KOSOVO: THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES ATTEND VIDOVDAN LITURGY AT GRAČANICA MONASTERY

Belgrade, 28 June, 2002- Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Crown Princess Katherine visited Kosovo today where they attended Vidovdan liturgy served by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the Reverend Bishop of Raška and Prizren Artemije with priests of Raška and Prizren Eparchy at Gračanica monastery. Their Royal Highnesses were accompanied by the Crown Council members Prof. Dr. Dragoljub Kavran and Prof. Dr. Nikola Moravčević.

This is the second visit of Their Royal Highnesses to Kosovo after 1999, when they paid a visit to the Patriarchy in Peć.

Upon the arrival to the Monastery of Gračanica, several thousands of Kosovo citizens saluted Crown Prince and his wife with great enthusiasm, while some of them chanted "Long live the King".

Holly liturgy was attended by the member of the “Return” coalition Mrs. Rada Trajković, participants of humanitarian marathon “Millennium of Christianity” that started a race from Belgrade to Kosovo on Saturday under the patronage of Their Royal Highnesses, as well as numerous priests and citizens from Kosovo.

After the liturgy, commemorative service to Kosovo soldiers was held at Gazimestan where Crown Prince Aleksandar laid a wreath.

Addressing the people Crown Prince Aleksandar said: “You, present here, are descendants of those who persevered and you must persevere because of yourselves and because of all of us. This is your world, this is your destiny. It is our duty to support you with all available means, for until you are not better, not one Serb will be better”.

“ And, for peace to blossom human rights of everyone must be protected and we serve to that goal with all our strengths”, Crown Prince said.

After the return from Gazimestan, HRH Crown Princess Katherine delivered Lada Riva ambulance car, incubator Medicina TS and EKG apparatus to the Reverend Bishop of Raška and Prizren Artemije as a medical help to be distributed in Kosovo wherever it is necessary.

Ambulance car, incubator and EKG apparatus is part of generous donations made to the Crown Princess Katherine Foundation that received donations of medical equipment and ambulances worth over one-million euros from donors all over our country and the world.

“My husband and I are very proud of you for the strength you have shown in spite of all the problems that happened to our people. We came to our country not long time ago, but we have been with you with all our hearts. Now that we live in Belgrade we will do everything possible to make the future of all of us brighter and happier”, Crown Princess said.

Expressing his gratitude, Bishop Artemije said that not only the visit of Their Royal Highnesses to Kosovo, but especially their humanitarian activities were a huge moral boost for all those who live in the region.

On this occasion Bishop Artemije also delivered medals “Mothers of the Jugović” to the mothers from Kosovo that have more that four children.

Vidovdan celebration ended with formal lunch, at which occasion Crown Prince Aleksandar II expressed his wish for unifying gatherings of that kind to be “the permanent image of relations that exist between us”.