Irinej, Serbian Patriarch

Vucic also rejected the assessment that the state behaves as if the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) was "guilty for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija."

"The Church should not make key political decisions, and it certainly has the right to express its opinion," the president said when asked to comment on daily Blic reporting that "the state blames only the Church for Kosovo."

The encroachment of religion into Serbia's officially secular state institutions has drawn criticism after the Serbian Army command celebrated St George as its patron saint for the first time on Sunday, in the presence of Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin.

Ahead of the most important Christian holiday, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), Patriarch Irinej, issued his Easter message.

The full text of the message

"The Serbian Orthodox Church to her spiritual children at Pascha, 2018

+IRINEJ

By the Grace of God

However, he said he would not move to Kosovo, i.e., to the town of Pec.

The media reported at the beginning of the week that the Serbian Orthodox Church is preparing major changes in May to the way its leader is elected, and to its internal organization and name.

Among those attending the unveiling on Thursday were Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Serbian Patriarch Irinej.

Vucic recalled that 70 artists from Russia and Serbia worked to create the decoration, made in Moscow - "weaving in millions of glittering pieces into one single message of brotherhood and solidarity."

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) spoke during liturgy he served in Banja Luka on the occasion of Serb Republic (RS) Day - and days after one of his top bishops, Amfilohije, caused a storm by expressing his fear the president's policy would lead to "the betrayal of Serbia and Kosovo."

BELGRADE - Serbia can never give Kosovo-Metohija away, says Patriarch Irenaeus of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

"Kosovo can be taken away, it can be occupied like it is today, but Serbia can never say 'we give it away' because what is given away is always lost, and what is taken away by force is regained in the same way," the patriarch said in an interview with Hram TV.

Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej on Thursday issued his message ahead of January 7, when Christmas in celebrated in Serbia.

The patriarch called on all believers to be one with the long-suffering Serb people who are faithfully safeguarding and defending every step of the holy land in Kosovo and Metohija, and said that Kosovo and Metohija is our Jerusalem, our Holy Land, "which has been, may we never forget, given to us by God as an eternal pledge."

Serbian Patriarch Irinej has said that Serbia can never give away Kosovo and Metohija, and that it was not yet time for the visit of Pope Francis.