Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia has been banned from entering Kosovo by the authorities in Pristina, according to Petar Petković, the head of the Kosovo office of the government of Serbia.
Petković stated, “The authorities in Pristina, on the direct orders of Albin Kurti, today prohibited the entry of Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and the seven bishops accompanying him to the territory of Kosovo and Metochia to participate in the session of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Patriarchate in Peć.”
He mentioned that the Serbian liaison officer had informed Pristina in advance about the planned visit of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church to the official seat of the Patriarchate in Peć. However, just 12 minutes before their arrival at the administrative border, the Kosovo government issued a negative response.
As of now, Pristina has not officially confirmed the ban on the entry of the Patriarch of Serbia.
The Spring Hierarchical Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church session was supposed to commence the following day in Peć, Kosovo. Due to the entry ban, the Holy Synod will now take place in Belgrade, as announced by the Patriarchate.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou