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DECANI MONASTERY RELIEF FUND INC. USA
11 YR OLD GIRL’S PASSIONATE WORDS DURING HOLY PASCHA

Many people don’t know the meaning of Kosovo. It is not just a piece of land or a geographic area.

Kosovo is small and yet so large. There is enough place for everyone because the Lord has bestowed this holy land upon all people. It is small, but it’s as precious as a jewel. It’s as tiny as the sip of fresh water without which you cannot last, as an air without which you cannot breathe, and it’s as large as the sun which warms the whole world with the warmness of its love. It’s as huge as the rock which stands firmly and unbreakably, because Kosovo’s roots have grown deep in the earth since the ancient times, and those roots were set by our ancestors and by the saints. Our monasteries, which are pride and joy of every Serb, are witnesses of that. Our Lord has sanctified Kosovo and therefore we call it the Serbian Jerusalem. Kosovo people are full of love and faith for its monasteries and for all the people. We have already demonstrated that love to our people who come and visit us and who try hard that at least for a moment we forget what we have gone through and the suffering we have so far endured.

But when they leave, we remain with the same sorrow yet showing them that the Serbian faith and love is the strongest. It has always been like that and it will remain so in the future. Kosovo is the symbol of the Serbian faith, the symbol of all Serbs. People in Kosovo always pray in monasteries that the Lord may protect each and every Serb. In Kosovo sunshine is the brightest and flowers are the prettiest. The most beautiful flower is the Kosovo peony because it has grown to become the symbol of Kosovo and of the Kosovo Battle. Many of our saints had walked through Kosovo: Prince Lazar, Emperor Dusan, Stephen of Decani and many saints who left plenty of wealth behind them.

The greatest wealth are the monasteries from 12th, 13th and 14th century. They had left us the Christian faith and had spread the Christianity. Kosovo is beautiful because it’s permeated with the beauty of its monasteries. The entire Kosovo smells on incense, love and hope. It’s a great miracle that even in these difficult moments Kosovo still stands proudly. They can take away Kosovo from us but they will never take the Christian faith of Kosovo, our blood and our Kosovo heart, because that cannot take roots in the chests of enemies. That cannot be either planted or take roots – it is given by the Lord and glory to Him. Thank God I’m a Christian and have a cross on my forehead. So does all of you who read this.

These words that I have written are insufficient and I’m afraid that I have missed a lot, because there are no words which could describe our Holy Kosovo, but the Lord will reveal them to everyone and thank Him for sending me these words written for you.

Jovana Radovanovic
11 years old, Orahovac, Kosovo

Let us in Christ’s love be her light and hope.

During these holy days let us all humbly reach out and help the Decani Monastery Relief for not only this girl and her family, but for all who are under severe persecution and oppression in Kosovo/Metohija.

Please send your loving donation to the following address on behalf of our fund:

Decani Monastery Relief Fund
C/O Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes
2618 West Bannock Street
Boise, Idaho 83702

With my heartfelt best wishes to you and your loved ones for a blessed Pascha, I pray that the radiant light of the Resurrection inbue your life with divine purpose and meaning and your soul with the joy of a rich spiritual life.
Peace to your soul!
God love and bless you!
Humbly in Christ our Lord,

+ Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes
President of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund
Who prays for you and with you!
208) 345-6147

I have run to the fragrance of your myrrh,
O Christ God, for I have been wounded by your love;
do not part from me, O heavenly Bridegroom.

“Wounded by Love,” The Life and The Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios

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Sts. Constantine and Helen Orthodox Church