Serbian Church warns of worsening situation for Serbs in Kosovo

The Raška-Prizren Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Photo: eparhija-prizren.com

The Raška and Prizren Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church has issued a statement over the worsening situation of the Serbian people and the Church in Kosovo and Metohija.

The statement notes that following the 1999 armed conflict and the political processes that followed, the Serbian population in the region found itself in an extremely difficult position. The eparchy stressed that recent years have seen an increase in pressure on Serbs, violations of their property rights, and obstacles to the normal life of Orthodox communities.

The Serbian Orthodox Church expressed particular concern over the condition of Serbian holy sites. The statement says that many monasteries and churches remain under constant guard, while the Church continues to face attempts to restrict its property and administrative rights.

The eparchy also noted that the actions of the Kosovo authorities toward the Serbian population and Church institutions are complicating prospects for peaceful coexistence and undermining trust between communities.

The authors of the appeal called on the international community to ensure respect for the rights of the Serbian population and guarantee the protection of Orthodox holy sites, which are among the world’s cultural heritage monuments.

“The rule of law must serve justice and life rather than become a justification for Kosovo institutions to continue acting in a way that directly leads to the disappearance of the Serbian people and makes life impossible for the Serbian Orthodox Church, which has lived here alongside its faithful for centuries,” the statement reads.

As the UOJ reported, the eparchy of the Serbian Church earlier protested the arrests of believers in Kosovo.

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