August 25, 2008.
Source: Diocese of Ras-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija
PUBLIC COMMUNIQUE
Since, apart from its “decision”, made on the extraordinary session held on August 23, 2008, the Holy Archieratical Synod, publicized, out of reasons (un)known to Us, the Decision of the Holy Archieratical Council from May 19/6 2006, designating it: “The Decision of the holy Archieratical Council concerning Protosyncellus Simeon Vilovski”, although the same decision comprises many other segments, We are obliged, too, for the sake of truth, to say that, in regard to all those issues, We consigned Our Report to the Holy Archieratical Synod on September 04, 2006, whereafter the Synod made no further demands regarding that issue, which was the sign it was satisfied with our replies, clarified in the report. This put and end to all those questions and “dilemmas” still two years ago. Thus it amazes Us greatly what incited the Synod to revive the same problematic after two years, if not the wish to strengthen the pressure on Us and on our aides; implementation of a kind of satanization, by which it aligns itself on the wrong side, supporting insurrection and disobedience, setting it a precedence in the history of the Orthodox Church.
The Bishop of Ras-Prizren
and Kosovo-Metohija
+ ARTEMIJE
===============
Subject: INSURRECTION IN VISOKI DECANI
August 25, 2008.
Source: Diocese of Ras-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija
Regarding the insurrection that erupted in Visoki Decani Monastery against His Grace Artemije, the ruling Bishop of Raska and Prizren, we present the official note about those events and their reasons, summed up by Bishop Artemije, in order to, among other things, truthfully inform the public.
INSURRECTION IN VISOKI DECANI
August, 2008
THE OFFICIAL NOTE
The things that happened in Visoki Decani Monastery on August 21 and 22, 2008, were being prepared for entire four years, since the election of the then Hegumen (abbot) Teodosije as our Vicar, with the title: The Bishop of Lipljan (Ulpiana). It was the time of euphoria in electing the Vicar (assistant) bishops (four of them elected only during one Council of the Hierarchs in May 2004.
Unfortunately, I proposed him for Bishop, too. I thought to get an aide and an assistant, but I got the adversary and opponent, who showed that immediately after he was consecrated a Bishop (the case of Gorioc Monastery, the issue of instituting the lawsuit against four European states on St. Vitus Day (June 28) 2004, and on in opposing all my enterprises in fighting the injustice, with the goal of protecting our people and our sanctuaries. It is also a known thing concerning the famous connection to Griboski from Washington, secret written communication with him and undermining of all our efforts, especially since December 15, when the struggle and pressure to withdraw the lawsuit instituted in Strasbourg began. That struggle was described in details in the files, communiqués etc. originating from that time. Then the famous Memorandum comes in, with the position Bishop Teodosije was given by some Bishops, members of the Archieratical Synod and Council, above all by Metropolitan Amfilohije and the retired Bishop of Zahumlje-Herzegovina, Atanasije. Thanks to such support, Bishop Teodosije apostatized, and the Decani monks (though not managing all of them), indoctrinated against Us. He caballed over the monasteries in our Diocese, among the clerics and even among the faithful. He used every opportunity to show a particular “care” for the endangered, for children, for the returnees… in the way of Absalom, giving impression that Bishop Artemije does not care for the people, for the Church… He stood particularly against my aides, especially against Fr. Simeon, just out of envy. He managed to transmit his animosity to some other monasteries, then to some Bishops, too, with whom he was particularly intimate – Amfilohije, Atanasije, Grigorije, Joanikije…)
These vicious deeds continue for four years yet. We endured and suffered, apprehending our difficult situation in Kosovo and Metohija. We were seen together, we concelebrated, giving the impression that everything is in best order; and it wasn’t so, it could not go on like this: the diarchy in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren (against the Holy Canons) had to be stopped, and the church-canonical order restituted and reaffirmed.
