Patriarch Irinej Prays For Kosovo, Spring Assembly To Last Until June 3rd

24/5/13

BELGRADE – Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej prayed on Tuesday for a successful spring session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and for Kosovo to remain Serbian.

“May the Lord bless the work of this assembly, but also the Church, which is undergoing a great trial, just like the people,” he said, adding that Kosovo would remain Serbian.

Irinej prayed for safety in Kosovo, stating that many holy sites were there.

“While our love and thought are bound to Kosovo, it will remain ours, as it has been,” he noted after a liturgy that marked the start of the assembly’s spring session.

It is expected that the Assembly will last until June 3rd, depending on the scope of the agenda. Among the topics should also be the question of property and the status of Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo after Brussels agreement signing, marking 1,700 years of the Edict of Milan, the problems in the work of certain dioceses.

Bishops will also discuss the canonization of Peter Petrovic Njegos, but also the status of the troublesome bishops, like recently retired Kacavenda or Pahomije, both related to sex scandals and pedophilia accusations.

Editor of the Religious Informative Agency, Zivica Tucic, said that “decisions to impact destiny” cannot be expected on the Assembly, but Kosovo, relations of the Church and state, and affairs in the Serbian Orthodox Church will surely be discussed.

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