A prayer for the Serbs in Kosovo in Saint Sava Temple; Patriarch Porfirije: Kosovo is our life

The Serbian Patriarch Porfirije prayed tonight in Saint Sava Temple for the Serbs and the Serbian holy places in Kosovo, and said that the Church had always protected the spirit of Kosovo and knew very well the special importance of "the Serbian territory of Kosovo and Metohija, the very heart of our homeland".

Patriarch Porfirije said that in these difficult days for the Serbs in Kosovo, they had gathered to pray for the people, for the holy places, "for our Kosovo and our holy Metohija".

"We gathered here modestly because we are a Christian nation, and therefore we know very well what Kosovo and Metohija means to us because the church has always been in Kosovo. The Church has never deviated from Kosovo and Metohija and has never left Kosovo and Metohija and not only did it not deviate but in no sense did it leave the people, the sanctities, villages, and cities, all that Kosovo, like a pearl, is. Never, not even now," the Serbian patriarch said.

The church is in Kosovo, now and always will be, because as he said, "we know that God wants it".

Patriarch Porfirije stated that the Church in Kosovo was not only in thoughts, from comfortable offices and comfortable salons, nor in empty and "hysterical words that most often just ring", but in Kosovo with its deads.

"Throughout the centuries, the Church has preserved the Kosovo spirit and carried it with it and spread it wherever it is in our nation. The Church has brought Kosovo to all our cities, to every corner, inch of space and land where we live," the Serbian patriarch said.

He stated that the Church, with its faithful people, knew very well the special importance of "the Serbian territory of Kosovo and Metohija, the very heart of our homeland, no less than the centuries-old Kosovo covenant".

"Therefore, there is no need and no one needs to teach the Church and explain what Kosovo is and how the Church should act in Kosovo and regarding Kosovo, nor can anyone with good intentions ask what the Church thinks about Kosovo and why it is silent regarding Kosovo," the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church said.

He added that in addition to the well-intentioned, who simply did not understand, the most interesting to him were those who asked such questions, who, he said, despised the Church from the bottom of their hearts.

"Those whose hair stands on end when they see the church and temple in the photo. When they ask why the church is silent, for us, to put it mildly, it is interesting. We do not need to answer them in any way, except what is our Christian duty, to pray. Such people would, for reasons known only to them, in these difficult times for our people, especially in Kosovo and Metohija, they would sow even more confusion and chaos, that there would be as many misunderstandings and quarrels as possible between us, that we would call each other names, that no one would show even an elementary level of humility, even in these days of great fasting. So they would also harness the Church, to be a free contractor in their program, in their hypocritical, ill-intentioned plan," the Serbian Patriarch said.

He added that it was well known that many of them cared about Kosovo "as much as last year's snow".

Patriarch Porfirije said that the Church had always and tirelessly given statements regarding Kosovo; that it had relentlessly and constantly testified to the truth about Kosovo, and that it had always done so, and would always do so.

"Church, we Serbs live with Kosovo and Metohija. Kosovo is our being, our breathing, our sight. Kosovo, that's us. Don't you think that every day when we wake up we will inform you that we are really breathing, that we are what we are?" he asked.

He also stated that it was easiest to say, in an eternally angry atmosphere, to liberate Kosovo and mix its wishes with the painful reality, which daily presses the Serbs in Kosovo, without taking into account all aspects of the extremely difficult and complicated general global situation.

"Only in the church and temple, in the holy place where we gather, can we not only see and understand the truth but also fundamentally contribute to the preservation of our people and holy places in Kosovo, our Kosovo and Metohija. One wonders why the Church calls for prayer for Kosovo and Metohija in these difficult times. ..Look at the miracle - the Church prays. Sorry, we really didn't know that this is the strongest tool that a Christian can have. That every other tool and activity, only based on that value, can get a true, far-reaching, full meaning. Prayer is our strongest spiritual weapon," the Serbian Patriarch said.

He added that the Church would pray for Kosovo every day.

"We have nothing against everyone expressing their concern for the holy Serbian land in their own way and organizing it outside the temple. But, the Church cannot agree that without it, someone outside the temple dresses in its name and uses its name, regardless of what kind of organization it is. No matter that he may have true and honorable intentions. The Church knows who and what it is, but we don't know who is behind various organizations, and often they don't know it either," the Patriarch said.

He said that the Church had to be careful and not allow it to be used in any way, even if someone had the best intentions, because the Church, as he said, had never been, nor would it be, nor could it be a factor of conflict, but just a place to understand.

"It is there to comfort, to be a compass and landmark, and by no means to contribute to discord. We need each other and we will not allow ourselves to rise against each other," Patriarch Porfirije concluded.

A prayer service for the Serbs in Kosovo was held in four more churches of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, as well as in North Mitrovica.

According to the blessing of Patriarch Porfirije, during the Easter fast, a "prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God with an akathist for the faithful people in Kosovo and Metohija, for the holy places in Kosovo and Metohija, and for Kosovo and Metohija" will be served.