"The resurrection of Christ is the most joyous of holidays for all Christians, especially for monks, who throughout their whole lives suffer together with the crucified Christ that they might be resurrected together with Him in life eternal. In Kosovo and Metohija today those who suffer the most from those who don't know the Resurrection of Christ are the Serbian people, the monks and nuns. The monks in Visoki Decani live isolated from the local community, which is one hundred percent Kosovo Albanian, and they are confronted with different problems every day," said Bishop Teodosije.
DANAS: Recently Visoki Decani has been confronted by open rebellion on the part of some Kosovo Albanians because of the safety zone around the monastery. Why did the announcement of another extension of the executive order defining the safety zone provoke protests?
BISHOP TEODOSIJE: For all of us living and surviving in Kosovo and Metohija today this year is especially significant because of the negotiations on future status, where one of the more important topics will be the status of the holy shrines of the Serbian Orthodox Church in this region. The SOC Holy Assembly of Bishops presented the clear position last November that our holy shrines also need to be protected by safety zones following the example of Visoki Decani Monastery, where a safety zone was implemented last year. Some of the local Albanians are now needlessly politicizing this issue, even though it is well known that our only intent is to enable appropriate institutional protection for the holy shrines and a normal life for our monastic coenobitic communions and parishes as living communities.
Since 2001 Visoki Decani has been on the list of the 100 most endangered cultural monuments in the world. One year ago, according to international assessments, it was considered a high risk zone right behind Iraq and Afghanistan. Why doesn't UNMIK pass a permanent executive order proclaiming it a safety zone?
I think that this issue will be considered separately during the course of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo and Metohija because one of the things the Contact Group is requesting in its Guiding principles is the clear definition of "the status of institutions, sites and other patrimony of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo". UNMIK Chief's executive decision is of a temporary nature and its validity is extended every six months. It must be complemented by a protective mechanism and other measures which would be applicable to all monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as to all important cultural and historical monuments. I hope that such a decision, which should be the result of negotiations, will be of a permanent nature and that it will be backed by the authority of the international community.
What is the attitude of local Albanian authorities toward the monastery and the current problem with respect to the safety zone? Last year you said that the mayor of [the town of] Decani periodically stopped by the monastery for a coffee even though he was shy about it. Has there been any progress in contacts?
The mayor does visit us from time to time but I must say that developments in the municipality and the threats we are receiving through the press or in the form of the most recent demonstrations are often at variance with the messages we are getting from representatives of Kosovo institutions. During our meetings with them we are constantly emphasizing that we need to do more than talk in order to be able to improve confidence in each other. An example of a responsible act would be the recent interview of Decani mayor Nazmi Selmanaj, who on Kosovo television (RTK) explained the purpose of the safety zone to the population and underscored that the residents of [the town of] Decani do not support Albin Kurti's protests. We remain hopeful that the Kosovo Albanians will finally understand that our monasteries are not a threat to the ethnic Albanian population but a spiritual and cultural value thanks to which this region is known to the whole world.
What is the role in all this of Ramush Haradinaj, the president of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, who many believe deserves credit for the fact that Visoki Decani survived the March 2004 pogrom? It is also said that while he was the Prime Minister of Kosovo, as someone originally from the Decani region he wanted to help the monastery, and that he has now called on members of his political party not to participate in demonstrations against the safety zone.
We have heard from international representatives of the UN and the diplomatic missions that Ramush Haradinaj and [current] Kosovo premier Agim Cheku were influential in the fact that the demonstrations were not joined by a larger number of people. If that is true, it's certainly an encouraging sign for us all. Nevertheless, we are waiting for Kosovo leaders to address their community more, like the mayor of Decani, and to encourage tolerance toward other communities and respect for the religious sites of our church. Only then will their messages to Kosovo Serbs ring true.
An inter-faith conference hosted by the Serbian Orthodox Church is scheduled to be held in the Pec Patriarchate. What is the purpose of such a gathering while negotiations are still in progress?
Planning for the inter-faith conference in the Pec Patriarchate is well under way and if everything proceeds according to plan it will take place at the beginning of May. The list of invited guests to the opening of the conference has still not been finalized yet but we expect that in addition to representatives of the religious communities in Kosovo and Metohija, the opening will also be attended by the highest representatives of the international civil and military mission, international diplomats, and representatives of institutions. The Serbian Orthodox Church will introduce itself as the first host of a conference of this type in Kosovo and Metohija with the goal of establishing a more direct form of cooperation among religious communities in the building of the spirit of tolerance and respect.
