May our Benevolent Lord Bless you!

Peace be to your good soul!

Practicing mercy, good deeds, charity and justice are the hallmarks of a true Christian. In being a faithful Christians, you kindly acted with great kindness to the Decani Monastery Relief Fund, and we give each of you our deep humble thanks. Thank you humbly good and faithful servants for your great kindness, your mercy, and charity. Above all we also thank you for your humble prayers.

The situation in Kosovo and Metohija continues to be a great struggle for all Serbian Orthodox Christians, and we continue to humbly appeal to you for your gracious and kind Christian help with your loving support.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Christopher (President of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America and Canada), has recently reported to us, that more then “120,000 Serbs have lost employment overnight, the Serbian language is completely banished from public life; all Serbs inscriptions have been systematically removed; thousands of Serb books in public libraries have been burned; Serb culture monuments, including 110 churches and monasteries have been destroyed; and Albanians greatly pressure Serbs to see their property under threats and extortion. Refusals result in example torching, killing and grenade attacks. When will it end?”

Only a few months ago we reported to you that 108 churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija, have been destroyed, and now with a heavy heart must now tell you 110 Serbian Holy Orthodox Churches and Sacred Monasteries, have been destroyed, gone!

Then again we must tell you these same churches and monasteries have even been bomb not only once but twice, just so they will not be rebuilt. We hear of no news that these churches and monasteries within the regions of Kosovo, and Metohija are being rebuilt? We pass this matter over into silence. Why? No words, but we shall not cease from roaring like a lion and being meek in telling those who are free, cry for Kosovo, and appeal that human rights should exist for the Serbian Orthodox Christians, who might of lost their churches and monasteries, but not their deep faith. Leave the churches and monasteries alone, and we humbly say: touch not one more holy and consecrated church or monastery, as every religion and every faith has the right to prevail.

The situation for those who do not have proper shelter continues to be a great hardship for thousands upon thousands of citizens throughout the regions of Kosovo, and Metohija, as many are freezing from the winter months. Then again we have the KFOR who continue to force themselves within the homes of the Serbs, which happens on a daily basis. We have children who live in these homes without roofs, and as well as elderly, and of course those who are ill. One wonders what is the life expectancy now in these regions? How can anyone on this earth live without proper shelter?  The Serbs know how to live, and how to struggle, but for how long?

Pray please.

Sadly enough the youth continue to suffer from even the fact they cannot with total freedom attend a local school, although some schools are open, as the KFOR constantly raid these schools, and what might be stored in the school, so the students of the local schools become frighten. The children are simply scared to death, and tremble, as they constantly still see combat vehicles, helicopters, tanks, and even bombings. Yes bombings, these explosions are constant, as it was recently reported about the dynamiting of a bus, in which one of the locals, a student was killed. One must ask is it safe for the children to attend school? No! The parents of these children are constantly worried if even their children will return home safe. Then again the schools do not have proper electricity and heating, when the sun comes out the rooms get somewhat warmer, and classes resume.

For those who attend school it’s the joy of their life, as these children simply cannot go anywhere else, as to the constant fear of what is happening throughout the regions of Kosovo and Metohija. Finally it seems the children cannot return back home to keep warm, as mostly many children throughout these regions do not have proper shelter, houses without roofs, and freezing, as this well includes even the teachers. God bless these dear souls! Then again what about food, anything is a joy for these children to eat. Dragana Knezevic explains: “These children have been locked up at home and in school for the last three years. My group is specific in that all of them are from Vucitn and all of them are without a roof over their heads. Both teachers and students.” (Source: http://www.politika.co.yu/2002/0116/01_21a.htm), or you may write to me by email for this full report.

So we report to you these greatly much suffering situations in Kosovo and Metohija, and we call upon you to not forget those who still need our help and assistance, as your loving donation gives hope to those who have no hope, and this is what brings many to say, someone does care, and someone does love me, as well knows I am freezing, hungry, and desires good will and peace in the land I love, especially all the people who live in Kosovo and Metohija!

Our hearts where overjoyed to learn how much you have helped this fund, and we humbly thank you, and our Lord God for this great gracious kindness. We will be able to indeed reach out to help the Children’s Relief Campaign, to keep open the Satellite Internet for the Decani Monastery, to give firewood, to those who are freezing, and to assist those in great desperation such as food, shelter, and medical assistance.

We owe so much humble thanks to so many kind souls who made a loving donation to this fund, and we would like to now thank the Orthdoox churches, sketes, monasteries, and missions who have responded with great kindness. Some kind souls sent two donations during this period of time, truly a great blessing! Your hearts will be blessed, and your kind good soul! Thank you!

