“For our Church, division of Kosovo and Metohija often mentioned in the media, is not only a political matter, but the matter of destiny of dozen thousands of our believers and the most important holy shrines,” Raska-Prizren Eparchy said in a statement, KIM Radio reported.

The reaction came following a wave of attacks by Serbian authorities’ representatives and the media, after the Eparchy issued an appeal “on the division of Kosovo and Metohija,” KIM Radio recalled.

The Eparchy elaborated that “Bishop Teodosije in his appeal did not underestimate with a single word, the efforts of the President of Republic and the Government of Serbia to preserve Kosovo and Metohija as integral part of Serbia.”

The Eparchy underlined it is a duty and obligation of those in power to take care of their territory as regulated by the Constitution and all citizens of the Republic of Serbia.

Therefore, the concern expressed in a form of an appeal, clearly comes out from a firm and united stance of the Holy Archbishops’ Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“Raska-Prizren Eparchy finds it inappropriate to engage in arguing over the media, that is unfortunately initiated based on personal grounds, by irresponsible accusations against our Bishop Teodosije, on the very same day the appeal was announced. But as our people saying has it "the snow does not fall in vain but to show the footprints of every creature lurking in the dark,” we feel sorry, is someone feels personally exposed in this situation,” the statement further said.

The representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church consider it is more important to focus on serious issue and resolve it with accountability and care about every person, wherever in Kosovo and Metohija that person lives.

“That is why, the wave of accusations we are facing lately, we try to understand not as ill intentions, but as temptations in difficult times, that we should overcome responsibly, working together for the benefit of our Church and people.”

Referring to accusations related to the money the Church receives from different donors, and the Serbian Government, Eparchy pointed out the Bishop Teodosije in part of his appeal mentioned the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia given to the Church and Serbian people over the last two decades, making no difference as to which political party were in power.

“We have also mentioned support of numerous domestic and foreign donors who unselfishly offered great contribution to our people. Whatever we received, we used with intention to reconstruct churches, monasteries and improve the lives of our faithful people, something that we would continue doing so,” Eparchy added, KIM Radio reported.