Serbian patriarch enthroned in Kosovo

Patriarch Irinej and bishops were serving the Holy Liturgy at the beginning of the ceremony.

Several thousand believers arrived to the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) in the Pec Patriarchate in about 50 buses. According to the SPC, about 10,000 believers from all parts of Serbia and neighboring countries were expected to come.

There was only room for about 2,000 people in the monastery yard, while others will watch the enthronement and the liturgy on large TV screens which were set up outside.

The buses and other vehicles carrying believers and journalists were escorted by Kosovo police (KPS) from Kosovska Mitrovica to Pec.

For centuries the Pec Patriarchate has been a place where enthronements of Serbian patriarchs take place.

Patriarch Irinej succeeded Patriarch Pavle who was the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) for 19 years. Irinej was elected on January 23, 2010.

Patriarch calls for peace and unity in Kosovo

Patriarch Irinej said after the ceremony that Serbian spiritual traces and historical roots were being erased in Kosovo and appealed to the international community and Kosovo Albanians to secure peace in the southern Serbian province.

"From this holy place at this moment we cry out to the powerful world factors, in whose hands the fate of Kosovo is, not to sin by making a decision regarding the issue of the southern Serbian province that would deprive the Serbian people of a century-long right to their homeland, to their property, to their ancestors' graves, to their glorious holy places," the patriarch stressed.

The head of the SPC also addressed the Albanian people in Kosovo and called for peace and unity.

"These peoples have lived together for centuries, why wouldn't they today? That is why I am addressing them in this solemn moment with love and respect, not only the Serbian Orthodox people of Kosovo but also honorable Albanian people and all local residents, we are calling for peace and unity, always based on human and God's justice," he stated.