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DESTROYED
AND DESECRATED CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX SHRINES IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
(Since the end of war, June 13, 1999)
DESTROYED
CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES
N
E W
KOSOVO
CRUCIFIED - ONLINE VERSION
 KOSOVO CRUCIFIED - FILM IN REAL VIDEO
April
28 Good Friday - Orthodox Church blown up in Grncar, Kosovo
U
R G E N T
Church in
Banjska near Vucitrn mined by Albanian extremists, Jan 30, 2000
DESECRATED HERITAGE
This list is not complete and contains only most important
churches and monasteries. The final number of desecrated shrines has
risen to more than 100 in the meanwhile. The diocese is working on detailed
documentation of destructions together with UNESCO and the Ministry
of Culture of Republic of Serbia.
 1. The
Monastery of the Holy Trinity was built in the 14th century
on the Rusinica hill above Musutiste, 2 km to the south. The building,
which dated back to the year 1465, housed a valuable collection of manuscripts
from 14 th to 18 th centuries. There were also a hand-written apostle
from the 14 th century and a collecton of icons from the 19th century-1868-1985.
The monastery was plundered, burnt and then levelled with the ground
by explosives.
2.
The
church of the Holy Virgin Odigitriya, in Musutiste, was built
as a foundation by Dragoslav, the then chief court governor of the estate,
and his family, in 1315, about 10 km to the south-east of Suva Reka.
The founder's inscription above the entrance was one of the oldest and
most beautiful Serbian epigraphic texts of its kind. It was a building
with a semi-dome, an inscribed cross in the ground plan and had a semi-round
apse. The wall was built of alternating rows of bricks and stone cubes.
The frescoes of the Musutiste School, painted between 1316 and 1320
and famed for their plasticity and the saints' typology were known as
the best examples of Serbian art. That earned them a place in the company
of other mature artistic works of the Paleologists era from the first
quarter of the 14th century. The altar area contained a unique portrait
of a South-Slav educator, St Clement of Ohrid. In the north-western
corner of the naos there were figures of holy women, the warriors St
Theodore Tyre and St Theodore Stratilates, angels, and St Paneteleimon.
Two throne icons of Christ and The Holy Virgin dated back to the year
1603. Accompanying items were plundered, burnt and consequently mined.
3.
The medieval
monastery of St Mark of Korisa used to stand on a rocky outpost
above the Korisa river, 3 km southeast of the village of Korisa. The
church was built in 1467 with a single-nave, a rectangular foundation
and a preserved fragment of the original, ancient fresco. On the western
side, above the rock, a belfry with two bells was added in 1861 thus
becoming a foundation of Sima Andrejevic Igumanov. In April 1941, the
Kabasani Shqiptars forcibly tore out the bells and repeatedly desecrated
and vandalized the founder's grave. The monastery housed a major book
collection. It was robbed and burnt prior to having been completely
destroyed by explosives.
4.
The monastery
of St Archangel Gabriel, also known under the names of Binac
and Buzovik, was built in the 14th century. It was located some 4-5
km south of Vitina, at the spring of the river Susica. The church had
a rectangular foundation, a semi-round apse and a semi-cylindrical vault.
There were two layers of frescoes, one on top of each other. The newer
layer, from the 16th century, showed archbishops at liturgy. In 1867
Albanians slaughtered the priest. After that the monastery stood abandoned
only to be renewed at the beginning of the 20th century. A number of
the 14th century liturgical vessels were kept in the church. The Monastery
was first looted and set on fire. On September 13 the monastery church
was completely destroyed by explosive.
5.
Devic monastery
-Drenica (south of Srbica)- the church of the Presentation of
the Holy Virgin was built around the year 1434 by the Despot Djuradj
Brankovic to commemorate his daughter Devica's recovery from an illness
and was named after her. (The name Devica is congruent with the word
devica, which means virgin). It was built on the original site where
St Joannicius's, the first founder, small church once stood. The monastery
was restored on several occasions and consisted of a number of churches
dedicated to the Presentation of The Holy Virgin, St Joannicius and
St George. The monastery used to have four churchs that, together with
the konaks (residential quarters), were looted, desecrated, mined and
destroyed by the Shqiptars terrorists in 1941 when the Italians occupied
Kosmet. The monastery used to house a rich collection of manuscripts
and printed books. There was also a scriptorium within the monastery
complex. The entire ancient, as well as the 19th and 20th century, Devic
books, including the iconostasis with icons, were lost in a fire. At
the same time the recluse of St Joannicius of Devic, on the hill north
of the monastery, was wrecked as was the spring in a ravine below the
monastery.