Judging by the statements of representatives of the Islamic community in Kosovo as well as of the [Roman Catholic] Apostolic administration in Kosovo, they are openly advocating independence, and their contributions toward that end are being openly praised by the heads of Kosovo institutions. What is the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church and is it ready to help integrate Serbs into a Kosovo society regardless of the future status of the Province?
The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church expressed its position in connection with the future status of Kosovo and Metohija in its "Ten Principles", published in January of this year. I personally believe that the role of religious communities should not be of a political nature; instead, we should offer our contribution so that the society being built here is just and that all citizens in it have equal rights and protection. The integration of Serbs into Kosovo society does not depend solely on our good will but also on the readiness of the Kosovo Albanians to show by their deeds that Serbs, too, can find their home in this society and be equal citizens.
Why did the Serbian Orthodox Church adopt its Principles relating to negotiations on the future status of Kosovo and Metohija if it is not directly involved in the negotiations?
The institutional protection of the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija and the protection of SOC religious monuments is one of the priorities in negotiations on the future status of the Province. It is completely normal for the Serbian Orthodox Church to be concerned about its faithful and its holy shrines, and to express its position on the matter. For the Church this is not a political issue but first of all an issue of the survival of the people and the holy shrines regardless of the agreed upon status. The adopted Principles clearly show that our Church is quite concerned regarding everything that is happening and will happen in Kosovo and Metohija.
In November of last year the SOC Assembly [the Holy Assembly of Bishops] clearly stated that every imposed solution will be considered an occupation of Kosovo and Metohija, which is not mentioned anywhere in the Principles. Does this mean the SOC changed its position? Could you comment on assertions by some of the Serbian and foreign public that the Principles are in fact a model for resolving the status of the SOC and Serbs in an independent Kosovo and Metohija?
It is with regret that I must say that this issue is being needlessly politicized and frequently wrongly interpreted. "Occupation" is not mentioned in the official press release of the Assembly of Bishops, published in the media and the official site of the Serbian Orthodox Church, although it is mentioned in a specific context in a message of the Bishops and in the personal communication of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle after the Assembly.
The message of the Holy Assembly of Bishops states: "The Assembly expects the Serbian Parliament to advise the entire people that an illegitimate and illegal occupation has been carried out of one part of our national territory."
Therefore, the Serbian Parliament should take a stand [in case of an imposed solution] but it is not the role of the Assembly of Bishops to request that it do so or to itself "proclaim an occupation" because the Church is not a political institution. In that spirit the Patriarch notes in his communication that "taking Kosovo and Metohija by force would have the essential character of occupation". That is not a threat to proclaim an occupation; instead the Patriarch explains that imposing a solution regarding the status of Kosovo would be unacceptable. The issue of the future status of Kosovo and Metohija must be resolved through negotiations and in the interest of all citizens, and the SOC Principles clearly state that "the Holy Assembly of Bishops at its session in November 2005 adopted the position that the issue of the future status of the Province must be resolved in accordance with international principles of inviolability of the sovereignty and integrity of democratic countries, among them Serbia". This position is completely clear and leaves no room for any sort of ill-intentioned speculation.
How does the SOC view the possible division of Kosovo and Metohija or the exchange of the territory of Kosovo and Metohija for the Republic of Srpska?
No official SOC document supports the division of Kosovo and Metohija or a possible exchange of territories. Territorial divisions of this sort, unfortunately, always lead to the permanent displacement of the population and withdrawal from a part of the territory; hence, the Church simply cannot accept or support such ideas.
International officials are increasingly emphasizing that, as far as Kosovo and Metohija are concerned, within the SOC there are "hard-line" and "flexible, reform-oriented circles". How does the Church see this and are these assessments correct?
Every bishop, priest or layperson has the freedom and the right to form his or her views of current political developments and these views, of course, can differ significantly and be called by different names. However, the official position of the SOC is clearly expressed in the press release of the Holy Assembly of Bishops and the "Basic Principles", and that is the position that we recently presented officially during meetings with U.S. and UN officials during the visit of our church delegation to the United States. The position of the Assembly is unanimous and all the bishops have accepted it.
