BISHOP ARTEMIJE IN CLEVELAND AND PITTSBURGH
ERPKIM News Service – During his most recent US visit His Grace Bishop Artemije of Ras and Prizren visited the Serbian communities in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
In Cleveland he attended, as he did in February 2004, the St. Sava Ball organized by the Serbian Club “Vuk Karadzic”, an auxiliary organization of St. Sava Church-School Congregation. This manifestation was an opportunity for Bishop Artemije to meet with the Cleveland Serbs, many of whom he knows very well and they were excited to learn more of the position and state of the Serbs in Kosovo and Methohija.
His Grace the bishop used the opportunity, in front of such a large gathering of Serbs to talk about not only the state of Serbs in Kosovo and Methohija, but also of St. Sava, reminding them of the way of St. Sava which has been followed by Serbs for centuries and pointing out that it is the only outlet for all of our sufferings and temptations.
The old Serbian community of the greater Pittsburgh area joyously welcomed His Grace. A large number of faithful attended the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Monroeville proving once again that the only institution Serbs can anchor themselves on in the Diaspora and preserve their national and spiritual identity is their Serbian church.
Bishop Artemije spoke in his homily about St. Sava on the occasion of the celebration of St. Sava which the parish was celebrating on that day. He also spoke about the negotiations which are to define the future status of Kosovo and Metohija, indicating the principles which we should follow in securing Kosovo and Methohija, in preserving our holy sites and thereby keeping it an integral part of Serbia