The frescoes dated from the 15th century. Beside the portrait of St
Joannicius of Devic, clad in a senior monk's robes and bearing a preserved
inscription which indicates that he was "the first founder of the
place" preserved were also an image of St Akakios and the compositions
of The Wedding in Kana, Galilee and The healing of the Infirm. There
was also another layer of frescoes from the 15th century, as well as
one from the 19th century. The monastery owned the lands in Lausa, Ludovic,
Lepina in Kosovo, Bica in Metohija, a vineyard in Velika Hoca, a number
of houses and shops in Vucitrn, watermills, residential quarters, a
bakery, a dairy……60 hectares of arable land and 250 hectares
of forest in total.
In the morning twilight on 15th June 1991, neighbours until recently,
the self-proclaimed UCK, barged into this shrine. The horror that the
nuns and their spiritual guide, Fr Seraphim, were put through lasted
two days.
The monastery was vandalized, desecrated and looted.
6.
The Monastery
of St Uros, with the Church of the Ascension of The Holy Virgin,
was built by the Empress Helen at the end of the 14th century, uphill
and west of Gornje Nerodimlje, in the small village of Sarenik. In 1647-49
Patriarch Paisios bequeathed the manuscript of the hagiography of the
Emperor Uros to the monastery. The monastery was mined and destroyed.
7.
The Monastery
and the Church of St Archangels, in Gornje Nerodimlje, were
built in the 14th century and renewed in the year 1700. The monastery
was burnt and looted.
7.1. A giant black pine tree, planted in 1336 by Tsar Dusan himself,
was cut down and burnt. 7.2. The cemetery was desecrated and the tombstones
were knocked over and vandalized.
8.
The new
church of St Nicholas of the Summer, in Gornje Nerodimlje, was
built on the ancient foundations in 1983. It was a single-nave building
with an altar apse and a smallish dome. In front of it, facing west,
there stood a one-hundred-years-old oak tree where the congregation
used to gather even in the times when the church was in ruins. The church
was vandalized, burnt and mined.
9.
The Church of St Stephen In Donje Nerodimlje, in the river Nerodimka
valley, 5 km west of Urosevac from the 14th century, renewed in 1996.
It was vandalized, burnt and finally mined in summer 1999, after the
war and NATO deployment.
10.
The monastery
church of The Holy Virgin (also known as the Holy Innocent)
was built in Dolac near Klina. The church was a single-nave building,
rectangular at the foundations, with a semi-cylindrical vault and a
semi-round apse. Two layers of frescoes were preserved. The more recent
one dated from 1620 while the older, found underneath, was from the
14th century. These were roughly restored, especially those found in
the lower zone of the southern wall. Fragments of an old fresco were
known for their very fine drawings and colour nuance. Similar features
could be found in the later date fresco, dating from the 17th century.
This church was believed to be older than Decani and to have been built
four years before the Battle of Kosovo (1389).
A precious Evangelical Book with Four Gospels from 14th-15th century
and an Oktoih for I-IV voices from the 15th century were once housed
in Dolac. The church, with the holy throne being pulled down and the
whole place set on fire, was consequently mined and destroyed by explosives.
11.
The
church of St Nicholas, in the village of Slovinje near Lipljan,
was built in the 16th century, pulled down in the 19th century and renewed
in 1996. On 17th July 1999 it was levelled to the ground by explosives.
12.
The
new church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was built in
1938, on the eastern outskirts of the town of Suva Reka. It had a dome
and a belfry. The church was first plundered, vandalized and then razed
to the ground on 19th July 1999, at 1 a.m.
13.
The
church of the Holy Trinity in the village of Petric, on the
Pec-Pristina road, was built as a foundation of the Karic Brothers in
1992. The church was looted, dynamited and razed to the ground with
explosives.
14.
The church
of the Presentation of The Holy Virgin, in Bijelo Polje near
Pec, was built in the 16th century and restored in 1868 under the auspices
of the Empress of Russia, Maria Alexandrovna. A collection of ancient
icon, books and liturgical vessels was kept in the monastery among which
particularly stood out a 15th-16th century Italo-Cretan icon of The
Holy Virgin with Christ.
15.
The cathedral
church of Holy King Uros, in the city of Urosevac, was built
between 1929 and 1933, to the designs of the architect from Skopje,
Josif Mihailovic. The icon collection, belonging to the medieval period
of Serbian icon painting, also included the 1896 Holy Trinity icon painted
by the zoographer Josif Radevic from Lazaropolje. The church had votive
discos from 1909, a censer and several bells donated by the women of
Kragujevac in 1912. The church was vandalized and the interior was burnt.
16.
The
church of St Elijah in Vucitrn, was built in the year 1834 on
the eastern outskirt of the city, at the site where some previously
buried holy relics had been discovered. The wall paintings were made
in 1871, by the zoographer Blaza Damnjanovic from Debar. The church
was looted, vandalized and partially burnt.
17.
The
church of St John the Baptist, in Samodreza near Vucitrn, entered
the legends as "the white church of Samodreza" in which saint
King Lazar gave Holy Communion to the Serbian knights on the eve of
the Battle of Kosovo (1389). The new church, made from blocks of white
marble and to the designs of A. Deroko and P.Popovic, professors of
Belgrade University, was erected on the foundations of an old church,
in 1932. The famous poet and painter Zivorad Nastasijevic painted the
frescoes in the new church in the same year.
The Shqiptars desecrated the church and damaged the frescos in 1981.
The church was first vandalized, then burnt and finally destroyed.
18.
The Church of St Paraskeva, in Drsnik near Pec, was at one time
devoted to St Nicholas. It was a single-nave building, of rectangular
foundation, with a semi-cylindrical vault. There was a semi-round apse
facing east. The church had a gable roof covered in stone slates. The
wall consisted of irregular layers of stone and plaster. The old frescoes
were considerably damaged. The church was restored during the seventh
decade of the 16th century. Preserved was an icon from that period,
remarkable for its fine drawing and strong colours. The technique was
good and in spite of constant rain and snow, as well as other mishaps
that they had been exposed to, the frescoes retained their quality rather
well. Two marble crosses were elaborately dressed and placed on the
eastern and western roof vertices respectively. The church was vandalized
and the inside was burnt.
19.
The Church of The Holy Virgin, in the village of Naklo near Pec, was
built in 1985, later demolished and burnt.
20.
The
Church of the Holy Trinity, in the village of Velika Reka near Vucitrn,
was built as a foundation of Dimitrije Ljiljak in 1997 to the designs
of the architect Ljiljana Ljiljak. The church was vandalized, burnt
and almost completely destroyed. The church was finally destroyed by
explosive on August 19, 2000.
21.
The Church of St Apostles in Petrovac, near Kosovska Kamenica, was
vandalized and burnt.
22.
The Church of The Holy Virgin, in the village of Podgorce near Vitina,
was new. It was consecrated in 1996, but vandalized and burnt afterwards.
23.
The Church of the Conception of St John the Baptist with three bells,
was finished in 1998 as a Rajovic's family foundation in Pecka Banja.
The architect Ljubisa Folic made the designs. The church was demolished
and the interiors burnt.
24.
The
Church of The Holy Virgin in Djurakovac, from 1997, was vandalized.
25.
The Holy
Trinity Cathedral in Djakovica was completed in 1999 on the
foundations of a five-dome memorial church. The old church was built
to serve as a mausoleum and the place of final rest for all those killed,
murdered and frozen to death in the wars of 1912-1918. It was completed
in 1940 but in 1949, on St Sava's Day it was destroyed by the infidel.
On the very spot, fifty years on, the same destiny befell a new church,
which was first desecrated, then set ablaze, mined and finally completely
destroyed on 24/25 July 1999.
The Djakovica church was one of the most beautiful newly built churchs
where a continuum with Knez Lazar's medieval architectural style had
been successfully established.
The architect Ljubisa Folic designed the project.
26.
The Church of St Nicholas - Nikoljaca stands in a hilly meadow,
in the old Serbian village of Osojane in the river Kujavce valley, 8
km southeast of Istok. The name of the village is mentioned in King
Milutin's charter to Banjska Monastery in 1314. The Devic katastich
("letter" to the monastery) from 1761-79 lists all Serb donators.
Desecrated.
27.
