the strengthening of ties between the Serbian and Coptic Orthodox Churches, and the promotion of harmonious relations between Christian and Muslim communities in both countries.

“The bilateral framework of relations between our nations has been built by Presidents Aleksandar Vučić and Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, whose personal dedication and engagement have significantly enhanced cooperation across all sectors, elevating it to the level of a strategic partnership,” Djuric noted, emphasizing that in addition to political, economic, and defense cooperation, dialogue in the spiritual sphere is also of great importance to Serbia.

Speaking about the historical role of the Church as a spiritual community and a cohesive force in society, Djuric underscored the firm commitment and support of Serbia’s state leadership to the preservation of the spiritual identity of the Serbian people, whose roots and traditions trace back to Saint Sava—the founder of the Serbian Church and statehood.

“The tragic suffering and struggle for survival endured by our people in recent decades, along with the endangerment and destruction of sacred sites and cultural monuments in Kosovo and Metohija at the hands of ethno-nationalist extremists, represent a red alert not only for the Christian world but for the entire political, cultural, and academic community globally,” Djuric stressed, reminding that several monasteries and churches in Kosovo are under UNESCO protection.

Highlighting the persistent threats faced by clergy and believers of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo—as well as the fact that in the past 20 years alone, approximately 150 churches, monasteries, and other holy sites have been destroyed, damaged, or desecrated—Minister Djuric expressed gratitude to the friendly state of Egypt and to the Coptic Church leader for their understanding of the importance of preserving the Orthodox and cultural heritage of the Serbian people in Kosovo.