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Rankovic: SOC and Patriarch Irinej will not change stance that Kosovo is unalienable part of Serbia (BETA, Danas)

Editor of Voice of Church, deacon Ljubomir Rankovic told BETA news agency he thinks the stance of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) on Kosovo will never change. He recalled the stance on Kosovo was confirmed at Holy Synod Assembly session in May last year, and the stance is that Kosovo is an unalienable part of Serbia, and there could be no talks about Kosovo being detached from Serbia. This way Rankovic responded to BETA question if there could be a change in a stance of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo, following the meeting between Patriarch Irinej and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic last Sunday. Rankovic added that “Pec Patriarchate, the seat of the Church is in Kosovo, holy shrines as well, but also a shrine above all the shrines faithful Serbian people are there.” Commenting on an official statement, following the meeting on Sunday, Rankovic said it is noticeable that the Serbian President Vucic and Patriarch Irinej agreed that Pristina platform is unacceptable to Serbia and their “stances are fully identical, as one could see it in a press announcement.” According to him, there would be no change in the stance of the Serbian Orthodox Church, nor anyone from the Church could change it even if he would wish, since the Church’s stance was expressed in the Holly Synod Assembly session in May, and it cannot be changed. Asked if Patriarch Irinej could have a different stance, Rankovic underlined he was “absolutely certain” Patriarch’s stance will not change, and he remains convinced not a single Bishop would change it either. He also recalled, that Serbian Constitution, in its preamble speaks about Kosovo as an unalienable part of Serbia.