Bishop of Raska-Prizren Eparchy Teodosije met yesterday in Gracanica with NATO Allied Forces Commander, US Admiral James G. Foggo and KFOR Commander, Major-General Salvatore Cuoci, KoSSev portal reported.

During the meeting, Bishop Teodosije expressed concern over a series of ethnically motivated attacks against Serbs that took place this month in Kosovo and Metohija as well as over persistent disrespect of the law on the part of local institutions, in particular in Decane municipality.

The Diocese appeals on peace and respect of the rule of law after most recent series of security incidents in Kosovo and Metohija.

Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raška-Prizren strongly condemns the latest series of incidents which indicate that there is a serious deterioration of the security situation in which Serbs with their Orthodox Church live in Kosovo and Metohija.

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Marko Djuric in the strongest terms condemned violence against Serbs intending to mark Christian holiday of the Holly Trinity in the village of Petric, near Klina, KIM Radio reported.

Djuric added he expects from “provisional institutions in Pristina and international organization to enable rights to freedom of movement and practicing religion to the Serbian pilgrims.”

Around 50 Albanians blocked with vehicles access to the Serbian Orthodox Church Holly Trinity in the village of Petric, disallowing displaced Serbs from this village to mark today's holiday, the church is named after, Radio Gorazdevac learned.

High number of Kosovo Police members is also present on the spot.

A group of displaced Serbs from the village was supposed to visit today the remains of a demolished church and a graveyard in the village.

The Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) is one of the most respected institutions and its recommendations on Kosovo and Metohija will be respected.

However, this will not determine state policy, says Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin.

Vulin told TV Pink that the SOC is owed attention, respect and gratitude for everything it has always been doing, but that Serbia is a secular state where politicians, elected by the people in elections, make decisions.

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), Patriarch Irinej, travelled to Moscow at the invitation of Russian Patriarch Kirill.

Patriarch Irinej will attend a ceremony and receive a prestigious award for special contribution to strengthening the unity of Orthodox nations.

The award is given by the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations, with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, TV Hram reported on Tuesday.

The head of the Serbian Church will be in Russian capital until May 25.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that he "does not think that key political decisions should be made by the Church."

Vucic also rejected the assessment that the state behaves as if the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) was "guilty for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija."

"The Church should not make key political decisions, and it certainly has the right to express its opinion," the president said when asked to comment on daily Blic reporting that "the state blames only the Church for Kosovo."

"Regarding the news published by KTV on Friday “Decani Monastery prevents construction of the Plav-Decani Road,“ we are compelled to inform the public about the facts related to the road and express sincere regret for comments expressed in public by Dečani mayor Bashkim Ramosaj.

Dveri Movement welcomed stance of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo that preservation of Kosovo and Metohija as an integral part of Serbia is the most important national topic for all, RTS reported.

“We believe that anyone who would turn a deaf ear to the Holly Assembly message on Kosovo, would not only turn a deaf ear to the Serbian Orthodox Church, but would by renouncing Kosovo and Metohija for the sake of Serbia’s path to the EU, literally annul himself from the Serbian history,” Dveri Movement press statement said.

The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has published "The Message of the Holy Assembly of Bishops on Kosovo and Metohija" on its website.

Follow the link to see the full message: http://www.spc.rs/eng/message_holy_assembly_bishops_kosovo_and_metohija