Patriarch Porfirije and seven bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church were unable to travel to the Patriarchate of Pec, where the Serbian Orthodox Church's Episcopal Council was scheduled to take place. Serbian media reported that the bishops were detained at the border, at the Merdare checkpoint, and were informed that entry to the region was prohibited for them.

The Serbian Orthodox Church announced that the session of the Episcopal Council would be postponed and held at the Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade.

Patriarch Porfirije called on all those who have influence on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija to do everything possible to stop the violation of human rights, including the right to freedom of movement of the Serbian Patriarch, bishops, and clergy. He emphasized that he would not abandon his people in Kosovo and Metohija and would do everything possible to resume serving in the Patriarchate of Pec and praying together with his flock.

"All doors of this world are open to me, just as our doors are open to everyone, only the door of my home, the Patriarchate of Pec, is closed, and I am not allowed in. Those who have closed the doors of the house of prayer are doing evil first to themselves and then to all people. They have closed the door to all that is good, righteous, and happy. When the Serbian Patriarch is denied freedom of movement in this way, what happens to the Serbs living in the ghetto?" said Patriarch Porfirije.

Kosovo and Metohija are historically the spiritual center of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Serbian patriarchs bear the title of archbishops of Pec, named after the city of Pec on the edge of the region, which is controlled by the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. Historically, they are enthroned in the Pec Monastery. The current Serbian Patriarch Porfirije was there recently, in October 2022.

Kosovo authorities have denied entry to Patriarch Porfirije on several occasions. The last time this happened was in 2022 during another escalation in relations between Serbia and the partially recognized republic. As of today, the situation in the region is tense again: as reported by TASS, from May 13, Kosovo is fully transitioning to the euro. The authorities of the region are abolishing the use of the Serbian dinar throughout the region, including in the north, where the majority of the population are ethnic Serbs.

The Serbian Church has previously protested against the abolition of the dinar. Earlier this year, the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren stated that the innovation would negatively affect the lives of the Serbian population of the region: the ban on dinars would complicate the payment of salaries, pensions, and social benefits.