Serbian patriarch denies criticizing government

BELGRADE The news carried on Wednesday by Serbian news agencies about SPC Patriarch Irinej criticizing the Serbian authorities regarding Kosovo was false. This was announced by the cabinet of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC). Serbian patriarch denies criticizing government A statement said that Patriarch, who is currently on a visit to Russia where he met with Patriarch Kirill, felt "utterly unpleasantly surprised by the false information published by some media today (Wednesday) that said that in his conversation with his host, he presented criticism and accusations against the state leadership of Serbia." This disinformation is not only malicious and anti-Church, but also gives away the intention of those who put it together to disturb the traditional brotherly relations and trust between the Serb and Russian people, the statement said. It added that one of the central topics of the meeting held between the two patriarchs was related to the problem of Kosovo and Metohija, and that Irinej "pleaded with his host to support the position of the SPC on the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia." "Everything else represents a construction made by the political, media, and perhaps even the para-Church circles, which for their own interest do not choose the means to, at any cost, cause a clash between the Church and the state of Serbia," the patriarch's cabinet concluded. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Serbian patriarch denies criticizing government

A statement said that Patriarch, who is currently on a visit to Russia where he met with Patriarch Kirill, felt "utterly unpleasantly surprised by the false information published by some media today (Wednesday) that said that in his conversation with his host, he presented criticism and accusations against the state leadership of Serbia."

This disinformation is not only malicious and anti-Church, but also gives away the intention of those who put it together to disturb the traditional brotherly relations and trust between the Serb and Russian people, the statement said.

It added that one of the central topics of the meeting held between the two patriarchs was related to the problem of Kosovo and Metohija, and that Irinej "pleaded with his host to support the position of the SPC on the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia."

"Everything else represents a construction made by the political, media, and perhaps even the para-Church circles, which for their own interest do not choose the means to, at any cost, cause a clash between the Church and the state of Serbia," the patriarch's cabinet concluded.