I received the following email from Fr. Nektarios. I believe you will be touched by his words as much as I was. Stella
----- Original Message ----- Beloved in Christ our Lord, May our Gracious God always bless you! I just read the attached! My goodness, my heart just breaks, and tears fall from my eyes. I often restrain to stay out of politics, as indeed knowing the situation in the region of Kosovo/Metohija –politics give me a head ache. What deeply continues to concern me is that we indeed still have a severe humanitarian crisis especially for the Serbian Orthodox Christians and as well as others throughout the region of Kosovo/Metohija. I myself would have thought that human rights for the Serbian citizens should be the norm of the day in the region and I would simply ask when the hour will begin for human rights! Kosovo is Serbia -all fifteen per-cent of Kosovo is an existing part of Serbia . Kosovo will always be Serbia ! Only just yesterday I sent out an appeal on behalf of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund as president and founder of this organization back in 1998. For these long years this fund has been offering humanitarian assistance to the desperate people who simply are struggling and suffering from the lack of proper shelter, lack of food, freezing, lost of their land, and homes, as well as their farms, including the fact that only two and not more then three Serbian families at this hour live in Pristina, as everyone who is Serbian had to flee for their lives. Then again the free world has refused to hear or smell the fires and destruction of more then 153 Serbian Orthodox monasteries and churches throughout the region. Then one wonders why any Christian would be heartbroken or have tears in their eyes, as I myself on five occasions have witnessed these destructions in living color! I have been to Serbian cemeteries where the bodies have been pulled out of the ground, and I have witnessed the lack of the care taken of these cemeteries in the fear if one goes to the cemeteries ones life is in jeopardy. I have seen the hunger on the faces of so many Serbian people which well include the children and elderly; even the monks and nuns seem to have limit food. I have been in homes and churches, as well as monasteries where is so cold that just to stand in prayer was truly a podvig for me! I have seen pain in the faces of the Serbian people who have told me that they just lost their cow, and that their family members need further medical assistance but that they do not have one penny to help them at this time. I have met the Serbian youth of the region and wondered in my heart what kind of future do they have –none, so I set up a scholarship fund. I have seen Serbian homes with no windows, and no furniture inside, and I felt guilty when I was offered some food upon my visit, and only asked them for some water and bread knowing these families in the first place had enough of food to eat. I have seen children with hardly any proper shoes, or even a winter coat when I visited the region during the winter months. I have seen parents standing in line at the soup kitchens with a small plastic container to get some soup and bread for the day. Such a small container to feed so many members of the family, but when the families sit down to eat their soup and bread they make the sign of the cross and give thanks to God. I have seen so much that my heart continues to break, and think of me as emotional all you desire, because it time to take care of our suffering and struggling brothers in Christ our Lord in Kosovo/Metohija. I am not going to judge no one even the politicians what I am going to do is not give up or rest! You will hear from me constantly, and you will hear me roaring like a lion, but at the same time be meek as a lamb asking you dear beloved Christians let us please bring a little love and hope to so many in Kosovo/Metohija who need us at this hour. They need our assistance and they need as well as our love and prayers. I am in prostration before God with you in this humble prayer. May our Lord God move your good heart to please help our Decani Monastery Relief Fund, and within the hour you will be ever blessed knowing you helped someone in need. Pray with me and lets do all we can to help this fund. Be a loving Christian and may our Lord Jesus Christ crown you with his love and grace. Decani Monastery Relief Fund Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes 2618 West Bannock St. Boise, Idaho 83702 My cell phone: 20... Thank you! Peace to your soul! Humbly in Christ our Lord, + Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes President of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund Inc. USA Boise, Idaho Who prays for you and with you! _____ <http://online.wsj.com/community/groups/albanians-us-helping-haiti-766/topics/us-president-obama-congratulates-kosovo> http://online.wsj.com/community/groups/albanians-us-helping-haiti-766/topics/us-president-obama-congratulates-kosovo US President Obama congratulates Kosovo on its second year of independance. Wall Street Journal | Feb. 10, 2010 President Obama sent a message of congratulations to Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu in recognition of Kosovo's second year of independence. President Obama said "In the name of the American people I congratulate all citizens of Kosovo for the second year of independence of Kosovo. Best wishes for the people of Kosovo for building a democratic multi-ethnic government. The United States of America is very interested to see progress and success of the state of Kosovo. The U.S. is dedicated to support of it's ally Kosovo. February 17th is a big day for Kosovo and America and I have strong beliefs that the friendship between our nations will continue to grow to both our benefit." * <http://online.wsj.com/community/14fb545d-01ef-4def-b272-9be1e2c2dd6c> Sahit Muja wrote: Turkey's membership in the EU would make it a more powerful union. President Obama said Turkey would be an asset to the EU. Europe Union now needs Turkey , Albania , Bosnia and Kosovo more than ever. Europe is expected to lose 24% of its prime working-age population about 120 million workers by 2050, while those aged 60-plus will increase by 47%. It is essential, despite European concerns about the potential effects on immigration, to take steps such as admitting Turkey , Albania , Kosovo, and Bosnia into the European Union. This would add youth and dynamism to the EU. This will prove that Muslims are welcome to join Europeans as equals in shaping a free and prosperous future for the region. In 10 years, European populations will be in decline and dependency ratios the ratio of the population aged 0-16 and 65-plus to those aged between 16 and 65 will really start to take off. The United States strongly supports Turkey 's bid to become a member of the European Union, President Obama pledged in a speech at the Turkish parliament. He said Turkey has been a resolute ally and a responsible partner in transatlantic and European institutions, adding Turkish membership would broaden and strengthen Europe 's foundation once more. After years of being refused entry into the European Union, Turkey is losing interest and is looking eastward where it has many friends. Formally, Ankara remains committed to joining the EU, but the idea of joining has lost much of its appeal after years of rejection and additional European demands to repeatedly prove that it is worthy. It is time for the countries of Europe to overcome their fear of Islam--time for them to stop turning Turkish EU membership into a cultural battleground. The only criteria to membership should be those of Copenhagen (1993). The comission report (2009) mentioned that Turkey , Albania , Bosnia is very close to satisfying them. European politicians are ready to ignore their countries long-term socioeconomic needs in order to respond to the short-term religious and cultural fears of their constituencies. Millions of European women and men are already Muslim. Turkish, Albanian and Bosnian EU membership would be nothing new and present no danger. Islam is culturally, politically and economically are part of European reality. Turkey forms an integral part of its future. We need courageous European politicians who will develop a new vision of Turkish-EU relations, who will remind their citizens that Turkey , by virtue of its economic powers, geography, history and natural position as go-between with the "Muslim World", is a major asset for Europe and for its future. Instead of waiting until historical necessity forces the EU to incorporate Turkey . European statesmen should be working together to develop a clear, reasonable policy leading to Turkish membership. One that would respect political principles and recognise cultural and religious diversity. Welcoming Albania , Kosova , Bosnia , Turkey into the EU would mean Europe would have to reconcile itself with its own principles. _,___
