"We call on the representatives of the authorities not to forget their essential duty: to protect the people. Power is not given for the sake of violence, but for the sake of service. Abuse of force cannot bring peace - it can only deepen wounds and leave a scar that does not heal for a long time."
This is how Archbishop and Metropolitan Justin of Žica addressed the citizens, as well as the authorities, the only bishop who serves in Serbia, and who this winter signed an open letter to the public calling for respect students and responsible reporting. He, together with the German Metropolitan Gregory, Montenegrin-coastal Joaniki, Zahum-Herzegovina and coastal Dimitrije, West-American Archbishop Maximus and East-American Bishop Irinej fenced from the opinion Metropolitan David of Kruševac, who called the students "Serbian Ustashas".
Let's be careful.
"We remind you that the recent arrests and beatings are the wounds we are talking about," Metropolitan Justin wrote. "And we give prayerful support to all those who suffer innocents to survive and persevere on the path of truth."
On the other hand, he asked "the people not to let care for their neighbor disappear in their hearts."
"Our life and our community depend on how human we are to each other. Let's take care of each other, both in thoughts and words and deeds. We pray to God that peace will be restored in all places of our Eparchy, that on all sides reason will prevail over conflicts, and that each of us will contribute to the peace around us, as much as we can," he added in a statement published on the website of the Eparchy of Žići.
Metropolitan Justin also calls on people to remain calm, not to allow anger, fear or any passion to overcome reason, conscience and humanity towards each other.
"The fight for truth and justice must be based on inner peace, perseverance and dignity," he says and refers to the words of Saint Bishop Nikolaj Žički: "Truth does not limit freedom but gives it meaning, shows the goal and protects it from corruption, and mercy is fruitful for good deeds."
