Kosovo, 29 August 2025. Visit of the IAO Secretary General to Holy Monastery of Visoki Dečani

The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), member of the Hellenic Parliament, Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, accompanied by the IAO Advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, traveled to Kosovo to attend the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Assumption of the Theotokos, according to the Julian calendar, which was celebrated at the Holy Monastery of Visoki Dečani in Kosovo. It is noted that the Monastery is guarded on a 24-hour basis by international military forces of KFOR.

In his address to the Head of the Holy Monastery of Visoki Dečani, Archimandrite Savvas, the IAO Secretary General emphasized that: “the Monastery where we today have the blessing of being humble pilgrims, founded in the 14th century by King Stefan Uros III Dečanski, is not only a jewel of Serbian Orthodoxy. It is a jewel of the entire Byzantine and Orthodox world. The magnificent temple, dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ, combines the Byzantine architectural tradition with Western architectural elements. It is a testimony to the creative dialogue between East and West in the medieval Balkans, which -allow me to say- ultimately constitutes a timeless imperative. Because even today we must, while keeping our Byzantine and national characteristics alive, engage in creative dialogue with Western Christianity, as both traditions constitute the single Christian pillar of European civilization, in a Europe that, unfortunately, seems to be forgetting its Christian roots and values.

We know that your Monastery, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, has gone through many trials: attacks, desecrations, threats. And yet, thanks to the Virgin Mary whom we honor today, it stands tall, a beacon of peace and holiness. We hope that your Monastery, the only one in the world – after the also venerable Holy Monastery of St. Catherine of Sinai – that is currently guarded, will soon no longer need military protection”

The head of the IAO, who visited the region of Kosovo and the Metohia, had a meeting with the Metropolitan of Raska-Prizren, Mr. Theodosios, at his seat, at the Holy Monastery of Gracanica, while earlier he visited the Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of the Old Patriarchate of Ipek.

The festive vespers and the divine service, which were celebrated in three languages – Greek, Serbian and Albanian – were brightened by the participation of the choir “Saint John of Koukouzelis” under the direction of the head cantor of the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Tirana, Mr. Theodoros Petsis, the choir “Angelic Choir” from Larissa, under the direction of the professor of Byzantine music Mr. Georgios Karagiannakis, and a choir of cantors from Belgrade under the direction of Mr. Vladimir Simič.