Blessing for Metohija from distant Australia

Bishop Milutin of Australia and New Zealand visits Orthodox faithful in Metohija

Bishop Milutin, deeply moved by all he had seen during the day, emphasized that it is truly necessary to go and see the joy on the face of the monks and the children who, he said, represent the hope in a better tomorrow despite the present difficult situation in which Kosovo and Metohija Serbs are living.

Welcome in courtyard of church in Orahovac (click on photo to enlarge)

KIM Info Service
Decani, October 24, 2005

During the course of the day Bishop Milutin of Australia and New Zealand, the administrator of the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica, visited Serb enclaves in the Orahovac region together with Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan to convey the blessings of their brothers and sisters from distant Australia to the faithful and present donations to the children and most needy.

"I am very happy to be here today with the faithful in Metohija and to be able to convey greetings from distant Australia, especially to the children who represent the future of Kosovo and Metohija," said Bishop Milutin before the faithful who gathered in the church in Orahovac. He expressed his gratitude to Bishop Artemije, who blessed his visit, as well as to Bishop Teodosije, who organized today's visit. Bishop Milutin was greeted by a crowd of remaining Orahovac Serbs in the courtyard of the church of the Most Holy Theotokos, with children expressing their gratitude to him for the fact that Serbs in faraway Australia were thinking of them through song. 

Bishop Milutin addresses children in Orahovac (click on photo to enlarge)

After the visit to Orahovac, Bishops Milutin and Teodosije visited Velika Hoca, where the dear guest from Australia was welcomed with a cultural arts program performed by smiling children from Hoca with their parish priest, Father Milenko. Bishop Milutin visited the school and distributed aid to the children, and then also visited the Decani cellar, where he learned more about the production of their renowned wine.

Bishop Milutin then visited the monastery of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in the nearby village of Zociste, where monks led by Protosingel Petar have been trying since their return to the monastery last year to raise it from its burned ashes. Beneath the monastery, in the village of Zociste itself, Ser houses are being rebuilt for Serbian returnees, and the monks have high hopes that the first Serbs will return to Zociste by the end of this year. Bishop Milutin expressed his solidarity and support for the monks efforts and contributed his own donation toward the reconstruction of this ancient holy shrine.

Bishop Milutin concluded today's visit to Kosovo and Metohija with a visit to Visoki Decani Monastery where he was formally welcomed in the church and then at a festive luncheon. Bishop Milutin, deeply moved by all he had seen during the day, emphasized that it is truly necessary to go and see the joy on the face of the monks and the children who, he said, represent the hope in a better tomorrow despite the present difficult situation in which Kosovo and Metohija Serbs are living.

During the course of the afternoon, Bishops Milutin and Teodosije will also visit the monastery of Crna Reka near Novi Pazar on their way to Belgrade.