About a hundred participants of the litany for the salvation of Serbia - the litany for holy Kosovo and Metohija, started today from the Patriarchate to the Church of St. Sava. Part of them entered the Temple, and part of them clashed with the police on the plateau in front.
The litigants shouted at the police "Go to Kosovo", "Ustasha", "This is an occupied country".
After the discussion with the police, all the participants entered the Temple, where Patriarch Porfirio served the liturgy.
In front of the Patriarchate, the column was led by believers with icons of various saints, as well as a wooden cross. In the middle of the column was a vehicle from which spiritual songs were broadcast.
Individuals had a prominent flag of Serbia on their jackets, over which was written "No surrender" in black Cyrillic letters.
The liturgy was organized by the Association of Orthodox Women and the Svetosavlje Movement.
Earlier today, the two organizations fenced off party symbols and offensive messages, explaining that litia is their baptismal procession.
"Our processions do not have a party character and it will never be, as it wants to be attributed to us and presented to the public because of those who try to abuse this purely God-loving work," they stated in the announcement. They pointed out that they "are not ultra-rightists, nor extremists, nor hooligans, but Orthodox Serbs and Serbian women who profess their faith in words and deeds in defense of Orthodoxy, Kosovo and Metohija, and the traditional family."
S.Ć./FoNet
Read daily news, analysis, commentary and interviews at www.vreme.com