His Holiness Patriarch Alexy receives Yugoslavian Prime Minister Zoran Zizic

HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY RECEIVES YUGOSLAVIAN PRIME MINISTER ZORAN ZIZIC

Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia received a delegation of the Federate Republic of Yugoslavia led by Prime Minister Zoran Zizic on April 19, 2001, at his residence in St. Daniel’s monastery.

Welcoming and blessing the Orthodox guests, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated them on the feast of the Pascha of Christ.

His Holiness expressed the conviction that the official visit of the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia, accompanied by a representative delegation, would contribute to the consolidation of cooperation between Russia and Yugoslavia and their nations.

Patriarch Alexy and his guests discussed church-state relations in Russia and Yugoslavia, the integrity of Yugoslavia and the attempts to bring division into the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church, especially in Montenegro.

According to Mr. Zizic, the unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church is an important factor for preserving the integrity of the nation and state. He informed His Holiness that a few years ago the so-called Montenegro Autocephalous Orthodox Church was registered in Montenegro. This politicized schismatic grouping consisting of several clergy has as its aim to seize churches in the metropolitanate of Montenegro.

“The schism in the Serbian Orthodox Church, which has already been effected in Montenegro, has not been and will not be recognized by the Local Orthodox Churches. The present attempts to divide the Montenegro metropolitanate will find no support in any of the Local Orthodox Churches” His Holiness said.

In his talk with Zoran Zizic, His Holiness noted in particular, “I try to draw public attention to the acts of vandalism committed in Kosovo and Metochia. Unique churches, which should be taken under the protection of UNESCO, have been barbarously destroyed there”.

In conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, Zoran Zizic and his delegation said a prayer and sang the Easter troparion at the Chapel of All the Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land.