The
Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Bistrazin was built between
the two world wars on the foundations of a much older church from partially
chiselled stone and had a belfry facing west. In April 1941 the Shiqptars
burnt and vandalized it. In 1991 the church was restored but now is
totally destroyed.
28.
The Church of St Demetrios in Siga, near Pec, was restored in 1937
on the foundations of an old church, which had an added narthex and
was believed to have been older than Decani. An ancient upright candleholder,
made of wrought iron, was found in it. In WW2 Kosovo Albanian Nazis
vandalized the church and now in July 1999 the Albanian extremists completely
destroyed it.
29.
The Church
of St Elijah in the village of Zegra, near Gnjilane, was built
in 1931. It was demolished and later completely burnt (the roof caved
in). Two other church buildings were also set ablaze. Crosses and tombstones
at the cemetery were wrecked.
30.
The Church of St Cosma and Damian in the village of
Novake, near Prizren, was restored in 1991. Now stands vandalized and
burnt. Mining attempts were carried out. Graves around the church were
desecrated.
31.
The Church of the Presentation of The Holy Virgin, in Veliko Krusevo
near Pec, (ancient, restored), was broken into and partially burnt.
32.
The 14th
century Zociste Monastery, 5 km southeast of Orahovac, dated
back to the days of the Nemanjic self-governing state. The Church of
the Holy Physicians Cosma and Damian (also known by the name "Coinless"
because they charged no fee for curing the ill) had a semi-round vault
and a wide narthex. The preserved frescoes, especially one of a prophet's
bust, belonged to the 12th -14th century monumental style of painting.
Contained a valuable collection of icons, books (The Zociste menaion
from the 15th century), and liturgical vessels. The double door of the
iconostasis was known for their exceptional beauty. The monastery was
looted, demolished and mined; the konaks burnt.
33.
Church
of St John in Grmovo, 4 km west of Vitina. First set ablaze
and then completely demolished by explosives, on 25 July 1999.
34.
The Church
of St Nicholas, in the village of Kijevo in Prekoruplje, 15
km south-east of Klina. The single-nave building, with a semi-round
vault and semi-circle apse, was built in 14th century. The added spacious
narthex was painted in 1602. Among the valuables were three 17th century
censer, nine icons from the second half of the 16th century among which
was the icon of the Holy Apostle Thomas with a very rare representation
of his standing figure - a scene from his hagiography. The church used
to house an extremely valuable collection of hand written books. The
belfry was added in the 19th century. Now it is completely razed to
the ground. The cemetery crosses and tombstones were wrecked.
35.
The Church
of St Evangelist Mark, in Klina (Metohija), was erected on the
foundations of the old church of the Presentation of The Holy Virgin.
Destroyed by explosive.
36.
The Church of St Nicholas, in the village of Ljubizda near Prizren,
was built in the 16th century and renewed in 1867. The Galicia zoographer
Vasilije Krstic of the famous Daskalovic-Djinovski family from Dabar
painted the interior. The single-nave building had a semi-round vault
and an extended narthex. The icons from the neighbouring church buildings,
destroyed earlier, among which was the 14th century double icon of The
Annunciation and the Meeting of Joachim and Ann, were brought over to
this church. The double door in the iconostasis dated back to the 16th
century. The church used to house bells, a processional icon of the
Mother of God with an artistically embroidered linen cloth 7-8m long,
a wooden chalice, books, throne icons, triptych-icon, octagonal choir
space with mother-of-pearl incrustations, a copper baptistery, a filigree
cross with an inscription from the 19th century. Looted, vandalized,
burned inside and finally mined.
37.
The Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Ljubizda, 4 km north-east
of Prizren and in the country of the same name. Restored in 1979, on
the 16th century foundations. Today stands looted, burnt on the inside
and mined. The cemetery around it was desecrated.
38.
The Church of St Parasceva, in the village of Dobrcane, 10 km east
of Gnjilane and on the road to Kamenica, was built after World War I.
Now stands burnt, with the caved in roof.
39.
The Cathedral Church of Christ the Savior in Pristina (new), is
a single-dome building with the ground plan in the form of an inscribed
cross and a trefoil. Its typological definition, an edifice of central
type, was already known in the earliest period of the Middle Ages, especially
during the Byzantine epoch. Being dressed from a cube, and having very
precise measurements, it achieved monumental, humane and purposeful
shape both outside and inside. The author of the project was Spasoje
Krunic. Albanian extremists at first made attempts to burn it but later,
at 1 a.m. on 1 August 1999, four explosive devices were planted out
of which two remained unexploded.
