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7.519..

KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IN TODAYS SERBIA

By Kosara Gavrilovic
BeforeIbeginmytalkonKosovoandMetohijaintodaysSerbiaImustexpressmygra>tudetoFatherVictorforallowingmetosharewith youmyimpressionsofKosovoandMetohijaandthankyouallforstayingbehindaCertheLiturgyjusttohearmespeak. Imustalsoaskyoutobearinmindfourthings: 1.Istandbeforeyounotasanybodysrepresenta>ve.Ispeaktoyousimplyasmyself.Ispeakassomeonewhohasspentayearandahalf inthemonasteryofGraanicainKosovodedicatedtotheDormi>onoftheMostHolyMotherofGod.ThefactthatIliveandworkthereasa translator/interpreterofHisGraceArtemije,BishopofRasPrizrenandKosovoMetohija,doesntmeanthatIamspeakingtoyouonhisbehalf.I speaktoyouwithouthispermissionorknowledgebecausewhenItookmyleaveofhimneitherhenorIknewthatthiswouldhappen.However, sincemyarrivalhardlyadaywentbywithoutsomeoneasking:HowarethingsinKosovo?Andevery> eIwasaskedthisques>onIgavethe m sameanswer:ThingsinKosovoandMetohijaarebadandwillgetmuchworse.Andevery>meIgavethisanswerIrealizedanewjusthowbad, howuXerlyawfulthingswere.SoIdecidedtotellyouallaboutitandtoaskfortheBishopsblessingaCerthefacthopingthathewouldforgive thissinofselfwillfulness. 2.IfIspeakaboutsomethingasafact,itmeansthatIhaveeitherseenorhearditmyselforhavehearditfromanunimpeachablesource. Butwemustrememberthatweliveinanimperfectworldwhereevenunimpeachablesourcesmaymakemistakes. 3.IfIleaveoutthingsthatareofinteresttoyou,youcanbringthemupeitherasques>nsorasyourowncommentsaCermytalk. o 4.AndnallyImustwarnyouthatwhatIhavetosaywillbeveryunpleasant.ItwillbeveryunpleasantfortheRussians,evenmoresofor theAmericansandmostofallfortheSerbshere.ButIbegyoutohearmetotheend.Hearmeforyourownsakesbecauseitisasmuchabout youasaboutus.Iamnotaskingforhelp.Noonecanhelpus.OnlyGodcansaveusnow. Havingheardthiswarningyouhaveprobablyconcludedthatinmyviewthechiefculpritsforthecatastrophicsitua>oninwhichSerbia ndsherselftodayaretheSerbs.Andyouwouldberight:wearethechiefcauseofourmisery.However,thisdoesnotmeanthatAlbaniansare notkillingus.Theykilluseveryday,andeverydaytheymakeourlivesjustanotchhardertosustain.Witheverydaythatdawnstherearefewer SerbsinKosovoandMetohija.WeareslowlydisappearingfromKosovoandMetohija.Butthatisnothingnew.Youknowitallalready. NeitherdoesitmeanthattheWestasawholeandAmericainpar>cularareblamelessinthiscatastrophe.Theyhaveplayedaverydirty roleinthecaseofSerbia.AmericasbehaviortowardsSerbiawasimmoral,dishonorable,incontraven>onoftheirownandinterna>onallaws andcontrarytotheirowninterests.ButIdontwanttotalkaboutthattodaybecausetheAlbanians,WesternEuropeandAmericaarefarfrom whatmaXersmostinourlivestoday.Itcantrulybesaidofus:Wehavemettheenemy,andtheenemyisus. TodayIwanttospeakaboutanewdangerwhichthreatensyouaswellasus,andifyoudontunderstandthattoday,thentomorrow,orina monthortwoinanycaseinthenearfutureyouwillwakeuponenedayanddiscoverthatthiscalamityisyourreality,notonlyours. And now let us turn to Kosovo and Metohija in todays Serbia and to Serbia in generalnot because Kosovo and Metohija are an inalienablepartofSerbianotbecausetheyaretheheartandthecradleofSerbia,notbecausetheyareSerbiasHolyLand.Theyareall thatbutthatisnotthepoint.ThepointisthateverythingthathappenstodayinSerbiaismorethanjustconnectedwithKosovoandMetohija;it isdenedbythem.EverythingthathappensinKosovoandMetohijadependsdirectlyonthegovernmentofthecountryinwhichtheseregions arelocated,namelyonSerbia.AndalsobecausewhatishappeningtodaytoOrthodoxyinSerbiaisinextricablylinkedtoOrthodoxyalloverthe

