In Leposavic, the municipal and church patron saint day were celebrated - with tricolor flags, but also with a ban

In Leposavic today, the church and municipal feast of Saint Basil of Ostrog was celebrated, and the divine hierarchal liturgy was officiated by the Vicar Bishop of Novo Brdo, Ilarion, with the con-celebration of the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

After the liturgy, a procession led by Vicar Bishop Ilarion took to the streets of Leposavic, featuring a Serbian flag that was 2.7 meters wide and 22 meters long. A large number of faithful were joined by about 350 members of cultural-artistic societies from Leposavic, Prilužje, Babino Most, and Metohija, dressed in traditional folk costumes.

During the processions, a poster with the image of Patriarch Pavle and the inscription "Let's be humane" could also be seen. After the walk, the cutting of the ceremonial bread and the breaking of the Christmas bread took place in the churchyard, with the luckiest children pulling out a gold coin today, while a traditional dance also unfolded around the church.

Due to the prohibition of displaying symbols of non-majority Serbian communities, it was not possible to hold the International Athletics Race, so only an athletics race for the youngest ages up to high school was held.

Vicar Bishop of Novo Brdo, Ilarion, in his address, reminded the faithful of the path and deeds of Saint Basil.

"From his youth, Saint Basil had to take refuge, which was the cross he bore by divine providence. He fled from human malice, but always returned. Thanks to God, he always hid in places from where he shone even brighter. Once, he took refuge in the Zavala Monastery where his parents sent him to study books, and later he went to the Tvrdoš Monastery where he became a monk. He wanted to go to Russia for a while, then returned with rich gifts, books, church writings which he donated to monasteries and churches and enlightened the people," Bishop Ilarion preached.

As he added, Saint Basil once wanted to go to Mount Athos and then stopped by Pec.

"There was Patriarch Pajsije who told him to return from Mount Athos because he saw that he was very young. He was not even 30 years old, worthy of the episcopal and pastoral office, and because the church needed such a man for the living church, he returned after a year from Mount Athos blessed with the Blessing of the holy fathers and was placed on the throne of the bishop of Zahumlje. Later, due to various pressures, he again wished to retreat to a more secluded place and found that Ostrog rock where he continued to struggle," Ilarion said, among other things.

This year, the gold coins in the Christmas bread were drawn by Marijana Ilic, who did not hide her joy, and the brothers Strahinja and Lazar Rajovic.

"This is the path to happiness and the blessing of today's feast of Saint Basil of Ostrog. I am very proud to have received the gold coin," Ilic said. The Rajovic brothers did not expect the gold coin, but are happy because both are going to one house.

"I did not expect to draw a gold coin, it means a lot to me. I wish everyone love and to have a wonderful celebration of this feast. When I started eating the Christmas bread, I saw the gold coin," said the younger Rajovic, while his older brother noted that this event will remain a beautiful memory for him.

"This is a memory of a beautiful event, I did not expect to receive a gold coin. I wish everyone a happy feast and to spend it in health and joy," added the older Rajovic.

This year, the liturgy was attended by several hundred faithful, and representatives from the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, local government, and representatives from neighboring municipalities were also present.

Milena Parlic, Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, congratulated the feast of Saint Basil.

"Faith is not just a word among Serbs, as best confirmed by all these liturgies that have been served in the holy week of Christ's resurrection and the one a few days ago in Gnjilane, the day before yesterday in Draganac monastery and yesterday in Brnjak, and today's that brought us together to celebrate Saint Basil. All these sanctities and holy liturgies confirm that we are connected and that through these services we connect with the Lord. This is our earthly and divine link, and it is in this bond that the Serbian people have drawn strength through the ages to survive," she said.

She adds that she is proud of the wonderful people who were present.

"We had the opportunity to see many people, children. I am proud of the children who carried their Serbian tricolor in this occupied city. These children, whose basic human rights are being destroyed daily, who are expelled every day, today proudly walked in the procession and in prayer with their tricolor, and it seems to me that this nation has chosen the right path, which is the path of light. Indeed, that light, as our Bishop Ilarion said, will only in faith defeat the darkness, so it is in that faith, in that hope of light, in my personal name, in the name of the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, and all my colleagues, that we wish to congratulate the Serbian people on this great feast with the wish that we gather here every year primarily in peace, but certainly also in joy on our Kosovo and Metohija," Parlic said.

The President of the Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Leposavic, Zoran Todic, declared that they will continue to live here despite everything because, as he said, they are on their own land.

"Today a large number of faithful gathered and it was truly beautiful to see a large number of young people, children who participated and attended the Liturgy and who took part in the processions. No matter how difficult it is and what we face daily as the Serbian people in the area of Kosovo and Metohija, today we have truly shown that we are on our own land and that nothing can stop us from working and preserving, above all, our faith, our culture, and our customs. I wish, above all, peace for everyone, because that is what we desperately need today, more wisdom, may the dear Lord God and Saint Basil give us additional strength to endure no matter what we face daily in the area of Kosovo and Metohija and our Leposavic. So yes, it is difficult, we are faced with pressures but we are here on our own land and we do not renounce everything that is ours, customs, faith, culture and of course our symbols which we could see here today in the processions where there was indeed a large number of Serbian flags," Todic said.

This year, Serbs were forbidden the traditional international athletic race "Saint Basil of Ostrog - Leposavic," for which a request was sent on Friday to the mayor of Leposavic, Lulzim Hetemi, who refused to allow Serbian flags to be displayed, although the Constitution of Kosovo allows this right to minority communities.