Pred sami pravoslavni Božić, srpski patrijarh Irinej pozvao je Srbe na Kosovu i Metohiji da budu ustrajni "u nepravednoj patnji i da ostanu u svojim domovima, uz svoju crkvu i na svetoj zemlji svojih djedova i pradjedova".
Just before Orthodox Christmas, the Serbian Patriarch Irenej urged Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to be unflappable "in unjust suffering and stand in their homes, the church and the holy land of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers".