His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Assembly of Bishops who are presently convened visited the holy lavra of the Pec Patriarchate Monastery today accompanied by an Italian KFOR escort so that on the feast day of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles and St. Nikodim, Patriarch of Serbia they might share their Paschal joy with the suffering faithful of Kosovo and Metohija. His Holiness Patriarch Pavle served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of the Holy Apostles with the concelebration of a number of bishops and priests.

During the course of the meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops, the spiritual leaders of the church gathered in this ancient patriarchal monastery, which is the spiritual seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to once again reaffirm the concern of the Church for its faithful and its holy shrines located on the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, and to bring them a message of encouragement and paternal love in a time overwhelmed with persecution and uncertainty.

Photos from the Holy Liturgy (click to enlarge)

By their arrival in Kosovo and Metohija the SOC bishops also send a powerful appeal to enable the return of displaced Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, and their peaceful and dignified lives in their ancestral homes. The return to our burned homes and our destroyed holy shrines is not only our existential need but also an expression of our faith in the Resurrection that renews us all. Therefore, the Holy Assembly of Bishops once again reaffirms its strong support for the begun process of restoration in the hope that the renewal of holy shrines destroyed in the March 2004 pogrom will continue with the renewal of all other Orthodox churches and a comprehensive spiritual renewal and national rebirth

The Lord Christ teaches us to love not only those who love us but also those who do not love us; consequently, we must all forgive and ask for forgiveness with the deep awareness that this is the only path that leads us to the Resurrected Christ and peace with all those with whom we share this piece of blessed Kosovo-Metohija land.

After Holy Hierarchal Liturgy and meeting with the faithful people of crucified Metohija, the members of the SOC Holy Assembly of Bishops, once again under the protection of Italian KFOR, headed back to Belgrade in the afternoon where they will resume the regular session of the Assembly.

SOC Bishops During the Holy Hierarchichal Liturgy at Pec Patriarchate Monastery

Bishops in formal religious procession after Holy Hierarchal Liturgy
(click on photo to enlarge)

Photo gallery

Visit of the Serbian Orthodox Church's Holy Assembly of Bishops to the monastery of the Pec Patriarchate   

KIM Info Service
Pec Patriarchate, May 24, 2006

We are enclosing several more photographs taken in the monastery of the Pec Patriarchate on the occasion of Wednesday's visit by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. According to a press release from the Serbian Orthodox Church's Information Service, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Assembly of Bishops who are presently convened visited the holy lavra of the Pec Patriarchate Monastery today accompanied by an Italian KFOR escort so that on the feast day of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles and St. Nikodim, Patriarch of Serbia they might share their Paschal joy with the suffering faithful of Kosovo and Metohija. His Holiness Patriarch Pavle served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of the Holy Apostles with the concelebration of a number of bishops and priests.

On Thursday the SOC Holy Assembly of Bishops continues its regular May session in Belgrade.

Click on any photo for larger format (Photos: KIM Info Service)

Formal welcome of Patriarch and bishops in monastery courtyard of Pec Patriarchate

Formal religious procession to church before beginning of Holy Hierarchal Liturgy

Scene from consecration of slava cake in church of the Holy Apostles

Holy relics of St. Nikodim, Patriarch of Serbia (14th c), who is celebrated today together with
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles, enlighteners of the Slavs

Patriarch Pavle after Holy Hierarchal Liturgy - The monastery courtyard was full of Serb returnees
from Metohija villages - Members of Italian KFOR prepared lunch for them in the courtyard