The Serbian church regards Kosovo as the cradle of its faith and Serbian nationhood, and is deeply unhappy about the February declaration of independence in the region where 90 percent of the population is Albanian of Muslim origin.

In August, Bishop Artemije, who oversees the church in Kosovo, ordered the dismissal of the head of the Visoki Decani Monastery Father Teodosije and his deputy Father Sava, known as the "Cyber Monk" because of his Internet outreach efforts.

The church's leadership delayed a final decision on what Bishop Artemije saw as disobedience against his order barring contacts with European Union and Kosovo Albanian officials. After days of meetings this week, church elders on Saturday issued a statement permitting the monastery leadership to stay.

"The church, responsibly and analytically, looked at the difficult situation in Kosovo and Metohija," said the statement.

"The fathers of the holy synod have confirmed the previous decisions of the holy synod which are related to the management and brotherhood of the Monastery Visoki Decani, taking into consideration the canonic authority of Bishop Artemije."

The dispute over the monastery leadership embodies a larger discussion within the Serbian Orthodox Church over its strong past nationalist tone. The church has often played an important role in national life and it never raised its voice against the killings of non-Serbs during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Some church officials are hoping for a more moderate nationalist line after its ailing Patriach Pavle, 94, dies, but church leaders this week unexpectedly declined his request to resign, thus putting off the decision on the church's future.

WELL-GUARDED MONKS

The 14th-century Decani monastery is one of the best-known historic church properties in Kosovo. Italian troops protect the monastery from attack, although one Albanian fired a grenade at the walls last year without causing injury.

With 32 monks and novices living at the monastery, Decani is the largest brotherhood of monks in the Serbian Orthodox Church. They do not go to Albanian areas or villages around the monastery unescorted and buy practically everything they need on trips outside of Kosovo.

Many see church work as vital to maintaining a Serbian presence as Belgrade continues to challenge the legitimacy of Kosovo's independence.

A visit to the monastery for a special weekly prayer service on Thursday night found about 100 people in attendance, including elderly Serbs from nearby villages and a few soldiers from international forces stationed in Kosovo. Just a handful of elderly women attended service on Friday morning.

The Orthodox leadership hopes that its churches will be a factor in encouraging Serbs driven from their homes in Kosovo amid fighting a decade ago to return.