Petkovic from Visoki Decani: It is important to preserve peace and strengthen the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija

The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, attended the midnight Easter liturgy, which was served in the monastery of Visoki Decani by the monastery abbot Sava Janjic with the clergy.

The Liturgy in Decani was attended by leaders and members of the Presidency of the Serbian List, led by President Goran Rakic and Vice Presidents Igor Simic and Dalibor Jevtic, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced.

Congratulating believers on the biggest Orthodox holiday, Easter, Petkovic said that it was important to preserve peace, but also to continue to economically strengthen the Serbian people in the province, which was on its own in Kosovo and Metohija, according to the announcement.

"Here, under the arches of Visoki Decani, which are under the patronage of the Holy King Stefan of Decani, I congratulate the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija and all Orthodox believers on the most joyous Christian holiday, Easter, with the joyous saying "Christ is risen"! From the first abbot of Decani to the present father of Sava, seven centuries have passed and so this beautiful monastery welcomes Easter here with the Serbian people. And this year, the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija and our Serbian Orthodox Church welcome Easter with numerous challenges. These are also challenges for the state of Serbia, but we hope that we will preserve the peace and that we will succeed in achieving the normalization of relations, which is very much needed by both Serbs and Albanians. From here I want to say that the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija are on their own and that, just as they celebrated Easter here in Visoki Decani for seven centuries, they will continue to do so for years and centuries who are in front of us to celebrate this most joyous holiday," Petkovic pointed out.

Petkovic particularly emphasized the support and assistance of the Serbian state to the Serbian people in Kosovo.

"In these happy days, thanks to President Aleksandar Vucic, the state of Serbia managed to provide additional help to our people in the province and for the Serbs to see that the state of Serbia is with them and will never leave them. We have shown this through a special investment program of 30 million euros and opening of 800 new jobs and other important projects, investment in infrastructure, which will enable Serbian communities to continue to develop," said Petkovic.

On that occasion, Petkovic emphasized the importance of preserving Visoki Decani.

"It is important to note that this pearl of our world cultural heritage is still the most endangered monastery in Europe and that Pristina still refuses to return 24 hectares of land to the monastery, even though their highest legal authorities made a decision about it seven years ago. They continue to desecrate our temples, cemeteries and persecutes our Serbian people. Despite everything, we will protect our people in Kosovo and Metohija, as President Vucic has repeatedly said, and we will take care of preserving peace and ensure security for our people in these areas," concluded Petkovic .

Today, on Easter morning, the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija will attend the Easter celebration in the Draganac monastery, where he will share Easter eggs with the youngest and children.