Free Republic

Moscow, March 22, Interfax - The future of Europe depends on Russia's attitude toward the status of Kosovo and Metohija, head of the Serbian Church diocese in Montenegro Metropolitan Amfilohije said in answer to questions from viewers of the Orthodox television channel Soyuz. "We hope and pray the Lord for Russia to speak up at the UN Security Council and say 'no' [to the independence of Kosovo]. That would be enough, and that 'no' would save our people and the Orthodox religion in the Balkans. It would be a token of a genuine and balanced solution of the problem, which...

Dear Friends in Christ our Lord, May the great peace and love of our Lord God always be with you! Now that it's November, the weather in Kosovo/Metohija is becoming severe, especially at night, and many people are freezing and without electricity. We in America really do not know how well off we really are! Thanksgiving for us all is going to be full of wonderful family get togethers, hot delicious food, and warm rooms to eat it in. However this is not going to be the situation in Kosovo/Metohija, as thousands upon thousands of Serbians and Albanians are going...

The 9th session of the International Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue Commission has taken place in Belgrade from September 18th to 24th. Unanimously, participants have stressed the constructive atmosphere in which it was held. However, an "official protest" delivered by the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, to Cardinal Kasper, the Commission's Catholic co-chair, did not go unnoticed. Catholic news agencies claimed to be "astonished", showed "limited understanding" or even announced a "new set-back" in the quest for improved relations between Moscow and the Vatican. Barbara Hallensleben wishes to express her personal appreciation for the collaboration with Bishop Hilarion: "In Belgrade,...

BELGRADE, Serbia -- Roman Catholic and Christian Orthodox leaders meeting for the first time in six years said they will continue their efforts to bridge the divide between their ancient branches of Christianity. About 60 bishops, cardinals and metropolitans convened privately in the Serbian capital from Sept. 18 through Monday to restart the dialogue that broke off in 2000. The previous talks were ended over issues including papal authority and Orthodox complaints that Catholics were trying to attract followers in historically Orthodox territory, notably Eastern Europe. The latest meeting focused on writing a text that would serve as a basis...

ANKARA, Turkey Turkey's parliament on Wednesday failed to pass a resolution to move forward with a European Union-requested reform that could have allowed a Greek Orthodox theology school closed 35 years ago to reopen. The parliament first voted in favor the resolution, but then stopped short of giving final approval amid strong opposition. The ruling Justice and Development Party was expected to step back and withdraw the change on Thursday, in a sign of internal opposition to the highly unpopular move. Lawmakers from the ruling party voted by a show of hands to allow foreign students to attend minority schools...

BELGRADE, Serbia — Top Roman Catholic and Orthodox dignitaries declared Monday that the time has come to close the ages-old rifts between the ancient branches of Christianity and bring East and West closer together. Representing the world's 1.1 billion Catholics and more than 250 million Christian Orthodox, sixty bishops, metropolitans and cardinals — 30 from each side — convened in the Serbian capital Belgrade for a renewed "theological" dialogue while acknowledging that much wider issues are involved. "East and West have been estranged from each other since the 11th century," said Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizioulas, referring to the historic schism...

MUMBAI (ICNS) -- Muslim leaders in India have criticized a recent speech by Pope Benedict XII in which he made references to Islam. Some of them have demanded an unconditional apology from the Pope, saying his “blasphemous statement against Prophet Mohammad” has offended Islam. Shia Muslim leaders in the northern Indian city of Lucknow on Friday held a press conference condemning the Pope, and demanding an unconditional apology from him for issuing “a blasphemous statement against Prophet Mohammad.” Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawaad said that the Pope must tender an apology for running down the Prophet and thereby hurting the...

12 August 2006 | 14:24 | Source: Beta NOVI SAD -- Bishop Eugenio Sbarbaro, Apostiolic Nuncio to Belgrade, said that Pope Benedict XVI wants to visit Serbia. Sbarbaro told Novi Sad daily Građanski List that the Pope wants to come to Serbia in order to unite the churches and religious communities better. “When the Holy Father hears that he will be able to make the visit in that spirit, not only will he come, but we will rush to come as soon as possible.” Sbarbaro said. Sbarbaro added that Pope Benedict XVI was supposed to visit Serbia while he was...

WASHINGTON – A group of Catholic and Orthodox bishops asked Serbian and Kosovar leaders to negotiate in "good faith" over the political future of Kosovo, a breakaway Serbian province currently under U.N. administration. The bishops also called for the safe return of 200,000 Serbs and other minorities who left after major fighting broke out in Kosovo in the early 1990s. "Only through a real dialogue of mutual respect and good-faith negotiations can justice become a reality in Kosovo," said a statement issued by the Joint Commission of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops meeting in Washington June 21-23. The commission is composed...

"We are conducting a peaceful action. We want to show that we have the same rights as other citizens," Alexeyev told a news conference a few hours before events turned violent. The crowd opposed to gay rights and the rally included women who held up religious icons. They were joined by men in Cossack traditional dress — white sheepskin hats and black-and-red tunics. Police quickly moved in as the first half-dozen rally participants arrived carrying flowers. They were joined by about 100 religious and nationalist extremists who kicked and punched some of the activists. As Volker Beck, a Green member...

Main domain that its on Google when you search "Kosovo". www.kosovo.com is no longer used by Serb Ortodox Church. Domain is now used for some beta version of multicultural "talks" with Islamic factor and Ortodox Church is chased-out by domain owner without notice. Unsurprissingly Domain owner got majority of negative critics. Now former site of Church can be found on www.kosovo.net

The Gleaner asked Dr. Lotz his views on the level of receptivity of the Eastern Europeans to the Christian Gospel. He responded: "George Bush Sr. said there was going to be a new world order when communism fell with justice and peace. But instead what we realise is that we have had tremendous ethnic conflicts. We had a clash of civilisations. For example there was Chechnya versus Russia; Islam versus Orthodoxy; Bosnia versus Serbia; and all the way in Africa we had Hutus versus Tutsies. The basis of much of the conflicts today is religious. It's a clash of civilisations....

The Association of Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans, in cooperation with the Djakovica municipal assembly, has built a monument to "war heroes" on church property in immediate proximity to the Serbian Orthodox church of the Holy Trinity in Djakovica, which was destroyed after the war in 1999. This most recent attack on the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in direct cooperation with official municipal institutions, confirms that in addition to individual criminal acts in Kosovo illegal activities are being carried out also under the official auspices of institutions formed during the UN protectorate.

Four days earlier, armed assailants had launched a Saturday Night Special attack against a civilian bus connecting the southwestern towns of Dragas and Prizren. In an offensive that would seem right out of Iraq, the unknown attackers fired two rocket-propelled grenades at the bus. According to Serbia's B-92, they "luckily did not explode, but passed right through the vehicle." Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi immediately condemned the assault, while UNMIK Chief Sřren Jessen-Petersen spoke of a need to "enhance" security measures in Kosovo.