Mr. Djordjevic, regarded as a leading expert on the Serbian Church, says Patriarch Pavle has been ''shocked'' by the evidence of atrocities that he has seen in Kosovo since the 11-week war with NATO ended in early June.
That shock has resulted in what Mr. Djordjevic describes as a new direction for the Serbian Church, with the Patriarch and Bishop Artemije, the most senior representative of the church in Kosovo, speaking openly of ''evil'' done by Serbs against Albanians.
Bishop Artemije took part on Friday in a United Nations-sponsored meeting with the leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaci, and other Albanian leaders. They signed a joint statement condemning war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Albanians in Kosovo.
Bishop Artemije has long opposed Mr. Milosevic but has not often been heard inside Serbia. Shortly after the NATO bombing began, he made a proclamation to be read in every church in Kosovo, criticizing what he called ''pogroms'' against the Albanians. It condemned the burning of houses and attacking of people.
Krijoni Kontakt