Is it a coincidence that the Principles were published on the eve of the departure of the most recent delegation of the Holy Synod of Bishops to the U.S. just as last year's visit was preceded by the signing in Pristina of the Memorandum on the restoration of destroyed Serbian holy shrines in the March pogrom or is it true, as some believe, that these were the "tickets" to high officials of the UN and the U.S.?
Within the SOC there is a very firm position that we cannot merely criticize others but that we need to present constructive proposals on how to improve the situation, i.e. that we on our part should do what we can to improve the situation for everyone. The position regarding the abovementioned issues, therefore, was not adopted because of the visit to the U.S. Restoration of holy shrines, as well as views articulated in the "Basic Principles", are an expression of efforts on the part of the Church to offer its contribution regarding our future in Kosovo and Metohija. After all, when you are prepared to offer something, you also have the moral right to ask for something concrete.
Although the SOC delegation emphasized several times that its visit to the U.S.A. was not political, why is it reiterated that it went with the knowledge of the Serbian president and prime minister, and that the SOC fully agrees with the position of the Serbian negotiating team, especially now that the deficiencies of Belgrade's strategy are emerging in Vienna?
The SOC delegation presented the position expressed in the Basic Principles, which state that the position of our church "fully complements the Serbian Government Plan for Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the Plan of President Tadic", as it relates to the general principles for the resolution of the status of Kosovo and Metohija. The SOC is not a part of the state negotiating team and hence is not in a position to have full insight into all elements of the state strategy.
How do you comment on claims by the Kosovo Prime Minister that "Pristina is able to guarantee all rights that Kosovo Serbs should have", as well as that Kosovo Serbs "should be less Serb, and more citizens of Kosovo and Metohija"?
These are statements of political nature on which I would rather not comment. I would just say that rights for the Serbs must be guaranteed not just by words but also by concrete deeds, which we have not seen so far. Serbs who live in Kosovo and Metohija are citizens of Kosovo but they are also citizens of Serbia. The fact that we live in Kosovo and Metohija does not mean by any account that we should renounce our identity so that we can be equal citizens of Kosovo. Kosovo society, whatever form it has in the future, needs to make it possible for all communities to preserve their identity. After all, that is the foundation of every democratic society in the world.
In your testimony before the U.S. Congress, you emphasized that you are "aware that our future as citizens of Kosovo in fact lies in Kosovo". Why is there speculation in the West that the possibility of an independent Kosovo and Metohija would mean all the Serbs would leave, and according to unofficial announcements some international organizations such as UNHCR are preparing crisis centers to provide accommodations for expected Kosovo Serb refugees?
Certainly our future lies in Kosovo and Metohija because this is where we live and this is where we should survive and stay. The biggest problem with the possibility of an independent Kosovo would be the completely justified fear of the Serb people that this would be, on the basis of all available evidence, an ethnic Albanian society where our survival would be very difficult. It is up to us to make the effort that the society that is built here is a society where everyone will be equal and adequately protected, both as individuals and as communities. Hence, the priority of the SOC, first of all, is to help our people to survive regardless of the political solutions that will not directly depend on us. For this we will need firm faith and unity but also the help of our country and the international community, and appropriate cooperation and contacts with local institutions.
Statements of U.S. officials range from claims that the U.S. does not have a ready solution for Kosovo and Metohija to swearing that "independence is the only possible outcome of negotiations". What is your impression after your visit to the U.S.A. and a meeting with Frank Wisner?
We did not discuss status with Mr. Wisner but the return of our people, their rights and the protection of our holy shrines. As far as we know, neither the Contact Group nor the U.S. Administration have an official position at this time regarding the status of Kosovo and Metohija, and the working principle at this point is that the future status must be a result of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina. Everything else is just personal opinion and sometimes a litmus test to check the reactions of specific political circles.
Most Western diplomats claim that Kosovo and Metohija is the price Serbia must pay "for all the sins of Slobodan Milosevic". What do you think of this view?
Many diplomats today present different views but these are not automatically the official views of their governments. The idea that an entire people needs to be held collectively responsible because of an erroneous policy is unjust and cannot lead to just solutions. The future of peoples and regions cannot be built on the punishment of one side and the rewarding of another. NO doubt, the goal of the international community is to encourage everyone, on both sides, with a vision of a society that will soon deserve the right to be a part of the European community of peoples.
How is the monastery preparing for Pascha under the present circumstances and what is your paschal message?