Our decisions (deeply thought-over) followed. And then, the open insurrection erupted in Decani. In short, it went as follows:
On the 21st of August, 2008, according to the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Article 211, I sent a delegation comprising of three members: Protosyncellus Simeon (Vilovski), Mr. Milivoj Markovic, the treasurer of the Diocesan administrative board and Hieromonk Pimen (Deajanovic), to take and hand over Our written decisions. Bishop Teodosije disabled the delegation to carry out Our blessing. They were confronted in an inimical way, with insults and humiliation. Neither Our telephone call bore any fruit. The delegation come back with job undone; or better say, they were cast out from the monastery.
August 22, 2008. Escort took us at 07:00. Fr. Simeon and me were in the UN jeep and Our vehicle (Subaru) with Mr. M. Markovic and Fr. Pimen inside, and Fr. Varnava as the driver, accompanied. We arrived in Decani at 8:30. The brethren, headed by Bishop Teodosije waited for us. I went out of the car, exchanged greetings with Bishop Teodosije, and the brethren were coming to receive the blessing; some civilians were there, too. We go then, as usual, in the church; they throng around me, and start singing: “It is truly meet…” (before, they would begin only after we would enter the church. It was staged that I wouldn’t see or hear what happens to Fr. Simeon). After I venerated the relics of Holy King, and the Holy Table, I address the brethren and tell that we all go to the refectory. Bishop Tedosije suggests to go to the guestroom (ex-refectory). I agree.
After we went out of the church, I notice that the delegation that came with me is not there anymore. I ask: What happened to them? After a shorter wondering of “who were I asking for” they say (Jezekilj), that they were outside of the entrance gate. An excruciating situation begins. I refuse to go to the guestroom without my aides. Real verbal war begins: persuasions, assails, insults (oh, all the things they said to me!). “They would not enter in this monastery as long as we are here”. It goes on for half an hour; an open insurrection; the disobedience manifested in the most crude manner. They do not want to back down. Finally, I consign them the envelopes with the decisions. They open them furiously and read them aloud: First Sava, then Teodosije; and they refuse to obey.
I enter the car at 9:15. We start moving back. Only then I find out:
1. Our vehicle (with two delegates) were prevented by two (appointed) civilians to enter into monastery courtyard.
2. Fr. Simeon, as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle was assaulted by two monks (Jezekilj and Danilo), and then one more joined them (Isaija). Physically maltreated (fracture of bone in the right foot, now in plaster cast), he was dragged from the courtyard and thrown (as a bag) in front of the entrance gate, with the furious word: “You, you won’t come to Decani!” (Danilo). He has few lesions, what was stated, upon his return to Gracanica and the examination in “Simonida” hospital, by Dr. Peric.
CONCLUSION
The events that took place in the last two days show in the best way the justifiability of Our decision to replace the administration of Decani monastery. Such administration bears, in command line, responsibility and guilt for these deplorable events. By the way they governed the monastery, in the four years of outlawry, they turned quiet and humble monks into rebels and brigands who deny their obedience to their Bishop and confessor, and who are ready to blindly perpetrate even a most brutal violence. That is why the 27th Apostolic Canon strikes directly not only the perpetrators of the violence, but, above all, Bishop Teodosije, as the abbot, and his deputy, Protosyncellus Sava Janjic who organized and strategically planned all this. And the 27th Apostolic Canon says:
“If a bishop, presbyter, or deacon shall strike any of the faithful who have sinned, or of the unbelievers who have done wrong, with the intention of frightening them, we command that he be deposed. For our Lord has by no means taught us to do so, but, on the contrary, when he was smitten he smote not again, when he was reviled he reviled not again, when he suffered he threatened not” (I Peter, 2:22).
Nikodim Milas, Pravila, book I, page. 84
(in Serbian language)
(See the interpretation of this Rule by Nicodemus the of the Holy Mountain, Pedalion, Athens 1976, p. 26-27. Compare the 9th Canon of the 9th Local or the First-Second Council in Constantinople, held in 861, with the interpretation by N. Milas, book II, p. 283-284).
August 22, 2008
Bishop ARTEMIJE
