„There are people of goodwill in all nations – let us be aware of this and pray that this goodwill prevails – through people of goodwill. And may those people of goodwill, who have the capacity to assist us in these difficult times, do so in order to restore and establish peace, and to ensure reason prevails,“ Bishop Ilarion stated.
„Let us not engage in a conflict that someone else has imposed and orchestrated, but rather strive, as much as it is within our power, to preserve dignity, to maintain peace, and to ensure that no one else gets hurt,“ he said in Zvečan last evening.
A day after the conflict of Serbs with KFOR, the Novo Brdo bishop and vicar of the Serbian patriarch served in the churches of Leposavić and the St. George’s church in Zvečan.
Dozens of Serbs were injured and 30 KFOR soldiers, primarily Italians and Hungarians. A Serb was seriously wounded by gunfire, while three KFOR soldiers were seriously injured by blows and stones.
„We regret all those who suffered. Let’s pray for our brother Dragisa, and there are others injured too. We should also pray for others who are not of our kin. Among them are people of goodwill who did not suffer because they wished harm on others,“ the bishop said in his sermon after the service.
„There are those who harbor ill will, who have removed themselves and stand at a safe distance, pushing others to suffer. We should not be so naive, but preserve peace and reason, along with prayers,“ said the bishop, only a few hundred meters away from the municipal building.
He said he gathered with believers in the Zvecan church, to pray in these difficult and troubled times.
„We have gathered, not beside the church, but in the Church, in the living God Himself, to find consolation and peace and for the Lord God to show us the way forward.“
Evil will, he emphasized, tries to overcome goodwill, especially when evil tries to defeat goodness in many areas.
„Wherever we turn there’s an attack and we have no other refuge except in Him who is with us – in God, by His church,“ he continued in his sermon.
Bishop Ilarion, who is also the vicar of the patriarch, sent greetings and confirmed that Patriarch Porfirije himself also wanted to come, but was prevented earlier, and that this is one in a series of“ injustices to the Serbian people and the Church in Kosovo“.
„And that’s why we need to fight together for our dignity, for what is appropriate and what belongs to us, and through this struggle we threaten no one,“ said Bishop Ilarion.
„A person, preserving their dignity and fighting for justice, is doing good for everyone, and true good is that which is essentially good for all,“ he pointed out, adding that the Serbian people have survived precisely in this way – preserving their covenant and threatening no one else.
„People of goodwill are aware that there is room for everyone. When there is room for everyone in a person’s heart, when our hearts are wide, then there is room on Earth and under this heavenly canopy, and this is known to people of goodwill,“ Bishop Ilarion preached in his sermon.
Although the years pass like „between Scylla and Charybdis,“ Bishop Ilarion tells the faithful that the church will witness „that day – Christ’s day.“ „Do not worry, Christ says, I have overcome the world. His victory has come, it is just important that we are on the side of that victory, and that victory is first and foremost a victory of peace. Whoever among us has peace, wins – whether they are a teacher, defender, protector, or priest, they have peace in their heart. They conquer whatever they do.“ He called for love and reason, and for those who are, as he says, „dulled by goodwill,“ to „sober up,“ so that they can turn towards goodwill.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
