FROM THE MEDIA

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 18, 2005

HOLY SYNOD, TADIC, KOSTUNICA POSITIVELY ASSESS WORK OF SPC DELEGATION

Bishop Teodosije appointed by the Holy Synod as a member of the Commission for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding

Belgrade, April 18, 2005

The members of the official delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church who returned two days ago from a two week-long visit to the United States of America submitted a detailed report today at a meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Kosovo Council of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, the members of the Holy Synod and the Kosovo Council expressed unanimous support for the delegation's report and the positions represented before US officials and the head of the United Nations. They assessed that the visit was organized at the right time and that the contacts established will be of great significance for the protection of the vital interests of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its faithful in Kosovo and Metohija.

The Patriarch and the Holy Synod appointed Bishop Teodosije, the vicar Bishop of Kosovo, as a member of the mixed commission for the implementation of the Memorandum on reconstruction of Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo and Metohija.

The members of the delegation headed by Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina and Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan also met today with president Tadic, who praised the efforts of the delegation, emphasizing that it defended the interests of its people in a dignified and brave manner.

After the meeting with the President the delegation was received by Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica who also supported the work of the Church delegation. The Prime Minister said that the visit of the delegation was important to give a wider picture of the human rights situation in Kosovo. "I think that the voice of the Church is necessary and carries a very authentic message.... The Church cannot speak with the language of the state but the both testimonies are complementary". The Prime Minister added that the state and the Church are divided in Serbia "but are united in their common concern for the people in Kosovo and Metohija and their care for the century old Christian sites".

According to the statement for the press by Bishop Grigorije, "The Serbian Orthodox Church now has the responsibility of intensifying established contacts with international officials in New York and Washington at the local level, too, so that comprehensive restoration of destroyed holy sites and the return of refugees to their homes in Kosovo and Metohija can begin as soon as possible."

On his return to Kosovo Bishop Teodosije will have meetings with UNMIK and KFOR representatives as well as with the chief of the US office in Pristina Mr. Philip Goldberg in order to discuss how the Church can actively facilitate the process of reconciliation, returns and reconstruction of holy sites.

Delegation secretary
Monk Jezekilj Stakic