Entire Serbia is a Shrine and Kosovo is its Altar
Arrival of the Patriarch of Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Pavle, to Gracanica, June 15/28 2006, Vidovdan
Yesterday, on June 28, Serbian greatest religious and national holiday and the red letter in the calendar of Serbian Orthodox Church, Vidovdan, was celebrated by Serbs world around with Holy Liturgy and Memorial Service (parastos) for Holy Kosovo Martyrs from 1389 til today.
The main celebration was traditionally held in Gracanica and at the adjacent site of Gazimestan (Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia) where the historical Kosovo battle took place 617 years ago, when a Christian army led by Serbian Tsar Lazar fought the invading Ottoman army of Sultan Murat.
His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, though ailing in his tenth decade of life, arrived from Belgrade to serve the Divine Liturgy and hold the Memorial Service. He was greeted by the Bishop of Raska-Prizren Diocese, His Grace Artemije, who thanked Patriarch for celebrating each Vidovdan with the faithful Kosovo Serbs for the past ten years, coming to Kosovo and Metohija where the Patriarch himself has spent 34 years in reverent Service:
You are showing us today that there is no such weariness and no ailment that can avert us from the righteous path.
Addressing the faithful gathered at Gazimestan, Serbian Patriarch recalled Christ's words:
He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. [John 11:25-26]
“And those who do not believe, though they still walk on earth, are already dead”, said Patriarch. He emphasized that in all parts of Serbia that Faith is alive today and asked the Lord to help us endure according to the Christ's word “he who endures to the end shall be saved” [Matthew 24:13]. This is the Faith that has “sustained our ancestors, and it will sustain us too if we uphold it.” Praying to the Lord for salvation of the Serbian nation after the Service to the Holy Serbian defenders of Faith on 617th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo, Patriarch Pavle prayed for our enemies, so that they should recognize the truth:
God, help our enemies recognize the truth. God, help us that when we meet our forefathers, they recognize us and accept us as their posterity, and especially help us to be recognized and accepted by You, our Lord!
In Gracanica, Bishop Artemije said that today is “Serbian Great and Holy Friday”, when Serbian nation along with Holy Tsar Lazar 617 years ago stepped out to "testify its Faith in the Heavenly Kingdom and serve Lord Christ, the honorable Cross and the Golden Freedom. Since then, Vidovdan is our eyesight, our path and the guide on our earthly road.”
Preparation for the Holy Liturgy on Vidovdan 2006, Gracanica, Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia. Patriarch Pavle served the Liturgy along with Bishops and Fathers of Raska-Prizren and Lipljan Diocese, and Fathers from Russian and Polish Orthodox Church.
Bishop Artemije stated that Kosovo should stay what it has always been, “our spiritual and cultural cradle, Serbian Jerusalem. What Jerusalem is for the Jewish people, Kosovo and Metohija is for the Serbian people.” His Grace Artemije said that “entire Serbia is a shrine, and Kosovo is its altar,” and added that there could be no shrine without an altar, as there could be no Serbia without Kosovo.
He reminded that for the last seven years Vidovdan is celebrated in difficult conditions in Kosovo and Metohija, in times when our nation is tormented and suffering. “Still, we live in spiritual freedom which Christ bestowed upon us,” said Bishop of Raska-Prizren Diocese, Artemije.
The road leading to church and the place of celebration was heavily guarded by armed troops. Despite all the precautions and additional KFOR troops assigned to protect Serbian clergy and faithful, Kosovo roads were blocked by Albanian protesters and 116 Albanians were arrested.