40.
The
Church of St Elijah was built in 1994 in the village of Smac,
in a field near Prizren, 10 km north of the city. It was built as a
foundation for Zivko Djordjevic by the conservationist Milosav Lukic.
The church was burnt, vandalized and mined inside. Not all planted explosive
devices went off.
41.
The Church of St Basil the Great was built in 1863, in the village
of Srbica near Prizren, on a slope facing south among eight ancient
oak-trees and on the ruins of a much older church. This was a single-nave
building that housed a collection of icons and books from the 18th and
19th centuries. Burnt and then destroyed.
42.
The Church
of St Parasceva, in the village of Zaskok near Urosevac, was
mined and completely destroyed.
43.
The Church
of St Nicholas was once in the village of Gatnja (Urosevac),
east of today's Gornja Mahala. The new church, which was built on the
old foundations in 1985, was looted, vandalized and destroyed by dynamite.
44.
The Church of the Holy Virgin stood in the valley bellow the village
of Donje Nerodimlje, on a little hill known as Glavica. It was erected
in 1925 on the remaining foundations of an older church known by the
same name. Albanians forcibly entered it, desecrating the relics. The
church was vandalized and then destroyed.
45.
The Church of St Elijah, in the village of Nekodim 2 km southeast of
Urosevac, built on the old foundations, was refurbished and expanded
in 1975. Vandalized and set on fire.
46.
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was erected in Talinovac
2km north of Urosevac. Vandalized and the interiors completely burnt.
The cemetery around it was demolished.
47.
The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in the village of Babljak,
8 km north of Urosevac. The villagers who added a beautiful belfry in
1966 restored the old church. Vandalized and the inside was set ablaze.
48.
The Church of the Birth of The Holy Virgin, in the village of Softovic,
6 km northeast of Urosevac, was erected between the two world wars.
Desecrated and burnt down.
49.
The Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Kacanik, built in 1929,
successfully presented a harmonious continuum of proportions and facade
styles noticeable in Kalenic and Gracanica. The church, built on a square
foundation, had a ground plan in the shape of a single cross, spacious
trefoil apses and a dome. Three layers of bricks and dressed stones
were used for the facade that was decorated with archivolts that had
coronas made of notched bricks. Windows had engraved rosettes. The crosses
on the dome and above the portal respectively, made of dressed stone,
bear the characteristics of the Moravska School. Visible are also richly
decorated rosette and archivolts above the entrance. Patriarch Varnava,
while still a Serb metropolitan, presented the church with a bell. Milan
Korunic, Serbian architect from the first half of the 20th century,
designed the project.
50.
The Church
of the Holy Virgin once stood in the easternmost part of the
village Korisa near Prizren. The church was a single-dome building covered
with large stone tiles. The apse contained a painting that stylistically
belonged to the 16th -17th century. The remains of the frescoes were
rather well preserved, except for the fresco of The Holy Mother with
Christ that was riddled with bullets fired by the Albanian militants.
The church also housed the 19th century icons and liturgical vessels.
Both the church and the old church base were levelled with the ground.
The cemetery, too, was destroyed.
51.
The Church of St Jeremiah in Grebnik was built in 1920 on the base
of the ancient church in the place known as Kucine. The Devic katastich
from 1765-76 acknowledges Serbs as donators. Around the church were
several-hundred-years-old oak-trees and an ancient cemetery. The church
was razed to the ground and the terrain was bulldozed over.
52.
The Church of St Prince Lazar was erected in 1969 in the village
of Kos, on the left bank of the river Kujavca, 12 km south-east of Istok.
St Stephan's Charter, granted by King Milutin in 1314, mentions the
name of the village. The Devic katastich from 1761 to 1780 refers to
the Kosani Serbs as benefactors. Stone crosses and tombstones from the
old cemetery were wrecked, the church door smashed and the interior
vandalized.
53.
The Holy Trinity Church in Zitinje, near Vitina, was built in1980,
on the foundations of an old Church of The Holy Virgin. The villagers
had a bell and a new iconostasis made. During the restoration an old
and damaged inscription was discovered within the ruins of the old church
and was built into the new edifice. The
16th century katastichos of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Musutiste
(1) has the names of all benefactors from this village.
