Pristina bans Serbian patriarch from entering Kosovo-Metohija

MERDARE - The Pristina authorities banned Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and seven bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from entering Kosovo-Metohija on Monday.

The patriarch and the bishops were to attend a ceremony marking the start of a regular annual meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church that was scheduled to begin at the Patriarchate of Pec on Tuesday, sources in the Serbian Orthodox Church have confirmed to Tanjug.

The patriarch and the bishops were ordered to return from the Merdare administrative crossing and handed refusal letters without any reason or explanation whatsoever.

As a result, the ceremony has been moved to the Church of St Sava in Belgrade, where a holy liturgy will be held on Tuesday morning.