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world. WhatcanItellyouaboutSerbiaingeneralandinpar>cularaboutthesitua>onofKosovoandMetohijawithinittoday?Isitpossibleatall tospeakabouttodaywithoutsayingatleastafewwordsaboutyesterdayandeven>meslongpast?YoualreadyknowthatthestoryofSerbiais astoryofcon>nual,orcon>nuallyrepeated,divisions.Itisastoryofendlessdisagreementsandfatefulinternecinetroubles.Bytheway,some seventyyearsago,whenIwasinjuniorhighschoolandjuststartedtolearnaboutSerbianhistory,therewasawordwhichkeptcroppingupat everyhistorylessonwithamazingfrequency.Noneofusintheclassroomknewwhatthewordmeant,butitsoundeddarkandevilas,indeed,it shouldhavedonesinceitexplainedallthefailuresandallthedefeatsofourearlyhistory.Andalthoughweasschoolchildrendidnotunderstand themeaningofthewordmedjusobicaeventhenwebegantorealizethatinternecinetroubleswerethecurseofSerbia.Buttheiden>ca>onof therootofonestroublesisonethingandtheeradica>onofitissomethingquitedierent.Internaldivisionswereandwillalwaysbethecurseof Serbia. ItisnotsurprisingthenthateventodaySerbiaisadividedcountry.WhenIthinkofSerbiaIseetheSerbiansymbolalargecrossdividing thespaceintofouropenquadrants,eachcontainingtheleXerS.TheseleXersstandfortheabsurdandyetwhollyaccurateSerbianmoXo CCConlyconcordsavestheSerbsbutinsteadofWhenIthinkofSerbiaIseetheSerbiansymbolalargecross dividingthespaceintofouropenquadrants,eachcontainingtheleXerS.TheseleXersstandfortheabsurdandyetwhollyaccurateSerbian moXoCCConlyconcordsavestheSerbsbutinsteadoftheseleXersIseefoursegmentsofSerbiansocietydivided byacross.

Ver>cally,societyisdividedinto:1.TheStateheadedbythe seculargovernmentand2.TheChurchwithitsgovernment,i.e.TheHolyAssemblyofBishopsandtheHolySynodofBishops.Thesetwo segmentsareclearlyseparatedfromeachother.Horizontally,societyisdividedintothosewhogovernandthosewhoaregoverned.Inthethird quadrantwehavethenonbelieverswhoaresubjectonlytotheseculargovernment.Thesegmentinthefourthquadrantrepresentsthosewho believe,i.e.theclergy,themonas>csandthecongrega>on.Butthislastsegmentmustsubmitnotonlytothechurchgovernmentbutalsotothe stategovernment.Thishasalwaysbeenthecase.Today,however,eachoneofthesefoursegmentsisfurtherdividedintwopartspartswhich arefarfrombeingequal.Onepart,headednotonlybytheseculargovernmentbutalsobythechurchgovernment,ismuchbiggerandmuch morevociferousandpowerfulthantheotherpart,whichseemstometobesosmallastobevirtuallyinvisible.Themajorityisfuriously determinedtojoinEurope.Whileweintheotherpartask:What?ArewenotinEurope?Ifyouweretoaskpeopleinthestreetwhytheyare soeagertogetintoEurope,whattheyexpecttondinEurope,youwouldgettheimpressionthattheironlyrealdesireistogetavisaandbe abletotravel.FortheSerbstheVisahasbecomeanewGoldenCalf.Ifyouweretoaskthemfurtherwhattheywoulddointhatpromisedlandto whichthesopassionatelydesiredvisawouldtakethemandwhichiscalledtheEuropeanUnion,youwouldnotgetastraightanswer.Not becausethepeopleareafraidtosaywhatisintheirhearts.No,thepeopleofSerbiaarenolongerafraidofanythingandthatisthetrouble. Thisphenomenonisworthelabora>ngonbecausethisabsenceoffearisinfactoneofthegreatestandmostfrighteningproblemsfacingSerbia today.Youwouldnotgetastraightanswerbecausethereisntone.Peopledontknowwhytheywanttotravel.ItdoesntmaXertothem.They dontcarewheretheywouldgo;theydontcarewhattheywoulddooncetheygetthere.Itseemstomethattheywanttotravelsoasnottobe aloneanymore,soasnottofeellonely,abandonedandrejectedbyall.TheSerbsaresickand>redofloneliness.Butthetragedyliesinthefact thattheydontseemtounderstandthatoncetheygettotheEuropeanUniontheywillcon>nuetobejustasaloneandrejectedastheydotoday becausetheEuropeanUnionisaclubforthechosenones,aclubsoexclusivethateventhemembershipinitwouldnotguaranteetheir recep>onasequalmembers.Poland,BulgariaandRomaniaandevenGreeceknowthisalready.ButtheSerbsseemtobedeaftotheirbiXer