54.
The Church
of St Parasceva was an old, restored sanctuary in the vicinity
of the Serb village of Klokot. The place, 6 km north of Vitina, is known
for its springs of mineral water and a spa of the same name. Its name
is mentioned in the Knez Lazar Charter to the Ravanica Monastery from
the year 1381. The church interior was burnt and on 27 July 1999 it
was mined.
55.
The Church of St Lazarus near the river Belicnica in the village
of Belica in Kujavca, 13 km southeast of Istok, was built in the 14th
century and underwent several restorations throughout the 16th, 17th,
18th and 20th centuries (1966-68). Lazarica was a single-nave and vaulted
church with the remains of the narthex in its front. Around the church
are the old and the new cemeteries. The church was robbed and burnt.
56.
The
Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Pomazatin, on the left
bank of the river Drenica and 12 km west of Pristina, was erected in
1937. Pulled down in 1941 but renewed in 1964. During 1982-1985 the
doors and windows were wrecked. The roof and the interiors were burnt.
The church was damaged by Albanian extremists in summer 1999, after
the arrival of the UN Mission to Kosovo. It was completely destroyed
in a powerful explosion
on July 16, 2000. Now only ruins remain.
57.
The 14th
century Church of St George, in Rudnik near Srbica, was restored
in the 16th century during the reign of Patriarch Makarije Sokolovic.
Frescoes date from the same period. East of the church is a few-hundred-years-old
mulberry-tree, planted from a seedling which St Sava had brought from
Zion. The church was destroyed by explosives.
58.
The Holy
Trinity Church in Donji Ratis near Decani was old and underwent
restoration in 1935. Shqiptars destroyed it in 1941 but it was renewed
in 1992. Seven attacks were launched on it between 1996 and 1998. It
was burnt and completely destroyed with explosive devices.
59.
The Church of the Holy Apostle Luke was erected in 1912, in Vitomirica
5 km northeast of Pec. It was built from Banjska marble, in the shape
of a trefoil, with one dome. The Montenegro army liberated these parts
from the Turks on Lucindan (the day of St Luke), in 1912. There is a
nicely looked after village cemetery near the church. Today the church
stands vandalized and set on fire inside.
60.
The
Church of St Elijah in Podujevo was built on the Merdjez hill
in 1930. During World War II Kosovo Albanian Nazis destroyed the dome
and desecrated the church. Renewed on several occasions. Restoration
works were completed in 1971. Vandalized and burnt inside.
61.
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, "King's Church"
stands on the Kraljevica hill, in the village of Gornja Pakastica some
20 km away from Podujevo. The foundation, which dated from the 14th
century, was King Milutin's endowment. The new church, built in 1925
on the old foundations, now stands vandalized and partially burnt.
62.
The
Cemetery chapel (paracclesion) was built on the foundations
of an old church at the present-day Serb cemetery in Kosovska Mitrovica,
at the exit from the city. Crosses and tombstones were vandalized and
the chapel damaged inside.
63.
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was built in 1929,
in Istok, in the river valley. The iconostasis was built with the kind
help of Patriarch Varnava. During World War II (1943-1944) the church,
as well as the parochial building, served as a prison in which Albanian
Nazis kept Serbs from Istok, Dragoljevci, Kovrani and many other villages
interned and had them sent on to working camps in Albania and on Italian
islands. Today the church is burnt and desecrated.
64.
The Church
of St Nicholas in Prizren is the same church that Tsar Dusan
bequeathed to the Monastery of St Archangel in 1348. It was the endowment
of a Prizren nobleman Rajko Kirizlic whose son's name, Bogdan, is mentioned
in 1361 and 1368. The church was in service until 1795 when Mahmud-pasha
Busatlija looted it. Restored in 1857. The church treasured the oldest
Prizren icon of The Holy Virgin Odigitriya from the mid-14th century
as well as the 16th century icon of St Elijah in the Cave. It was mined
with twenty explosive devices, out of which five went off. Considerable
damage was made to this shrine.
65.
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Dvorani was erected near Musutiste,
at the foot of Mount Rusnica, some 7 km southeast of Suva Reka. The
katastichon of the Holy Trinity Monastery acknowledged the Dvorani Serbs
as the benefactors. A 1603 icon bore a donators' inscription. Mined
and destroyed.
