Patriarch Porfirije (BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC)
The Serbian Orthodox Church has said in a press release that its head, Patriarch Porfirije, who was due to arrive at the Patriarchate of Pec on Dec. 26 "according to the regular schedule," was stopped at the Merdare administrative line crossing and denied entry into Kosovo and Metohija.
The Church described this decision by authorities in Pristina as "unreasonable and absolutely unacceptable," adding that the "provocation" should not be allowed to "become an excuse for further jeopardizing of our people and our holy places."
The head of the Church said he had left for the seat of his Church as its Patriarch, but that "the door to his home is locked to him today."
A post on the patriarch's Instagram acount read that he had wanted to be with his people ahead of the most joyous holiday and that as a citizen he was going "to his house, his home."
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