http://www.argusleader.com/news/Fridayarticle5.shtml

ARGUS LEADER (Sioux Falls, SD)
January 19, 2001

Greek Orthodox priest: Serb suffering ignored

By JILL CALLISON
Argus Leader

Despite the presence of peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, conflicts continue
and 104
churches and monasteries have been destroyed, a Greek Orthodox priest said
Thursday.

The Rev. Demetrios Serfes, a parish priest in Boise, Idaho, is founder and
president of a relief fund established to bring aid to the suffering people.

"People have closed their ears and closed their hearts to the horrific
suffering of
Christians," Serfes said. He spoke at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church
in Sioux Falls.

The Decani Monastery Relief Fund was established to help priests and monks at
the Decani Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Kosovo aid the people. Money
contributed is transferred to monastery officials. Sending goods is of
little value,
since the country has a thriving black market and imposes a surtax on those who
pick up the packages.

Kosovo's children and young people are suffering mentally, physically and
spiritually, Serfes said.

"Their education is on hold, their childhood is on hold," he said.

The people are living in half-houses that do little more than offer
protection from
the wind, Serfes said. Serbs need a long list of items -- firewood to heat their
dwellings, food and clothing.

They also need spiritual comfort, Serfes said. He said not a single church was
damaged during the war in Kosovo, but now churches, monasteries and cemeteries
are targets of violence.

The Decani monastery is protected by tanks on the grounds, Serfes said.

"Without them, it would be gone."

Religious leaders who try to help face danger daily, Serfes said. Some travel in
Army transport trucks to avoid assassination attempts. Others have been killed.
The decapitated body of one priest was found in a well. Despite such
intimidation,
the priests continue to minister to the people, Serfes said.

"These things go with war," he said. "Where you have war you have suffering,
where you have suffering you have hatred, where you have hatred you have
misunderstanding."

Americans may have been given an unfair picture of the conflict.

"The Western press has painted the Serbs as great monsters," says the Rev.
Benjamin Henderson, pastor of Holy Transfiguration.

All Orthodox churches -- Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek -- have joined
together in support of the Christians in Kosovo and others such as Gypsies who
are suffering, he says. Photographs of the destruction in Kosovo have been
assembled in books and were given to members of Congress and the presidential
candidates, Serfes said. "Nobody seems to be paying attention."


jcalliso@...