complaintsagainstthepromisedland.TheSerbianpeoplelookwithabsoluteindierenceataconsiderablebodyofevidenceofthefactthat fortheBulgariansandtheRomaniansEuropeprovedtobethewickedstepmotheroffairytalesratherthanthelovingmothertheyhad expected.Na>ons,justlikeordinarypeople,hardlyeverlearnfromthemistakesofothers. AndwhatabouttheSerbiangovernment?TheSerbiangovernmentprobablyknowswhyitwantssobadlytobepartoftheEuropeUnion.It isveryar>culateinitsexplana>onsastowhywemustconsidertheEuropeanUnionthePromisedLandanditdoesnotunderstandwhythat otherpart,thatsmall,insignicant,barelyno>ceablepartofSerbiawhichisagainstit,doesnotbelieveitsgovernment.Wedontbelieveour governmentformanyreasons,therstofwhichbeingthatweknowperfectlywellthattheEuropeanUnionwillneveracceptus.Wemayfulll

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allcondi>onssetbeforeusEUwillpresentuswithanewcondi>on,neverbeforemen>oned,anddemandofustofulllit.Weknowthisandthe governmentknowsit,butthegovernmentdoesnotcare.Itisnotafraidofanynewcondi>onsthattheEuropeanUnionmaydreamup.Evidently ithasitsowninterests.Whataretheseinterests?Idontknow,butIamsorelytemptedtosaythatourgovernmenthasbeenbought. AllthoseintheproEuropeancamp,alltheWesternersinthegovernmentandoutsidethegovernmentthinkthatthegreatestobstacle ontheirwaytoEuropeistheProvinceofKosovoandMetohija.Theyarermlyconvincedthatifonlytheyweretodisappearothefaceofthe earth,wewouldbeadmiXedtotheEuropeanUnionthatverysecond,andtogetherwithKosovoandMetohijawoulddisappearallourproblems economic,poli>cal,social,spiritualandecclesias>cproblems.Youmightsay:Surelynotecclesias>cproblems.Whatcantheyhavetodowith KosovoandMetohija?ButIassureyouthattheEuropeanboundSerbianpublicthinksthattheseriousproblemswhichplagueourChurchtoday wouldbeclearedupimmediatelywiththedisappearanceofKosovoandMetohija. YouhavealreadyheardmespeakofdivisionswithinSerbiaandofinternecinetroubleswhichhavebeenthecurseofSerbiasincethe beginningofherhistory.ButincontrasttoourpresentlifetherewassomethingintheSerbianpastwhichwasindivisibleandneverdivisive.That wastheChurch.Yes,Iknow.TheChurchhasalwaysknownschisms;therehavealwaysbeenheresiesamongthepeople.ButintheSerbian ChurchaCerthefourteenthcentury,aCertheTurkishinvasion,aCerdestruc>onoftheSerbianempiretheChurchsurvived.Itsurvivedwithout itsexternalsplendor,withoutrichvestmentsandmagnicent,goldencrustedicons,withouttheangelicsoundsofitschoirs,butalsowithout schisms.TheChurchsurvived.Poor,persecuted,drivenundergroundtheChurchsurvived.Eventhecommunistsfailedtodestroyiten>rely.It survivedun>ltheendofthetwen>ethcenturyandthenitstumbled. AsIsaid,ourChurchtodayisjustasdividedasisthegovernment,asisthena>on.Thena>onisdividedonsuchissuesasShouldwejoin Europeornot?TogetherwithEuropetowardsglobaliza>onornot?TheChurchisdividedonthesameissues.ButfortheChurchtheseissues arealiXlemorecomplicatedthanfortherestoftheworld.TheChurchcannotconsidertheseissuesfromapurelyeconomicorgeopoli>calpoint ofview.AsfarastheChurchisconcernedtheseques>onsleadtoawholeseriesofotherissueswhichareofmoralorspiritualorpurely ecclesias>cnaturewhichtheChurchmusttakeintoconsidera>on.Wecouldexpectalsoourgovernmentandourpeopleindividuallyand collec>velyasana>ontotrytoanswersuchques>onsasWhatEuropearewesoanxioustojoin?IsittheEuropewhichcallstheNATObombing ofSerbia,inwhichover3000civilians,includingchildren,died,ahumanitarianinterven>on?OrisittheEuropewhichdaresnotprotectthe rightsofitsChris>anci>zensbecausethatwouldnotbepoli>callycorrect,whileatthesame>mediligentlyprotec>ngreligiousrightsofthe Muslims?Thegovernment,ofcourse,isnotobligedtotakecareofthespirituallifeofitspeople,buttheChurchis.TheChurchisobligedtotake careofthespiritualsalva>onofitsfaithful.WelooktoourChurchforsalva>on.WelookforthetruthinourapostolicChurch.Christcalledthe disciplesthesaltoftheearth.Butifthesaltshouldloseitssavorwithwhatshallitbesalted?