In the Diocese of Raska and Prizren it is believed that the attempt of the now defrocked Bishop Artemije and a group of monks to seize monasteries in the north of Kosovo and Metohija was an unique and unprecedented event in the history of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Television of Serbia (RTS), the Serbian national broadcasting service, crew was in the monastery of Duboki Potok, from where Artemije and his followers were escorted to Kraljevo.
After three days of state of siege and incidents, in the monastery of Duboki Potok became a small brotherhood—abbot Romilo and one more monk.
Fr. Romilo witnessed all the recent events in the monastery. He forbade the disgraced bishop Artemije to serve a Liturgy in the church, and after his attempt to take over this and other monasteries on the north of Kosovo and Metohia, the abbot called the police.
The Diocese of Raska-Prizren sustained extensive damage; the priesthood had suffered in silence for a long time, related the abbot of Duboki Potok. He accused the disgraced bishop of manipulating the national feeling of the Kosovo Serbs.
Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren believes that Artemije's plan to start a new church with himself as its head will not succeed.
In the Diocese of Raska-Prizren, the judicial authorities can be expected to take the necessary measures against the group, who has tried forcibly to take over property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and prevent them from similar attempts in the future.
Source: Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), the Serbian national broadcasting service.
Translation by the official
site of the Serbian Orthodox Church,
edited by Pravoslavie.ru/OrthoChristian.com
