Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej issued a statement on Kosovo army, KoSSev portal reports. The statement can be read below:

“The Serbian Orthodox Church has no doubt that this army is exclusively directed against the Serbian people who boldly practice their faith in Kosovo and Metohija and are proud of the Serbian name. We also know that the formation of this army is also directed against the ancient Serbian Orthodox sanctities in Kosovo and Metohija, which the enemies of the Church of God intend to destroy or, at least, take away.

Abbott Sava Janjic today on FB reacted to the Belgrade's plan for the protection of sacred sites in Kosovo saying that there is nothing new in this plan.

Janjic wrote that ''Belgrade's glorious plan on protection of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) holy shrines in KiM, published today in the media, is nothing new, but a repetition of what Kostunica's government with the SOC in 2007 agreed with Albanians and Ahtisaari, and which already is included in Kosovo law on protected zones.''

Stance of the Church on Kosovo and Metohija is clear, as clear as a day, as a sunlight, since the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) started its history there, where Pec Patriarchate used to be and remains the seat of the Serb Patriarchs and the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irinej said, Serbian media reported.

In an Easter interview to TV Hram, Patriarch Irinej reminded that many churches were destroyed, many people expelled and many properties demolished.

Since yesterday afternoon many citizens of Mitrovica North but also from central Serbia pay tribute to Oliver Ivanovic, Vecernje Novosti daily reports today.

Oliver Ivanovic will be buried on Thursday in Belgrade, at 12.30 in the Alley of Great Citizens at Belgrade cemetery and a transport will be organized from Mitrovica North for those wishing to attend his funeral. The same day will be declared as a day of mourning in Mitrovica North municipality, Vecernje Novosti daily further reports.

Serbian Academy of Science and Arts (SANU) is not a party to have a political platform on Kosovo, instead it can only offer opinions of individuals, SANU President, Vladimir Kostic told Serbian media.

“Do not expect from SANU to take a joint stance on Kosovo and Metohija by over voting. This is not in the essence of the Academy. The Academy can offer opinions of individuals, and they differ to the extent present in the society,” Kostic told journalists commenting expectations from SANU in the internal dialogue on Kosovo.

“At a time when Orthodox Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate the day of birth of Jesus Christ, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are denied the right to rejoice in Christmas, to hold their ceremony/prayers and to bring in the Christmas Log,” Mayor of Mitrovica North, Goran Rakic said in a press statement, Radio Mitrovica reported.

“Every holiday in Đakovica turns into a promotion of pure hatred towards everything that is Serbian. This year is no different.

We are attacking no one, neither me nor the Church, we are only expressing concern for the destiny of the most important and the most sacral part of the Serbian state, Metropolitan Amfilohije told IN4S portal, adding he had never held a funeral mass for Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian daily Danas reported.