(Mt5:13)WhatiftheSerbianbishopslosethat whichshouldbetheirchiefaXribute,thatwhichshoulddenethem?WhatiftheSerbianbishopshavedecidedtojointheseculargovernmentin itspursuitofwesternvalues?WhatiftheyalsowanttojoinEuropeandtogetherwiththeEuropeanUnionembraceglobaliza>on?Dotheyeven knowwhatglobaliza>onmeans?Canthey,explaintouswhythey,ourhierarchs,aresofran>callyanxioustojoinEurope? Eachbishophashisownreason.Somearegreedy.Othersareinsa>ablyambi>ous.Thereareyetotherswhoareafraid.Fearisanamazingly convincingreason. IknowpersonallyoftwobishopswhomtheStateDepartmenthasblackmailedintosubmissionmaintainingthattheyarewarcriminals, thattheUSgovernmenthasincontrover>bleevidenceofthisandthatatanymomenttheycouldndthemselvesinTheHaguebeingchargedof warcrimes.However,theUSgovernmentconsidereditmoreusefulforAmerica,orsotheStateDepartmentmaintained,iftheyremainedat theirpostsandcollaboratedwithAmerica.Andtheywerefrightenedandbehavedlikecowards.Theyremainedattheirpostsandmeeklystarted doingAmericasbidding. TowardstheendoftheBosnianwar,orimmediatelyaCerwards,Inolongerremembertheexactyear,Iinterpretedforoneofthem.Iwas withhimintheCongresswhenhewasaccusedofethniccleansing.ItwasBishopAtanasijewhomIknewwellandrespectedandloveddeeply.I knewatthe>methathewasnotguiltyofwhattheywereaccusinghim.IknewitnotonlybecauseIknewhimandlovedhim.IknewitbecauseI sawhisface;IheardhisvoiceasIlistenedtohisresponsesandmostofallbecausetheaccusa>onmadenosense.Nooneintheirrightminds wouldconsiderhisac>ons,which,incidentally,heneverdenied,anythingbutanactofcourageandhumanity.Nocourtintheworldwouldever tryhimexcept,ofcourse,thecourtatTheHague.IdontknowwhetherTheHagueaccuseshimofothercrimesaswell.NordoIknowwhat charges America thinks could be brought against Metropolitan Amlohije. I dont know whether the State Department really has any incontrover>bleproofofcrimescommiXedbyeitherofthetwohierarchs.IdontknowanditdoesnotmaXer.WhatmaXersisthattheyare bothguiltyofsomethingelse:theywerefrightenedandtheybehavedlikecowards. AndsoanewheresyappearedinSerbia.Truthtotell,thiswasnotanewheresy.IthadappearedrstinGreecesometenyearsagoor maybeevenearlier.OnemightsaythatinSerbiathersttono>ceitwereourvillagegrandmothers.Theymightnotknowhowtoreadorwrite buttheyknowtheirliturgybyheart.Andtheliturgysuddenlystartedtochange.Firsttherewerealmostimpercep>blechangesintheorderof theservice;thentherewereomissionsoritonlyseemedsototheolddears?ButwhenitcametotheGreatEntranceandwhenthechoirwas forbiddenfromtheambotosingtheCherubicHymn,itwasntjusttheoldvillagegrandmotherswhono>cedthatsomethingwasnotquiteright. Andwhenitbecameknownthatconfessionwasnolongernecessary,itbecamecleartoeverybodythatthingswerepreXybad.Serioustalks thenbeganwithintheChurch,whichtheChurchtriedtokeepsecret.Butitfailed.Thepeopleknew.Noteverything,ofcourse,noteverydetail, butsomeveryimportantandverysadandfrighteningfactsdidreachthepeople.Welearnedforinstancethatwhenoneofthebishopswhodid notsharetheviewsofBishopAtanasijesaidtohimWhatyouaredoingisagainstthecanons,Atanasijereplied,Innewrealitycanonsarefor thebirds(.). Thesearethewordsofamanwhoun>lrecentlywasoneofSerbiangreatcanonists,respectednotonlyasanexpertincanonlaw,buteven moreasoneofitszealousdefenders. Andwhat,mightoneask,isnewreality?Orasitismostlycallednewevolvingrealityoryetreali>esinplural?Dontyoundit frighteningtothinkofallthesenewreali>es?Whatandhowmanyarethey?Andhowfararetheylikelytoevolve?Andwhatwilltheyevolve into?

