Holy Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent a message to the Primate of the Serbian Church condemning the recent ban on His Holiness and a group of bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
the recent ban on His Holiness and a group of bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from entering the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.
His Holiness, His Holiness, His Holiness Porphyrios, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovac, Patriarch of Serbia
Your Holiness, beloved of the Lord, Convener and fellow-servant at the throne of God!
Christ is Risen!
I cordially greet Your Holiness with wishes of unceasing Easter joy, good health and every blessing from the Risen King of Glory.
I am saddened and angered by the denial of the right of entry into the territory of Kosovo and Metohija for Your Holiness and the seven fellow archpastors who accompanied You to the monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec Patriarchate in order, following the established tradition, to celebrate the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy within its walls. to open the Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
We regard this step as a gesture of hostility towards the Church of St. Sava and a demonstrative denial of its great spiritual and historical role related to its centuries-long presence in the Kosovo province.
Alarm and concern in the Russian Orthodox Church are also caused by the news of the increasingly difficult conditions for the survival of the Serbian population of Kosovo and Metohija, the brutal pressure on our defenceless brothers by the security forces of the regime in Pristina, and the new threats to the ancient shrines of Serbian Orthodoxy.
I pray to Christ, the Victor of Death, the Life-Giver, that He may send Your Holiness gracious consolation in his ascetic labors for the benefit of the Serbian Orthodox Church, cover with His krilu blood, and strengthen in confession the faithful people of St. Saviour's Church in the sacred land of Old Serbia.
I wish blessed success to the Council of Bishops and send my heartfelt greetings to all brother bishops of the Serbian Church.
With brotherly love for the Risen Lord,
+Kyrill, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
