Appeal of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on the situation in Kosovo

A P P E A L OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO

Tragedy continues in Kosovo. Blood is still spilled; civilians including clergy and the religious are subjected to violence, banishment and humiliation. Many Orthodox churches have been abandoned, ravaged or even burnt or destroyed. The suffering of Kosovo Albanians has given place the suffering of local Serbs – the fact for which we receive more and more terrifying proof.

Almost a month ago, the Russian Orthodox Church, in the person of its Primate, already expressed her concern for the developments. The condition of Kosovo Serbs, however, has remained intolerable. Most of Orthodox Christians have already left the region, while those who stayed have been either victimized or have lived in continuos danger without any chance to be reliably protected against it.

Seeing the pain of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we reach out the hand of love and support for the Serbian Orthodox Church, whose Primate, His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, is carrying out a service of Holy Orthodoxy and his suffering flock exceptional in its courage and staunchness. Our hearts and prayers are with you, dear archpastors, pastors and lay people of the Serbian Church. Remember the words of Holy Scriptures: «Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tied, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him» (James 1:2). May your hearts not harden and may God give you a peaceful and prosperous life.

We appeal to the Kosovo Albanians as people who were once banished from their land but now have come back to restore their homes. You have suffered much, and the Most High has seen your agony. At a time when justice towards you has been restored, please try to avoid revenge and hatred which damage every one who takes a sin upon one’s soul and which eliminates hope for a truly lasting peace.

Appealing to the commanders and soldiers of the international peacekeeping forces, especially those who represent Russia, we ask them to do all that is possible to protect civilians and places of worship against acts of violence and vandalism. We believe it extremely important to establish relations of cooperation between the peacekeepers and the Serbian Orthodox Church around which thousands of suffering Serbs have come to rally today.

We appeal to the leaders of all countries involved in the conflict settlement and to the world public opinion to focus attention on the new tragedy developing in Kosovo. We are convinced that a true resolution of the conflict will come about only if all people in the region are ensured a life in dignity, irrespective of their ethnic and religious backgrounds and political convictions. The return of Serbian refugees needs the same support as was and is given to the return of Albanians. Peace in Kosovo will be ensured if law and order are re-established, individual rights are protected, civilians are disarmed and inter-ethnic relations are harmonized.

We can give assurance that our Church supports the peace settlement in Kosovo, promoting it both on her own and in cooperation with Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians in Europe and America. We believe it necessary to convene in the nearest future a religious peace conference on Kosovo, in which European and world religious leaders can participate together with representatives of all the governments and inter-state organizations concerned, so that the reconciliation of peoples living in Kosovo and the reconstruction of Yugoslavia ruined by war could be achieved as soon as possible.

May the Lord bring a longed-for peace to the sacred land of Kosovo and to the much-suffering Balkan region. May the peoples living in it, so different in their religious and ethnic roots but equally called to live together, be given again an opportunity for building good neighborly relations of mutual support.