June 29, 2006

KiM Info Newsletter 29-06-06

St. Vitus Day (Vidovdan) Celebrated in Gracanica and Gazimestan

The main celebration of St.Vitus Day, one of the Serbian most important religious and national holidays was held in Gracanica and at the adjacent site of Gazimestan where the historical Kosovo battle took place 617 years ago when a Christian Army lead by Serbian Prince Lazarus fought the invading Ottoman army of Sultan Murat.

Patriarch Pavle served the Holy Liturgy at Gracanica Monastery

The main celebration of St.Vitus Day, one of the Serbian most important religious and national holidays was held in Gracanica and at the adjacent site of Gazimestan where the historical Kosovo battle took place 617 years ago when a Christian Army lead by Serbian Prince Lazarus fought the invading Ottoman army of Sultan Murat.

The Serbian Patriarch Pavle served a holy liturgy in the Gracanica monastery and later performed a memorial service at Gazimestan devoted to the fallen Serbian heroes. “ God, help our enemies understand 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,” Patriarch Pavle said after the service.

The Bishop of Raska-Prizren Artemije stated in Gracanica that Kosovo should stay what it has always been: "our spiritual and cultural cradle, our Serb Jerusalem. What Jerusalem is for the Jewish people, Kosovo and Metohija is for the Serbian people.” The Bishop Artemije said that “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.

The holy liturgy in Gracanica and the subsequent memorial service at Gazimestan was also attended by the Serbian cabinet ministers Slobodan Vuksanovic, Velimir Ilic and Milan Radulovic, as well as by the Head of the CCK Sanda Raskovic-Ivic. The road leading to Gazimestan was visibly secured by an increased KPS presence and the service at Gazimestan was also guarded by KFOR troops.

The memorial tower at Gazimestan - a historical site
of the Kosovo Battle (1389)

Source: Government of Serbia
Gracanica, June 28, 2006

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today in Gracanica, where he is on the occasion of St. Vitus' Day, that Serbia wants justice, fairness and peace and a historically just solution for Kosovo-Metohija.

Today from this place, on St.Vitus' Day, in Gracanica, we have an opportunity to tell the world what Serbia wants. Serbia wants justice, fairness and peace. The Serbian people want justice and peace and are ready to talk. The Serbian people want to make an agreement. The Serbian people want a compromise and a historically just solution for Kosovo-Metohija, above all, said Kostunica addressing the gathering of citizens at the Gracanica monastery.

Gracanica is a witness of who we were and where our origins lie and how Serbia was born, said Kostunica. Asked if there is a more appropriate place to celebrate St. Vitus' Day than Gracanica, Kostunica responded that "there is no better and more important place to repeat what every Serb must know:
Kosovo has always been and will for ever be part of Serbia."

The truth is that we could not pray to God today and pay respect to our ancestors if we were not guarded by the army and tanks, he said and wondered if there is a place in Europe similar to what Kosovo-Metohija is today, at the beginning of the 21st century.

According to Kostunica, Gracanica is the fortress of truth, and truth is stronger than any evil and violence and truth wins over every act of violence, which is why this is a good chance to tell the world what Serbia needs.

Kostunica repeated that Kosovo is among the Serbian people another word for justice, fairness and freedom.

Serbia is a democratic country. All ethnic communities must, can be and are equal and free in it. Gracanica not only reminds us, it also teaches us. This place does not only remind us of what we were, but also what we must be for the sake of what we were. And we will be that if we are persistent, if we are rational, and of course, if we are unanimous, Kostunica stressed.

I congratulate you once again on today's big holiday, St. Vitus' Day. I want to tell you that the whole of our people are with you. I also want to point out that Serbia never has never been more justified and possessed more legal grounds than today in talks on Kosovo-Metohija status, Kostunica said.

As part of the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented Bishop Artemije an icon showing the birth of Christ for the Gracanica monastery.

Serbian Prime Minister Dr. Vojislav Kostunica visited Gracanica Monastery