Patriarch in Kosovo for St. Vitus Day

Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej says that Kosovo and Metohija is a blessed land in which there is room for all people of good will. The head of the Serb Orthodox Christians spoke on Tuesday in the Serb enclave of Gracanica, in central Kosovo, and pointed out that greatest possible effort should be made so that Kosovo remains a part of Serbia, as it has always been throughout history. Patriarch in Kosovo for St. Vitus Day "Today, when so many hands are stretched towards Kosovo, we cannot and will never accept that Kosovo be snatched away from us. This is a holy Serbian land soaked with blood and cemented with the bones of holy martyrs. The price paid with blood is the highest price one can pay. That is the price which was paid for Kosovo," Patriarch Irinej said holy liturgy was served at the medieval Serb monastery of Gracanica, near the enclave. The services marked St. Vitus Day (Vidovdan). "We have to do all we can so that Kosovo remains ours, Serbian, just as it has always been throughout history. This is time of tempests, of force. But that will soon pass, because the eternal sun of freedom shines upon this land and all the pople that live on it," Patriarch Irinej said. St. Vitus' liturgy in Gracanica was attended by over 1,000 Serbs from all parts of Serbia, as well as from Montenegro, the Serb Republic (RS) and Macedonia. Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic, State Secretaries with the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija Oliver Ivanovic and Zvonimir Stevic, various party officials, public and culture figures were also present. Serbs today commemorate the sacrifice of the soldiers of the Serbian medieval kingdom who in 1389 faced the invading Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Kosovo, which took place near what is today the town of Pristina. The memorial service at the Gazimestan memorial will also be held today, and conducted by Patriarch Irinej. Patriarch Irinej in Gracanica (Beta)

Patriarch in Kosovo for St. Vitus Day

"Today, when so many hands are stretched towards Kosovo, we cannot and will never accept that Kosovo be snatched away from us. This is a holy Serbian land soaked with blood and cemented with the bones of holy martyrs. The price paid with blood is the highest price one can pay. That is the price which was paid for Kosovo," Patriarch Irinej said holy liturgy was served at the medieval Serb monastery of Gračanica, near the enclave.

The services marked St. Vitus Day (Vidovdan).

"We have to do all we can so that Kosovo remains ours, Serbian, just as it has always been throughout history. This is time of tempests, of force. But that will soon pass, because the eternal sun of freedom shines upon this land and all the pople that live on it," Patriarch Irinej said.

St. Vitus' liturgy in Gračanica was attended by over 1,000 Serbs from all parts of Serbia, as well as from Montenegro, the Serb Republic (RS) and Macedonia.

Crown Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević, Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović, State Secretaries with the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija Oliver Ivanović and Zvonimir Stević, various party officials, public and culture figures were also present.

Serbs today commemorate the sacrifice of the soldiers of the Serbian medieval kingdom who in 1389 faced the invading Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Kosovo, which took place near what is today the town of Priština.

The memorial service at the Gazimestan memorial will also be held today, and conducted by Patriarch Irinej.