Serbian Orthodox Church
Stavropegic monastery – Patriarchate of Pec

Twentieth anniversary of attack on Patriarchate of Pec

On the night of Sunday the 15th of March 1981(the Sunday of Orthodoxy), the eight century old House and Seat of Serbian Archbishops and Patriarchs, and one of the most significant monuments of Serbian Byzantine architecture and art, Stavropegic monastery – Patriarchate of Pec, was burnt to the ground.

The fire, which engulfed large areas of the monastery, was started simultaneously in two separate locations; many of the buildings and treasured religious artifacts were destroyed but thankfully at the last moment, the most valuable manuscripts and the monastery treasury were saved. The fire also destroyed the Monastery’s winter church.

In spite of the great national and international outcry as well as public pressure to investigate the cause of the fire, no one has ever been apprehended and there has never been any public statement issued by the authorities of old Yugoslavia and no serious investigation has ever been successfully pursued.

On Friday 16th March 2001, the sisters of the Monastery will mark the twentieth anniversary of this tragedy, with a commemorative message, reflecting that the persons who torched one of the Balkan's and Europe's most renowned pillars of cultural heritage, burnt the roof of peace over Kosovo and Metohija.

At 18:30 hours a photo exhibition of the old and the new House will be opened with a speech, by the Metropolitan of Montenegro and Littoral, Exarch of Holy Pec throne Amfilohije.

Mother Superior
of Stavropegic Monastery
Holy Patriarchate of Pec

Metropolitanate of Montenegro and Littoral : English index

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