Now I would like to present to you on behalf of Veljko Sikirica (Secretary-Treasure), the following report from those who made donations to the Decani Monastery Relief Fund from September-December 2001. These funds are broken up into different categories, and what we would like to say, is indeed what a blessed hour to give you this report:

Decani Monastery Relief Contributions for March 2001 - May 2001 Contributor Name Children's Relief Campaign:   404 Stanka Kukich M.D. 405 Jovan & Zora Lebaric 406 Robert & Mitzi Cemovich 407 Janette & Patricia Grhovac 408 G. Cook 409 Katalina & George Petrov Platzer 410 Stephen & Barbara Zivkovich 411 Vojislava C. Russo M.D. 412 Lillian Gavrilovich M.D. 413 Anna Kutlich 414 William G. Salatich 415 Robert & Barbara Miller 416 Sotirios & Despina Bouras 417 St. George Serbian Orthodox Church 418 Evelyn Vucenovic 419 Mirko Popovich 420 Stevan & Vera Pirocanac 421 Jenette Czubak - Sikirica 422 Tom A. Bouras 423 Draza Knezevich 424 Anonymous from Illionis 425 Nina Dimas 426 William B. Powell Children's Relief Campaign: Sub-total: $4,635.00 Satellite Internet For Decani Monastery: 427 Anna V. Smilanich 428 St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Mission Satellite Internet - Sub-toidal: $350.00 Fire-wood Fund 429 George & Joy Rapsomaniki's 430 Victoria & Costa Panos 431 John S. Billo 432 Linde G. Sacksen 433 Avghi Demosthenous 434 Tom A Bouras & Sotirios & Despina Bouras 435 John W. Hall 436 Tom A Bouras 437 Gregory P. Nitis 438 John & Mildred Sysak 439 Victoria & Costa Panos 440 Skete of St. Maximos the Confessor 441 Johnny J. Yoo 442 Nicholas Chaplain 443 Paul R. Masterjohn 444 Robert & Virginia Peters 445 Archpriest Paul K. Tiajoloff 446 Matushak Catherine Hubbard - Theotokos House 447 Jennifer Louise Sacksen 448 Rev. Timoth B. & Tamela K. Cremeens Fire-wood Fund Sub-total: $2,5540.00 OPF-Matching Fund: 449 Charles R. & Dianne E. Boardman 450 Bennie & Kimberly Pandorf 451 Carol & Nikokla Kostich, M.D. 452 Holy Trinity Church 453 Shannon Rae Robinson 454 St. Elizabeth's Orthodox Church OPF-Matching Fund: $1,975.00 General Needs: 455 John & Vera Gavrilovic 456 Margaret Stephens 457 Ruzica Popovitch 458 St. Paisius Orthodox Monastery 459 Anonymous from Pittsburgh 460 Kamal K. Abadir 461 St. Paisius Orthodox Monastery 462 Fr. Mark & Nancy Stevens 463 Nagib & Mona Khalifa 464 Fr. Demetrios Carellas 465 John & Aaron Wall 466 St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Mission 467 Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church 468 Maria Karalekas 469 Innocent ReDavid 470 J. Paillard 471 Anastasios P. Fatsis 472 Alexander G. Stevens 473 Mr. & Mrs. Carol & Nikola Kostich 474 Charmaine & Ralph Masterjohn 475 George & Allyson Spirtos 476 William B. Powell 477 Katherina Liepelt 478 Peter & Mitzi Bouras 479 Fr. Josiah bradfor G. Trenham 480 Mary Davenport 481 Joel M. Gamble 482 St. Paisius Orthodox Monastery 483 Xenia & Maiko Cheremeteff 484 Nicholas & Jennifer Park 485 Michael Alberty 486 Tatiana Temnikov 487 Heather Lynn Fike 488 Mary Lynn & Terry Demacopoulos 489 Ilena Babu Crampton 490 Eugene F. Lauria & Kiriaki Xiluri Nrao 491 Dr. & Mrs. Trent G. Orfanos 492 Brenda & Joseph Bragg 493 St. Gregory Palamas Monastery 494 The Diveris Family: John & Catherine Diveris MD 495 Hannah Patzke 496 Margaret Stephens 497 Peter Alban Heers 498 Michael & Margot Christakis 499 Norman Hugh Redington & Karen Rae Keck 500 Paul & Marie Stefanovic 501 Edward & Judy Hillous 502 Ruzica Popovitch Krekic 503 St. Herman Orthodox Mission 504 Igor S. Reljic 505 Beau G. Branson 506 Anna Maria E. Horner 507 Mary A. & Donald Hiskey General Needs - Sub-total: $7,988.00 Total for September, October, November and December 2001 $17,488.00 Previous balance up to August 31st 2001 $81,611.38 Grand Total as of December 31st 2001 : $99,099.38 Humbly submitted on January 21, 2002 by Veljko Sikirica Secretary-Treasure

Truly what a blessed hour, and we humbly thank each of you for your gracious donation to this fund, and that our Lord God will indeed reward you with many blessings.

Please support the Decani Monastery Relief Fund, and let us together share with one another our love and concern for those who continue to suffer and struggle in Kosovo and Metohija. Let us also with great love offer our prayers.

Kindly send your donations to the following address:

Decani Monastery Relief Fund
c/o Veljko Sikirica
4 West Hill Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
USA