Metropolitanate of Montenegro and Littora: Report

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Pravoslavlje Press

Report

Belgrade, July 7, 1999

Today, on the holy day dedicated to the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, His Holiness Pavle, the Serbian Patriarch, has consecrated Rt. Rev. Filaret, the new Bishop of Mileseva, in Mileseva monastery. Besides the Patriarch, 12 more Bishops have participated in the Liturgy and in the

ceremony, among who there have been Greek clergymen, and there has also been, attending but not serving, Rt. Rev Jovan, the Metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and All Italy. By obtaining Bishop Filaret, the Diocese of Mileseva has gained a prosperous shepherd.

Having ordained Rt. Rev. Filaret to Bishop's office, His Holiness Pavle - the Serbian Patriarch, Rt. Rev. Amfilohije - the Metropolitan of Crna Gora and Primorje, Rt. Rev. Jovan - the Metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and of All Italy, and Rt. Rev. Atanasije –the Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina have gone to the monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec.

Earlier this day, while travelling to Mileseva monastery, the mentioned hierarchs have visited Djurdjevi Stupovi monastery in Berane, where a group of the Serbian refugees from Kosovo and Metohia is located. On that occasion Metropolitan Amfilohije has invited the refugees to return,

telling them: "Metohia is calling, Metohia is waiting. Your goal and duty must be your return to your centuries-long hearths".

The killings and expellings of the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohia have not been abated, in spite of all the negotiations of the Serbs with the Albanian leaders, and of all the promises the international community has made. We have been informed that, on Friday, July 1, Vlado, Dusan and Milovan Dimic, from the village Romuli, were killed. They were the last Serbian family in that village, very poor, without their own roof and livelihood. On July 5, seven Serbs were beaten, 3 of who very badly, in Lipljan. Up to now, in the municipality of Lipljan, 4 men have been kidnapped, and 196 Serbian apartments have been seized by the Albanians. There are only 60 more apartments belonging to the Serbs. On July 6, at the market in Pristina, the Albanians beat Novica and Dragan Krstic, from the village Gracanica. On the same day, in the village Drajkovci, municipality of Strpce, Sasa Drulovic (born in 1972) was shot by a sniper, below the heart. In that village, KLA soldiers move freely in their uniforms.

The negotiations between Kosovo Serbs and Albanians, under the auspices of the international forces, are continuing.

The battle for peace is fought outside the territory of Kosovo and Metohia, too. On July 5 and 6, the conference was held in Budapest, with the topic "Religious leaders role in the establishing of multireligious, multicultural and international dialogue", intended to discuss the Balkan

problems. The conference was organized by Jewish European Community, European Rabbis Community and Synagogue Organization Council for Europe. The participants of the conference were the representatives of the three "Abraham" religions: of the Christian faith (Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant), of Islam and of Judaism. Rt. Rev. Iriney, the Bishop of Backa,

and Rt. Rev. Atanasije, the Bishop of Hvosno, as decided by the Holy Synod of Bishops, represented the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the local Bishop of the Serbian Church, Rt. Rev. Danilo, the Bishop of Budim, also attended the conference. The conference showed real openness to reality and truth, which has not been the case up to now. It was accepted that the leading

factors of NATO countries are also responsible for the tragedy on the Balkans. In contrast to the previous inter-religious conferences, which supported the imposing of the American spirit to the rest of the world, at this conference, mostly influenced by the representatives of the Jewish

Community, it was pointed out that it was essentially important to preserve and promote the very differences and specificities of every religion and culture, in order to have peace and inter-religious understanding. All religions and cultures "have their own place in the history of the mankind, and we must use that diversity positively, against any kind of intolerance, discrimination and prejudice", it is said the final document.

Bishop Atanasije
Rakita

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