Archbishop Elpidophoros of America discussed the recent ban on the entry of Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia by the authorities of Kosovo during his speech at the 4th International Conference of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Religious Freedom.
Two weeks ago, the authorities in Pristina prevented Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and seven accompanying bishops from entering Kosovo and Metohija to attend a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Patriarchate of Peć.
Speaking to Dr. Despina Hatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Archbishop Elpidophoros highlighted the seriousness of the situation. “We must not overlook the situation in Kosovo, where the Patriarch of Serbia was barred from entering and visiting monasteries and temples by the Pristina authorities,” he remarked.
Expressing his concern, Archbishop Elpidophoros stated, “The denial of access to worship cannot be dismissed. The Ecumenical Patriarch is deeply troubled by this development in a place that is sacred to the Orthodox community.”
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
