VIDOVDAN CELEBRATED IN KOSOVO

DONATIONS TO GRACANICA MONASTERY

Belgrade, 28 June 2003 - TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended today on Vidovdan, the holy liturgy celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch of Serbia Pavle and their graces Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren and Bishop Atanasije Jevtic of Zhumlje i Herzegovina, followed by a memorial service in Gazimestan to fallen Serbian solders of Kosovo and all battles in Serbian history.

Their Royal Highnesses were accompanied by the members of the Crown Council, Prof. Dr. Dragoljub Kavran and Prof. Dr. Nikola Moravcevic.

The holly liturgy and the memorial service were also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Nebojsa Covic and a member of Kosovo Coordination Center, Mrs. Rada Trajkovic.

After the holly liturgy, attended by a large number of citizens and the faithful, his grace Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren, expressed his hope that an larger number of people will gather in Gracanica next year.

The celebration of Vidovdan continued at Gracanica monastery where Princess Katherine delivered a donation in food and medicine to Bishop Artemije, which will be distributed to the parishioners of this bishopric. On that occasion, Princess Katharine addressed the gathering:

“My husband and I know this is a great day in our history and we belong here with you today. We bring you food and medicine as humanitarian aid, donated by our friends from Greece. I hope it will make your lives here at least a little easier. I assure you my husband, Crown Prince Alexander and I, will continue our work and will always be with you to help you.”

Bishop Artemije warmly thanked the Princess for her love and efforts in helping everybody. The Patriarch of Pavle, assisted by Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren and Bishop Atanasije Jevtic of Zahumlje i Herzegovina, then led the memorial service to fallen Serbian heroes.

The Patriarch sent an appeal to everybody to unite and continue to live together in harmony, love and peace in Kosovo.

After the laying of the wreath on the monument to the Kosovo battle heroes in Gazimestan, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II addressed the present and emphasized that today’s gathering on Vidovdan pays respect to all generations of Serbian soldiers who gave their lives for freedom, as well as to the people of Kosovo and Metohija who lost their lives just because they were Serbs and Orthodox.

The Crown Prince condemned all acts of terrorism, murders, and the recent cold blooded killing of a Serbian family at Obilic as well as any criminal act perpetrated on any Kosovo inhabitant regardless of his or her nationality, ethnic origin or religion. He reminded that the problem of Kosovo can never be solved through violence.

“We should not be discouraged, but rather united and put aside differences, and work wisely for a better future. The Serbs and the Albanians can and must live in Kosovo together in total peace and mutual respect under democratic conditions and the rule of law and that everyone’s human rights are totally respected. As Bishop Artemije always said there is enough land in Kosovo for both the Serbs and the Albanians. To live in peace there must be jobs, investments and opportunities for everyone in Kosovo. I repeat again what I have always said to everyone present that there is absolutely no room for extremists from anywhere, terrorism and acts of violence. It is most important that the Serbs remain and live securely in Kosovo and that the exiles return to their homes once conditions are right. Without people, the Serbian monasteries and churches would become museums, and that must never happen. I call on the Serbs not to be strong and not abandon their ancestral homes in Kosovo. I call on the international community to double its efforts and to work much more for security, human rights, the rule of law and democratic institutions,” added the Crown Prince.

This was the second visit of Their Royal Highnesses to Kosovo since their return to the homeland.