The Resurrection of Christ is a holiday that we welcome with special joy because in it we liturgically experience and celebrate the triumph of life over death, the eternal over the transient. Presently we are preparing to meet with the Resurrected Christ through daily services in which we recall Christ's path from His formal entry into Jerusalem to His crucifixion on Golgotha and His entombment. The Resurrection of Christ constantly reminds us of the purpose of our lives, which is not exhausted by our mere existence in this world but is a road to eternity. Logos became incarnate in order to make us eternal and incorruptible in the everlasting communion of the Holy Trinity. When we see all our essentially tiny and worthless problems in this transient world from the aspect of Christ's Resurrection and eternal life, we cannot help but feel immeasurable joy and blessing that cannot be overshadowed by all the trials and suffering of this world. That is why, while celebrating the feast of Christ's Resurrection with prayer, the Church calls its faithful to find strength and determination in this joy despite all travails that are currently befalling us. Hence, in the name of the brotherhood of Visoki Decani Monastery, and in the name of many who are today enduring and surviving in Kosovo and Metohija, I wish a happy and blessed paschal holiday to all the faithful children of our Church with the most joyous greeting - Christ Is Risen, Truly He is Risen!
In the tradition of the Orthodox Church the treatment of social issues cannot be considered as something separate from our liturgical life and Christian ethics. The Church is in constant, dynamic growth toward the eschaton, and the relationship toward the reality that surrounds us is drawn from this very view of future life in the Kingdom of Heaven where "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus". [Gal 3:28] Our social doctrine is contained in our Liturgy and in the Holy Tradition.
"In addition to daily life in the service of God and the ongoing struggle for perfection in the holy virtues, we have been confronted at the same time by the difficult challenges of war, and post-war persecution and suffering. These monastic labors, it seems, are not yet at an end. The Decani brotherhood, thanks especially to our spiritual father Bishop Artemije, has managed both during the war and in this post-war period to find the middle and golden road, and to preserve its evangelical identity, continuously attesting its faith in the Resurrected Lord, as well as helping those who needed our help. Christ's Holy Gospel always instructs us not to be exclusive in anything and to offer help to all those who need it regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation. It is our attitude toward the reality that surrounds us and all people of good will that in fact is the foundation of our spiritual life. Holy Avva Justin of Chelije teaches us that without love of God there can be no true love of humanity, and the reverse, that without true love of humanity, we cannot truly love God," emphasized Bishop Teodosije.
Visoki Decani is the biggest monastery and the Diocese of Raska and Prizren has the largest number of monks and nuns in the Serbian Orthodox Church, who insist on the tradition of the Holy Fathers. To what extent are assessments by some church circles of monastic elitism in both Visoki Decani and the Diocese valid?
Spiritual elitism is contrary to monastic ideals because we do not join monasteries in order to become some sort of "spiritual elite" that will dispense advice to others but so that we, being men and women of flesh and blood, can come to terms with our passions and weaknesses and live more directly as a eucharistic community, fulfilling the commandment of God given through the Holy Gospel. Monasticism and the ascetic tradition are just one expression of the fullness of church life but not the only one. Hence, the monastic way of life cannot be considered as the only standard for Christianity. Life in the family, the parish, humanitarian, missionary and educational work in the Church of Christ - these are all different areas where Christians are called upon to attest their faith in the Resurrected Christ.
Our way is the way of renouncing our ego, a constant struggle with egotism, the greatest disease of today, and continuous effort to live each day in deed as a community, sharing everything as one, both the good and the ill that befalls us. As monks, we struggle to realize our personality in the God-Man Christ, in our common life, starting from Liturgy to every individual monastic task, serving each other with our gifts given to us by God. Only in this way can we realize true freedom, i.e. freedom from selfishness and freedom to recognize the image of God in others, instead of being enslaved by envy and hate, and viewing others as competition to be defeated.
Monasticism is one of the most beautiful expressions of faith in the Lord Christ, deeply based on tradition and Christian teaching. It is always contemporary because it is full of dynamics. Hence monks, like Christians in general, are deeply involved in all problems of this world but at the same time, they are removed from them in a way because they do not live only in the present but constantly strive toward eternity. This union of the traditional and the contemporary, the past and the future, is the very thing that makes monasticism today such a specific form of expression of our spirituality and one of the greatest treasures of our Church.
Original headline: Kosovski Srbi su gradjani Kosova, ali i Srbije