His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Belgrade

HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA CELEBRATED THE DIVINE LITURGY IN BELGRADE

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia who is now in Belgrade leading a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with His Holiness Patriarch Paul of Serbia.

The part of the Divine Liturgy proceeding the Great Entrance was conducted in the St. Sabbas Cathedral under construction, then the service continued on the square before the cathedral, with an assembly of bishops and clergy of the two Churches concelebrating and a tremendous concourse of Orthodox believers. After the service the two Primates of the Orthodox Churches addressed the congregation. Below is the full text of the homily by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. ADDRESS BY PATRIARCH ALEXY II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA AFTER THE DIVINE LITURGY IN BELGRADE April 20, 1999 Your Holiness, Patriarch Paul, Most Reverend Archpastors, dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:

Christ is Risen!

Pascha has come again to the holy land of Serbia. Recently we have heard again in churches the much-repeated words of St. John Chrysostom: “Let no one fear death, for the Saviour’s death has set us free”. Indelible is our joy in Risen Christ Who, by defeating death and sin, has granted us eternal life. Nothing can cloud this joy, even the suffering and destruction raging around, even the orgy of sin started by the ill will on the eve of the holy days and continued up to the present.

Yes, we have become witnesses to an action of glaring lawlessness as a handful of powerful and rich countries, who dare consider themselves the measure of good and evil, is trampling upon the will of the people who wish to live differently. Bomb and missile are pouring down on this land not because they seek to defend anyone. The NATO military action has a different goal – the goal to destroy the post-war order which was paid for by a severe bloodshed and to impose upon people an order alien to them and based on the dictate of brute force.

Injustice and hypocrisy, however, will never win. Indeed, according to an old saying, “God is not in power, but in truth”. The power of the adversary may exceed yours, but on your side, my dear ones, is God’s help and the meaning of all the historical lessons. Let us remember the most vivid of them – the lesson of World War II.

Let us remember also the words of the Lord: “When I am week, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9); and, “You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn. 16:20).

As we stand today on the threshold of the third millennium from the Nativity of Christ, we should realize that war cannot be a way of settling any problems whatsoever. It can only aggravate them – the fact to which the dramatic experience of this outgoing century attests. It is only good will seeking peace and a free and dignified life for all regardless of their nationality, faith or political convictions that can stop the bloodshed and preserve the integrity of your Motherland.

Only peace with justice can be enduring. Therefore, I ask and beseech you today to do everything to let the nations know the kindness of your hearts, so that old Kosovo, this historical and sacred land for the Serbian people, may no longer be defiled by fratricide. Help the peaceful and well-intentioned people who have left their homes to return there. Seek reconciliation and accord. Then nobody will be able to rebuke you for sinful actions in an attempt to justify one’s own sin.

Your Holiness, Reverend Bishops, dear Brothers and Sisters, it is the Day of Rejoicing today, a special Easter day when we commemorate the dead. Today, therefore, we are praying for the numerous victims of the bloodshed, for sons and daughters of the Serbian and other peoples living in Yugoslavia, for Orthodox Christians and the faithful of other religions and faiths, and for non-believers. Eternal peace and eternal memory be to them.

I am lifting up my prayers for those who have lost their health, roof and property, for those who have been driven away from their homes. May the Lord heal the wounds of these people and help them to make up their losses.

My ardent prayer is for the restoration of peace in your beautiful country. With hope for God’s help, I again and again call upon the leaders of both the NATO countries and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to stop all hostilities and begin a peace process. I can testify: the Russian Orthodox Church with her millions-strong flock, just as other well-intentioned people throughout the world, is ready to facilitate reconciliation in all possible ways.

I trust that the prophetic words of the Psalmist “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” (Ps. 29:11) will come true.

As a testimony to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church is praying for the suffering people of Yugoslavia and that the saints who were glorified in the Russian Land, I trust, intercede for you, I would like to give you an icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov with a particle of this holy relics. St. Seraphim said: “Seek the spirit of peace, and many thousands around you will be saved”. God grant that his holy prayers may bring peace and accord to the much-suffering people of Yugoslavia.

Today we have celebrated the Divine Liturgy here in the presence of a multitude of the Orthodox Serbian people. I would like to give you also some Eucharistic vessels so that they could be used for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in this magnificent Cathedral of St. Sabbas and testify to love that the Russian Orthodox Church feels for the Serbian Orthodox Church. Our presence here today and sharing in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with His Holiness Patriarch Paul, the episcopate and the clergy is another testimony to our continued unity in prayer.

I congratulate you all on the Radiant Resurrection of Christ, my dear brothers and sisters! Christ is Risen!