Serbian Patriarch Porfirije banned from entering Kosovo
Kosovo authorities have barred Patriarch Porfirije from entering the territory of the province.
On 27 December 2022, the Kosovo authorities denied entry into the territory of the province to Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, reports the website of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Patriarch Porfirije arrived at the Kosovo border crossing point (Merdar), but he was not allowed into the territory. The Kosovo authorities thus prevented the Patriarch from coming to his centuries-old residence and serving in the church where his enthronement took place. This is yet another violation of the rights of Orthodox Serbs living in Kosovo.
"The Patriarch knows that the Serbian people, especially in Kosovo and Metohija, have taken this news with great indignation, but he calls not to allow this provocation to become a pretext for further threats to our people and their shrines. The Patriarch will not abandon his people and will do everything in his power to meet them as soon as possible and pray with them to God," the website of the Serbian Orthodox Church stressed.