Russian monks are offered to quit the restoration of Kosovo shrines

The future of Orthodoxy in Kosovo directly depends on the efforts of Russia, said Alexander Torshin, deputy chairman of the Federation Council, who recently visited this region.

“It is no secret that the policy of the restoration of Kosovo cultural and historical monuments declared by the Civil Administration of the Cosing and Historical Monuments every now and then gives serious malfunctions. Yes, and how can you succeed if some countries of the program themselves openly violate the interests and religious feelings of the non -albanian population!” - He said in an interview, published today in the "Russian newspaper" .

In these conditions, A. Torshin continued, "it is our efforts that are able to radically improve the situation - not allowing to destroy Orthodoxy in Kosovo and Metokhia, which have long been considered the Orthodox heart of all Serbia."

“They look at Russia with the hope of which the recognized religious and public authority of today's Kosovo, Bishop of Rashko-Swan Artemy, said in a conversation with me,” the interfax-religion portal quoted the vice-speaker.

In his opinion, it would be possible to start with trips of Russian Orthodox pilgrims to Kosovo and Metohiya, "where there really is something to see - first of all, the largest monasteries of the teen of deseches in Metokhia and the Assumption of the Holy Virgin in the Rock."

“Along with this, consider the possibility of sending Russian monks to work to restore local shrines and temples,” he suggested.

A. Torshin also came up with the initiative to create a specialized non -governmental assistance fund Kosovo.

“An international format seems preferable when not only Russia, but also Western Christian powers - the same Italy and Spain, who sent peacekeepers to Kosovo - would feel moral responsibility for the fate of Christianity in the region,” he added.

Recall that in early May, the Russian Foreign Ministry began to study the issue of Russia's participation in the restoration of Orthodox shrines in Kosovo as part of the UNESCO project. As stated in the foreign policy, Russia will provide the necessary organizational and expert resources, in particular, the direction of highly qualified Russian architects, engineers, technologists and art historians to carry out restoration and restoration work in Kosovo.