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DontyoufeeltheearthbeneathyourfeetshiC?Doesntitmakeyouseasick?Andthisisnotsomethingthoughtupbyamadscien>st. ThiswasaSerbianbishopspeaking,ahierarchoftheSerbianOrthodoxChurchinwhichwepraiseandglorifytheLordwhohasestablisheduson therockofHisteaching.Wecannolongerstandrmonsolidrock. Thiswaswhyitwasdecidedlastyeartoputtheques>onofthenewheresyontheagendaforthemee>ngoftheAssemblyofBishops.The heresy,ofcourse,isneverreferredtoociallyasheresy.Itiscalledchangesor,lessfrequently,reforms. Lastyear,thepeopleorratherthatbarelyno>ceablesegmentofsocietyinterestedinsuchmaXers,waitedwithenormousinterest,even excitement,fortheAssemblyofBishopstomeetandforthedebateonthenewheresytostart.Wewerenotnervousorafraid.Wewerealready celebra>ngthevictorybecauseweknewthatBishopAtanasijewastospeakinfavorofthereformsandthatthecanonsweretobedefendedby thethirdoftheThreeGreatAsthenamebywhichAmlohije,AtanasijeandArtemijewerecalledintheseven>esofthelastcentury.Ourside neverdoubtedthatBishopArtemijewouldwin. However,mostprobablytheothersideagreedwithourassessmentofthelikelyoutcome,becauseattheverybeginningofthesessionof theAssemblyofBishopstheques>onofheresywastakenotheagenda.Thesamethinghappenedthisyear.Theques>onofchangeswasput ontheagendaandthen,mostunfortunately,removedfromtheagenda.Isaymostunfortunatelybecauseadiscussionaboutproposed changesmustnecessarilyinvolveadiscussionoftheheresyitself,andanopendiscussionofthatques>onisessen>alforourspiritualwelfare.It isabsolutelynecessaryforusrsttorecognizetheexistenceitselfoftheheresyandtheniden>fyitsessenceindetail. Ayearago,shortlybeforetheconvoca>onoftheAssemblyofBishops,inoneofhistalkswithhismonksBishopAtemijeaskedthefollowing ques>on:Whatdoyouthink,brethren,whatisthemostimportantques>onwhichconfrontsustoday?Theanswerunanimouslygivenwas,of course,KosovoandMetohija.No,saidtheBishop.NotKosovoandMetohija.ACerall,KosovoandMetohijaisjustapieceofland.Themost importantques>onbeforeusishowtoprotectandsaveourfaithfromheresy. Iamnotgoingtoanalyzeindetailtheelementsoftheheresy.IshallonlytellyouwhatIwastoldby,thosewhounderstandthesethings beXerthanIdo,representsthecoreoftheheresyitsprincipaldogma.Briey,thereisnosin.SonowweknowwhynooneinSerbiaisafraidor ashamedofanything.ThereisnosinbecausethroughhispassionontheCrossChristtrampleddeathbydeathandcleansedusnotonlyofthe originalsinbutofsiningeneralforever.Inotherwords,innewrealityallsinsareforgiveninadvance.Itmeansthereisnolongerneedfor repentance.Whatcouldwerepentofifthereisnosin?Itmeansconfessionisnolongernecessary.Wecans>lltakecommunion,probably becauseitisconsideredapurelysymbolicgesture. Kosovoisjustapieceofland.Itishardtobelievethatthesewordswerespokenbythemostpassionate,themost>reless,themost fearlessdefenderofKosovoandMetohija.WewhosawinhimthesecondHolyWarriorArtemiuscouldnotbelievethatheactuallysaidthese words.Buthedidsaythemandmuchmore.Ifweloseourfaith,welosealsoKosovo.Ifwepreserveourfaith,GodwillpreserveourKosovo,ifit ishiswill.AndhavingsaidthisBishopArtemijegavetheSynodanaddi>onalpretextforhisremoval. TheSynodhasbeentryingforalong>menowtoremoveBishopArtemije.Hewasrepeatedlyaccusedofnancialmalfeasance,forinstance, butthechargescouldneverbesubstan>ated.Inthefallof2004theytriedtodeclarehiminsane.Theyeventriedtoconvincemethathewas