Patriarch Irinej rewards Greek who had refused to bomb Serbia in 1999

As a token of gratitude for the great and unselfish help of the Serbian people, Patriarch Irinej today rendered high honours to Frenchman Arnou Gujon and Greek Marinos Ritudis, a second former Greek Navy platooner who in 1999 refused the order to participate in NATO's shellings against the former Yugoslav Federal Republic.

Arno Gujon, founder of charity solidarity for Kosovo, tells “Courier” that he is very proud of this medal and that his motive is to continue his humanitarian journey even more insistent.

I am very happy and I am honoured to have received the highest order of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which has been appointed after the eldest son of the Serb family of St. Sava. I am deeply grateful to Patriarch Irinej for this decision, Bishop Teodos, and the diocese of Raska and Prizren, with whom we cooperate. This recognition is important for our 12,000 donors who have demonstrated in their work freely that solidarity is not just an empty word,” says Gujon for “Courier”.

Gujon has been engaged in humanitarian work in Kosovo for 14 years and visits the enclaves in Kosovo every month, negotiating with people and offering them needed assistance.

“I have an entire Kosovo, in every village they already know us, they are our friends, they accepted me as part of the family,” said Gujon. /Periscopi/