Belgrade, Jan. 06, 2010, (Source: Tanjug) - The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Mitropolit Amfilohije today sent the Christmas message to Serbs of Orthodox Christian denomination. Orthodox Christians celebrate this holiday on January 7, according to the Julian calendar.
"Serbs, as ancient Christian people, have left an indelible stamp on the history and civilization of the modern Europe and the world, embedding themselves, once and for all, in their future," the message, also signed by all the bishops of the Church, read.
The message also encouraged the Serbian people to "safeguard the Orthodox faith, language and alphabet established in the time of Cyril and Methodius, and enlightenment of St. Sava, on whichever continent they might live".
“This Christmas season we are especially filled with sadness that our great Patriarch Pavle has left us. We deeply believe that he continues to offer his prayers for our Church and our crucified people, together with Saint Sava and Saint Simeon the Martyr,” Amfolohije read.
“This Christmas season we are also with our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija – the cradle of our people. In Christ's love we ask them to return to their homesteads in Kosovo and to stay there to live with their holy shrines," said the message.
It also urges those given "earthly power and control" to reexamine their unjust decisions regarding Kosovo, "in the spirit of divine and human justice". “Only in this way will peace and community in the Balkans and Europe be renewed, and the wounded dignity of the Serbi Orthodox people be restored." The metropolitan said that this Christmas, once again, "we remember all those suffering, exiled and all those done injustice".
"We wish to console them with the words, Christ is born. Be joyful, because the Lord is coming to wipe away every human tear."
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