In front of the Church of St. Jeremiah in Goraždevac, a memorial service was held for Ivan Jovović and Panta Dakić, children who died twenty-one years ago in Bistrica.

The funeral service was served by His Eminence Metropolitan Teodosije of Raška-Prizren with the participation of parish priest Nenad Našpalić of Goraždeva, parish priest Dalibor Kojić of Osojan and monks of Visoki Dečani monastery. - Twenty-one years after the murder of Pant Dakić (12) and Ivan Jovović (19), the perpetrators of this crime have not yet been found. Today we have gathered here to commemorate them with prayers and to pray to the Lord for them and their innocent souls. Twenty-one years, brothers and sisters, since an unfortunate event happened here in this village on the river Bistrica and when those who are the purest before God, namely children, suffered. Ivan and Panto and others who were wounded. Today, we have all gathered here to make a memorial, memorial service for them with prayers. Let us pray to the Lord for them, innocent souls, for those who were sacrificed as young and pure lambs. For those who are a pledge for all of us who are determined to live in these areas, in our suffering Kosovo and Metohija and in this village - Bishop Teodosije preached and emphasized:

- As hard as it is for us to part with our loved ones, we have the consolation that they are now in a more beautiful place with angels, saints, martyrs and virgins. Out of great love, our Lord offered himself as a sacrifice for the sake of the human race and for our salvation. Following his example, the first martyr Archdeacon Stefan and many martyrs in the Church of God consciously sacrificed themselves for the sake of God's truth and justice. The Lord is pleased with such a sacrifice, the Lord is pleased with the sacrifice of those who suffer innocently because the Lord has prepared for us something better than this worldly life, but He said that His kingdom is not of this world. He said: If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. He also said that those who please Him in truth and justice, especially those who innocently suffer for His name, for the sake of the honorable cross, for the sake of truth, that they will inherit the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. What eye has not seen and ear has not heard, the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. Therefore, as hard as it is for us to part with our loved ones, we have comfort and hope in the Lord that they are now in a much more beautiful place with angels, with saints, with martyrs, virgins, and their number is so great that we cannot imagine how many there are in history humanity of people, especially the children of innocent victims.

- Although we cannot hear and see Ivan and Pant, we still feel their presence and communicate with them in prayer. I would say that we are the blessed people of God when, even at this time, we can offer to the Lord what is most beautiful and pure - innocent sacrifices. Any Christian who is not ready to sacrifice for the love of Christ, believing in eternal life, is not a good Christian. Today, we who choose to live here are aware that choosing to stay here has its price and we are ready to pay that price. Brothers and sisters, that sacrifice of ours, that determination of ours has its reward. That salary is not in silver and gold, it is what the Lord determined in advance from the creation of the world for the innocent, the pure, especially for the martyrs whom he will settle in paradise. That is why it is our consolation and hope for Ivan and Panta and for many others who suffered, especially for children not only in Kosovo and Metohija but all over the world, children are still suffering today. It is ours that now, when we can no longer see and hear them, we pray to communicate with them. That's what our soul feels, their presence, that's what's left with us. Just as we see with our eyes, we also feel the presence of all of us here with our other senses. May the Lord grant them a paradise settlement, peace, comfort, joy with all the righteous and saints, and may the Lord grant us here perseverance, faith, and patience so that we can remain on the path of God. As much as we love being here together in this earthly life, it is even more valuable to be together in the eternal life, the kingdom of heaven. That's why we try to live in such a way as to please the Lord, said Metropolitan Teodosije o, reminded those present that the Mother of God's fast will soon begin and invited all present believers to fast:

- Now we are on the threshold of the Lent of the Virgin. Anyone who is a Christian and believes in our Lord and who seeks the protection of the Mother of God will achieve this fast. Fasting is a fence, a dam that protects us even in this life, and it is also our pledge for the next life. Today we gathered here next to this ancient temple of St. Jeremiah, who also suffered a lot for the truth of God and right, we prayerfully remembered our children, the victims and offered to the Lord what we could. It is a song, a prayer for the victims Ivan and Panta and for all the innocent victims. May the Lord grant them eternal life and the kingdom of heaven.

Source: Radio Goraždevac, Diocese of Raško-Prizren