BELGRADE — The central celebration of Christmas in Kosovo will take place in the presence of senior officials of Serbia, the Belgrade-based daily Večernje Novosti says.
After the service in the Serbian Orthodox monastery of Gračanica, lunch will be served in the monastery’s refectory.
Liturgy will be served in all Serb Orthodox churches in Kosovo, and the central celebration of Christmas will be held at this monastery. Bishop of Raška-Prizren Teodosije will serve liturgy, along with the top tanking clergy and monks of the Diocese.
Serbs mark Christmas on December 25 in the Julian calendar, which corresponds with January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
In addition to the faithful from all over the province, but also from central Serbia, First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić, and Minister Aleksandar Vulin are expected to attend, writes the newspaper.
“Afterwards, our guests from the government of Serbia will be served Christmas lunch in the refectory,” said father of Savo Šmigić, secretary of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren.
He also described Christmas as “one of the most joyful holidays for Serbs in Kosovo.”
“Despite the difficult conditions of life and that believers might be going to the woods to get badnjak (ceremonial oak log) with a touch of fear, Christmas is celebrated in Kosovo as well as in all other parts of the country and we wait it joyfully,” he said.
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