Ilarion: The Serbs have a huge reason to persist on their ancestral land and preserve the holy sites in Kosovo

The Serbs in Kosovo are facing the absurdity of the political reality at various levels, but they have a huge reason to persist and remain on their ancestral land and preserve their holy sites the vicar bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Novo Brdo Eparchy, Ilarion stated today.

Speaking at the opening of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija stand at the 54th International Tourism Fair in Belgrade, he expressed satisfaction that the Serbs, still did not give up on living in their ancestral homes and that, with the help of the state administration, they managed to present themselves in the best light.

"Here is another opportunity to confirm our faith and our commitment to the heavenly kingdom, and that commitment is actually a very concrete thing. It is not, as often presented, some fairy tale about a future beyond the clouds, but it is a heavenly royal commitment that every Christian should make every day, to opt for beauty, creativity, for life as opposed to passing things," Ilarion said.

He emphasized that it was inspiring to see the Serbs from Kosovo today in Belgrade presenting themselves in a positive light and gathering for a good cause regardless of the circumstances in which they lived.

"You see that we live in a time when things are falling apart all over the world, you see how we are confronted with the absurdity of the political reality in Kosovo at various levels, but it is inspiring to see this event where people do not give up on life, where people still want to gather around what is good and beautiful and what prevails," Ilarion observed.

He expressed satisfaction that the state administration of Serbia provided selfless support to its people.

"The beauty of faith particularly inspires our people, and we are pleased to see that there are people in the state administration who share the same faith and inspiration. It is a great comfort to the Serbs when we function properly for the benefit of our people with the state administration," the bishop assessed.

He took the opportunity to convey greetings to all present from the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije, and the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, Teodosije, "hoping that there will be more construction endeavors and that our state administration will enable our people to survive and remain in Kosovo and Metohija, and that we will succeed, by God's miracle, in persuading those who do not wish us well to coexist with us out of love and goodwill".

The Serbs, he notes, have a huge reason to persist and remain on their ancestral land and preserve their holy sites.

As he says, he personally experienced their uniqueness and value based on just one visit to the Visoki Decani Monastery.

"One visit to the Decani Monastery completely changed my life, and I am not the only one. Many people nominally do not believe in God, but who were touched when they stepped into the area of ​​our holy sites," he said.

The Serbs, he emphasizes, must not forget that the world recognizes us through our holy sites and that the place of the Serbian Orthodox Church in our culture and nation is of fundamental importance.

He emphasized that the good cooperation over the years between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija was very significant, stating that this cooperation should serve as an example of good practice.

"We want to bless their efforts and hope that this good example will be recognized by others and somehow followed as something to be emulated and admired. Let creativity and beauty triumph over all the absurd and evil that we face," Ilarion stated.

After the addresses by the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and Bishop Ilarion, the young artist Pavlona Radovanovic from Orahovac presented herself to the audience with her songs.

She performed three musical numbers: "Ovo je Srbija", "Oj Kosovo duso Srbinova" and "Oj Kosovo, Kosovo".

Additionally, as a part of the presentation of the tourist offer of Gracanica, the ensemble of folk dances and songs "Venac" entertained the audience with their performance.