seriouslymentallyill.ThethenhieromonkandtodaysBishopofAustraliaandNewZealand,IrinejDobrijevi,andSuraganBishopTeodosije LipljanskicalledmebyphoneandaskedtomeetwithmetoexplainmorefullyBishopArtemijesmentalcondi>on.Thatmee>ngnevertook place.IwasnotconvincedandIdontbelievethatmanywere. WhatformdidBishopArtemijesinsanitytake?Oneofthesymptomsofinsanitywassaidtobehisstaunchrefusaltoallowthechurches andotherchurchbuildings,includingtheBishopsPalaceinPrizren,destroyedorheavilydamagedonMarch17,2004,toberehabilitatedbythe sameAlbanianswhohadwreckedthemintherstplace.Onemightsaythathisrefusal,underthecircumstances,waseminentlyreasonable. However,theEuropeanCouncil,whichwishedtobeinvolvedinthenancingoftherehabilita>onproject,insistedthatcontractsbegivento Albaniancontractors.SincetheBishoprefusedtodoso,theEuropeanCouncilturnedtotheSynod,andtheSynodorderedBishopArtemijeto signtheMemorandumonrehabilita>onofchurchesandotherstructures.BishopArtemijesignedandimmediatelywithdrewhissignature.For thenextfouryearshepubliclyandvigorouslydenouncedtheproject.InthebeginningitwasamaXerofprincipal:theBishopsimplyfoundit grotesquethatthedestroyerscouldsuddenlybecomerebuildersofwhattheyhaddestroyed.Laterthereappearedanotherreasonforhis refusalareasonofpurelytechnicalnature.WhatwasrehabilitatedbyAlbaniancontractorsbegantofallapartaCerayearorsooftheir rehabilita>on.Regardlessofthisfact,theSynod,nowheadedbytheMetropolitanAmlohije,whowasbynowamostcompliantcollaboratorof theEuropeanCouncilandAmerica,signedtheMemorandumontheacceptanceofrehabilitatedstructureswithouttheapprovalofBishop Artemije,AccordingtothecanonsoftheChurch,theMetropolitanhadnorighttomeddleintheaairsofanotherdiocese. Afewmonthsago,inAprilorMayof2009theSynodsentanul>matumtoBishopArtemije:byJuly1,thebishopwilleitheraccept rehabilitatedchurchesandotherstructuresownedbytheDiocese,orthebishopwillbebroughtbeforetheEcclesias>cCourtfordisobedienceto theSynodandotherac>vi>eslikelytoleadtoaschismwithintheChurch. Numerousar>clesappearedinthepressonthismostrecentconfronta>onbetweenMetropolitanAmlohijeandBishopArtemije.Among thesear>cleswerethosewriXenbyspecialistsinCanonLawbothclericsandlaywriters,bothonoursideandthesideoftheSynodallof whichassertedthattheSynodhadnocanonicallegtostandonandthattheEcclesias>cCourtwouldcleartheBishopofallcharges.Everyone wasabsolutelycertainthatBishopArtemijewouldrejecttheul>matum. However,noonetoldthepeopleofonecrucialfact.Noonemen>onedthattheverymomentthechargesarebroughtbeforethe Ecclesias>cCourt,theCourtwouldbecanonboundtorelievetheBishopofallhisepiscopaldu>esandappointinhisplaceanadministrator.The trialcouldlastoneortwoyears.Perhapssevenornineyears?NomaXerhowlongthetrialwouldlastbythe>meitwasconcludedthestruggle forKosovoandMetohija,fortheintegrityofOrthodoxy,foreverythingwhichBishopArtemijehadfoughtfor,wouldbeover.Andwhowouldbe thewinner? BishopArtemijesignedtheMemorandumontheacceptanceofrehabilitatedchurchesandotherstructures. Ul>matums,asotherkindsofblackmail,haveallonethingincommon:theynevercomesingly.Therstisalwaysfollowedbyothers.And soitwasinthiscase.Thesecondul>matumfollowedcloseontheheelsoftherst:theBishopmusttakeupresidenceinhisrehabilitatedPalace