66.
The Church of St Elijah stands in the village of Lokvice at the
eastern foot of Mount Cvilen, 8 km east of Prizren. It was built on
the foundations of an older church, in 1866. It houses an 18th century
icon collection. Mentioned by King Dragutin (1276-1282), King Milutin,
1308 and Tsar Dusan, 1348. Mined after the deployment of German KFOR
troops.
67.
The Church of Holy Knez Lazar stands at the Serb cemetery in Piskote,
near Djakovica. The single-dome church was built between 1991-1994 to
the designs of the architect Ljubisa Folic. It is partially demolished.
The parochial home was burnt.
68. The Church of St Petka stood once in Binac, 4 km south of Vitina.
The new church was built on the old foundations at the cemetery, in
1973. The terrorist KLA destroyed it with explosives.
69.
The Church of St Parasceva stands in Gojbulja, at the foot of Mount
Kopaonik, 3 km northeast of Vucitrn. The new church was built at the
village cemetery, on the remains of an ancient, 1-2 m high wall, in
August 1986. The preserved arch, which vaulted the western narthex,
was added, too. The church had a rectangular ground plan, a semi-round
apse and a smallish narthex. The old walls had traces of fresco plaster
on them. There are also the remains of an old Serb cemetery from the
first half of the 18th century. Desecrated.
70.
The Church of St Nicholas stands in Stimlje, 29 km southwest of
Pristina, at the foot of mount Crnoljeva and at the intersection of
the Prizren, Urosevac and Lipljan roads. In the eastern part of Stimlje,
on the foundations of an old Serb cemetery church a new one was built
in 1926. East of the church there are three tombstones, each over 250
years old. In the 19th century there was an active Serb school in the
churchyard. The church was desecrated.
71.
The church of St Archangel, on a hill above Stimlje, was built between
1920-1922 on the foundations of an older church. It was dedicated to
Serbia's World War I warriors. The church was built by "Knjeginja
Ljubica" (Princess Ljubica) association to the designs of Serbia's
first female architect, Jelisaveta Nacic. The artist Uros Predic painted
the frescoes of St Sava and Stevan Nemanja. Next to the church was a
hospice for orphaned girls. The church was thoroughly renovated in 1977.
Today stands desecrated.
72.
The Church of the Holy Saviour stands in Meciceva Mahala in the Prizren
County, at the foot of Mount Ikona, 11 km southeast of Suva Reka. Looted
and burnt.
73.
The Church of St Parasceva lies west of the village of Musutiste.
Robbed and burnt.
74.
The Church
of St Archangel, in Musutiste. Set on fire and partially destroyed
by local Albanians, in summer 1999, after KFOR deployment.
75.
Kosovo Battle Memorial, built on the site of the famous Kosovo battle
in 1389 when the Christian Serb Prince Lazar fought the Ottoman Moslem
Army of Sultane Murad. This monument was many times in its history been
desecrated by Albanians. The extremists seriously damaged by explosive
the interior of the tower and destroyed the Serb inscriptions and crosses
on the facade.
76.
The Church of St. Nicolas in Gornji Zakut village near Podujevo.
The church was destroyed by explosive on November 8, 1999 when the British
KFOR decided to remove the constant guard which was posted in front
of the church in summer.
77.
The church of St. Eliah in Cernica village near Gnjilane. The church
was destroyed by the Kosovo Albanian extremists on January 14th, 2000,
on the day when Orthodox Serbs celebrate the Julian Calendar New Year.
US KFOR troops were just 50 meters from the church in time of explosion.
The perpertrators have not yet been arrested as well as not in a single
other case of destruction.
78.
The church of St. Nicholas in Banjska village near Vucitrn. The
church was seriously damaged by Albanian extremists on January 30, 2000,
just after the Arabian Emirates KFOR withdrew their guard in front of
the church. The altar area is alsmost completely destroyed by a strong
blast.
79.
The church of St. Parasceva in Grncar village near Vitina The church
was destroyed by Albanian extremists on Good Friday, April 28, in the
morning, before the service.
***
The
list is still not complete. Many smaller churches and chapels are not
easy accessible and there is a fear that they might have been destroeyed
or desecrated too.
The ruins of Djakovica Cathedral surrounded by barbed
wire
Evacuation of icons by KFOR from the church in Pecka
Banja
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