Bishop Ilarion held a memorial service for the murdered Serbian boys in Gorazdevac: There is no demand for retribution; it is an incurable malady when you hide a murderer among your people

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the murder of two Serbian boys in Gorazdevac, Panta Dakic (12) and Ivan Jovovic (19), Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, accompanied by monks from Visoki Decani, held a memorial service today in the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin in this place.

The memorial service was held on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the murder, and Bishop Ilarion said that Ivan and Panta had become known and recognized among the Serbs and that they were our hope.

"We have gathered here to offer a bloodless sacrifice, in memory of Ivan and Panta, the children of this place, the children of this land, the children of this river that runs through Gorazdevac, the children of Metohija, but also the children of us all. Ivan and Panta have become known and recognized among the Serbs and in a way they are our hope; they went with that youthful joy to the hands of their creator to rejoice in eternal glory there, and what happened to them tells us what this world is and what it is like," Bishop Ilarion said.

In his speech, the Bishop added that "it is an incurable malady when you hide a murderer among your people," adding that he hoped the murderers would be found.

"It poisons society, it poisons our relationships. No retribution, or punishment is required, we Christians expect judgment from the Lord and each of us will receive according to our deeds, but for this world, it is good that what is evil is driven out. Let's pray to God, that it also comes to light, precisely because of that fool who did it, it is better for him, that he receives a mild punishment and shame in this world than that he goes with that shame tomorrow or the day after tomorrow before the one who created him, because it will be much more difficult for him," Bishop Ilarion said to the gathered, conveying at the same time the blessing of Patriarch Porfirije and Bishop Teodosije.

Apart from parents, relatives, friends, and locals, the Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Milos Terzic, also attended the memorial service for the murdered boys.

On the day of the murder of Dakic and Jovovic, Bogdan Bukumiric, Dragana Srbljak, Djordje Ugrenovic, and Marko Bogicevic were also wounded.

After the memorial service in the church, a memorial service will be held today at the graves of Jovovic and Dakic.

On August 13, 2003, at the moment when around eighty Serbian children were bathing in the river, bursts of automatic weapons were fired at them. The perpetrators were never found, and EULEX investigators suspended the investigation at the end of 2010.