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inPrizren. PrizrenisanancientSerbiantownthecapitalofEmperorStefanDuanwhoruledinthe14thcentury.NotfarfromPrizren,Emperor StefanDuanbuiltamagnicentmonastery,madeofwhitemarbleanddedicatedtotheHolyArchangels.Aboutthemiddleofthe15thcentury theTurksbegantopullthemonasterydownandinthe16thcenturytheystartedsystema>callycar>ngthemarbleaway.In1615themarblewas usedtobuildahugemosqueinPrizreninhonorofSinanPashatheverysameSinanPashawhoorderedtheholyrelicsofSaintSavatobetaken outofitsshrineintheMonasteryMileeva,broughttoBelgradeandburntatVraar. Incidentally,whentheSerbsreturnedtoPrizrenattheendoftheTurkishoccupa>onin1912itneverevenoccurredtothemtopulldown theSinanPashaMosque.Thisinstanceofpoli>calcorrectnessantefactummayhavebeenabigmistake. Inthe20thcenturytheAlbanianscompletedthedestruc>onoftheHolyArchangels.ButattheendofthatcenturyBishopArtemijerebuilt it.ActuallytheBishophadtorebuildthemonasterytwiceasonMarch17,2004theAlbaniansburnedittotheground.Nowtherebuilt monasteryissurroundedwithrazorwireandprotectedbyGermanKFORtroops.Someveorsixmonksliveinit.TherearenoKFORtroops visibleinthecityofPrizrenitselfbecauseonlyAlbanianslivethere,exceptforonesolitaryoldSerb. WhenHisGraceIrinej,theBishopofNi,transmiXedtoBishopArtemijetheSynodsordertoreturnwithallduespeedtoPrizren,Bishop ArtemijeaskedWhataboutprotec>onthere?theanswerwasProtec>onwillnotbenecessarythere. Andthatistrue.TheBishopandallthosewhomtheBishopwillhavetotakewithhimwillneednoprotec>oninPrizren.Protec>onisnot necessarybecauseprotec>onisimpossible.Noonecouldprotectthemthere,asonMarch17veyearsagonoonecouldprotecteitherhis palace,orthechurchofMotherofGodofLevi,ortheHolyArchangels,ortheSerbianpopula>onwhoonthatdaydisappearedinitsen>rety, exceptforonesolitaryoldSerb. AndsotheSynodofBishopsoftheSerbianOrthodoxChurchissendingaSerbianbishop,BishopArtemije,tohismartyrdomandwith unbelievablecynicismitdoesnotevenbothertoconcealthefact. Bishop Artemije has oCen been accused of seeking martyrdom. Bishop Artemije is not seeking martyrdom. None of us is seeking martyrdom.DuringeveryLiturgythelitanyofroga>onischantedtwice.Each>meitendswithaprayerforapeaceful,blamelessandpainless Chris>andeath.Soitisnosinnottodesiremartyrdom,andnoneofusdesiresit.WeonlyaskthatGodgrantusthestrengthoffaithwhich wouldgiveusthecouragetoendureandnottoyieldtofearatthelastmoment. Sowhatwillhappennow?TheBishopfacesachoice:hecansubmittotheSynodagainandgotohiscrucixionorrefuseandgotocourt. Whathewillchoosewedonotknow.Butwecansaywithcer>tudethathewillchoosewhatwhichatthatmomentwillseemtohimbeXer,orat leastlessdamaging,forhisbelovedOrthodoxKosovoandMetohija. Now,Iaskyou,whatotheranswercouldbegiventotheques>onHowarethingsinKosovo?otherthanThingsinKosovoandMetohija arebadandwillgetmuchworse?

(Given in September 2009 in the Parish Hall of the Russian Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Washington, DC.)

(c) 2010 v5dizajn

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