UNRETURNIBLE DAMAGE

It is impossible to return seal of the time when they were built to the ancient holy sites, even if they made them now with gold, bishop Artemije warns.

What was destroyed from March 17th until March 19th of this year?

According to the information's of the Diocese of Raska - Prizren, which was presented by Ministry of culture in the book of devastation of orthodox heritage in Kosovo & Metohija in municipalities: Djakovica, Kosovo Polje, Kosovska Kamenica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Obilic, Orahovac, Pec, Podujevo, Pristina, Prizren, Srbica, Stimlje, Urosevac and Vucitrn were destroyed or damaged 31 churches and monasteries, seminary building, Bishop's residence, one building with facilities for living and spaces for small business and one medieval fortification. The worst devastation happened in Prizren and surrounding areas were burnt, destroyed and desecrated ten church buildings, Prizren Orthodox seminary, Bishop's residence, fortification Kaljaja builted and rebuilted from 11th until 17th century and Podkaljaja and Potok old streets, old part of Prizren were where old Serbian houses and stores builted in first part of 19th century. In Prizren's example is obvious that the heritage with remarkable meaning is not speared. That sign can be found in front of photo and sign for the church of Holy Ascension, which was built during emperor Dusan about 1330, where the frescoes were painted in altar interior. Restoration of the frescoes in this Prizren's church evaluated in the first category of monument heritage was discontinued in 1999. In the same category according to evaluation is church of Bogorodica Ljeviska builted by king Milutin in 1306 - 1307 on remains basilica from 11th century.

Turks covered frescoes with the paint

Restoration of the frescoes painted from 1307 until 1313, discovered in second part of 20th century were covered with the paint when was converted in mosque in 18th century and that restoration lasted almost three decades.
Remarkable meaning has and Saint Nicholas church known as Tutic's church (builted by Dragoslav and Bela Tutic) was builted 1331-1332, fortification Kaljaja builted on 11th century, rebuilted in the following centuries especially during emperor Dusan, St.Archangle's Monastery - mausoleum of emperor Dusan builted from 1343 until 1352. Destroyed 1542 and 1615 when builting material was used for builting Sinan Pasha mosque.
On a list of devastated Prizren's holy sites are: St.Nedelja church, St.George church, which was believed to be builted from 14th until 16th century, St.George cathedral and St.Kosmas and Demian's church both from 19th century, St.Panteleiomon church and St.Nedelja church in Zivinjane builted in first half of 20th century. In shock wave in Djakovica were destroyed St.Ilija church builted between two world wars, was burned in April 1941 restored in 1992, Holy Trinity builted between 1994-1999 on site of the church which was builted in 1940 and destroyed in 1949, Dormition of the Mother of God with the parish house in wich museum was kept very valuable collection of icons and church goods from 18th and 19th century and cemetary church of St.Prince Lazar. Together with the temple in March Pogrom cemetary was destroyed also. In Kosovo Polje St.Nicholas church was burned. On Kosovska Municipality following churches were burned or destroyed St.Panteleimon church and St.Sava church. In Obilic St.Arch.Micheal church was damaged. In Orahovac municipality St.Nedelja church (builted in 14th century and rebuilted in 16th century, some treasuries from that church are kept in State museum in Belgrade several times destroyed during the WWII, putted under protection of the State in 1966). Among destroyed holy sites which have a status of cultural heritage are the church of Entry of the Birth-Giver-of God in Belo Polje near Pec which was builted in first half of 19th century with support of Russian empress Maria Aleksandrovna.
Around the church in which museum was kept very valuable collection of icons and church communion sets from 15th and 16th centuries, was and old cemetery. After arrival of international peace keeping forces in Kosovo and Metohija church was robbed and burned and Serbian population expelled. Twenty families returned on the ruins of their homes, church was somehow rebuilted and new homes were builted for the returnees.

Destroyed cemeteries

In March of this year new builted church and houses were burned again, as well as St.John the Baptist church in front yard of old Metropolitanate in center of Pec. The following churches were destroyed also: St.Andrew the first called in Podujevo and St.Nicholas church in Prishtina which was proclaimed a cultural monument under protection of State for wooden crafted iconostas. Together with iconostas old icons and whole archive were burned. Medieval Devich monastery a historical monument builted in 1434 by prince Djuradj Brankovic, who builted as thanksgiving for the healing of his daughter by the St.Joanikije the wonderworker of Devich was burned in this March pogrom and St.Joanikije's grave was opened and desecrated. Also the following churches St.Arch.Michael in Stimlje, also historical monument, churches in Urosevac: Nativity of Mother of God, Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Holy King Uros and St.Eliah. The orthodox cemeteries on the yard of two Urosevac's churches were devastated and also collection of valuable icons, frescoes in the St.King Uros church. KFOR forces did not protect the St.Eliah church in Vucitrn (historical monument builted in 1834) in the pogrom from March 17th and March 19th 2004.

Mirijana Kuburovic

Metropolitanate of Montenegro and Littoral : English index

Copyright ©1999-2000 Pravoslavna Mitropolija Crnogorsko-primorska. Sva prava zadržana.