DESTRUCTION
OF
THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES
IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
Part
2
St.
Archangel Gabriel's Monastery in Binac (nr. Vitina),
built in 14th century, set on fire and almost completely destroyed,
June 1999. On Dec 13 the church was destroyed by explosive and
now only rubble remains.
The
scenes of the shrine destroyed by Albanian extremists
St
Uros Monastery with the church of the Ascension of the
Holy Virgin in Sarenik, Gornje Nerodimlje (near Urosevac).
The monastery and the church were built by the Serbian Empress
Helen in the 14th century, west of Gornje Nerodimlje. It was
completely destroyed by Albanian extremists in summer 1999
after the arrival of US KFOR troops in the area.
Destroyed monastery
The
ruins of the monastery lay surrounded by the natural beauty
of the area
The
Church of the Holy Virgin in 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 Shqiptar infidel.
The church also housed the 19th century icons and liturgical
vessels. The church and the cemetery were destroyed by Albanian
extremists in summer 1999, after the KFOR deployment
The
Holy Trinity Church in Ratis (nr. Decani), built in 1922,
destroyed in 1941 and reconstructed in 1992. In summer 1997the
church was set on fire by Albanian extremists and was reconstructed
again. In June 1999 the church was finally mined and completely
destroyed.
The interior of the church before the destruction
Iconostas and icons were the work of Decani monks
The
scenes of destruction and desecration
The
Church of St Mark in Klina (Metohia), was erected on
the foundations of the old church of the Presentation of
the Holy Virgin. It was heavily damaged by Albanian extremists
after the arrival of the Italian KFOR troops in the area,
in summer 1999
The
church in Klina with the desecrated Orthodox cemetery
The new church of St Nicholas
of the Summer, in Gornje Nerodimlje, was built on
the ancient foundations in 1983. It was set vandalized
and set on fire in July 99 after the arrival of US KFOR
troops in the area
The
Presentation of the Virgin parish church in Bijelo Polje
(nr. Pec), built in 16th century (reconstructed in 19th
century), looted and set on fire, end of June 1999.
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The
village of Bijelo Polje near Pec was one of the
largest Serb villages in Kosovo. Immediately after
the war Albanian militants persecuted all Serb inhabitants
after sloughter of three elderly Serbs. The entire
village was burned to the ground despite the presence
of Italian army. |
St.
John the Baptist church in Samodreza, near Vucitrn,
reconstructed in 1932, vandalized and set on fire,
end of June 1999. This church was built
on the location of the old medieval church where,
according to the tradition, St. Prince Lazar and his
knights received their last communion before the Kosovo
Battle in 1389.
St.
Elija's parish church in Vucitrn, built in 1834,
vandalized and looted, June 1999.
St.
Eliah's Church (near Djakovica) reconstructed
in 1994 vandalized and damaged by an explosion,
end of June 1999
The
Holy Trinity church in Velika Reka village (nr.
Vucitrn), built in 1998, vandalized and set
on fire. June 1999
The church in Velika Reka finally destroyed, August
2000
(PHOTO
369 Kb)The
Holy Trinity Church in Velika Reka, destroyed,
19 Aug 2000
More
information on the previous attacks on the church
Holy
Virgin's parish church in Djurakovac (nr. Pec),
built in 1997, vandalized in July 1999,
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The
Orthodox Cemetery Chapel and the Cemetery in
Mitrovica, vandalized and desecrated in
the beginning of July 1999
St.
Uros church in Urosevac, built in 1933,
vandalized and set on fire, end of June 1999
Desecrated
cemetery in Urosevac
The
parish church St. Eliah in Zegra, near Gnjilane,
1931, vandalized and set on fire by
the local Albanians. The local graveyard
is also desecrated.
St.
Elias Church in Smac, 1996, near Prizren,
damaged by explosive and vandalized in July
1999. In the meantime the church
has been completely razed down. Latest photos
are not available.
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St. Parasceva
Church, (near Vitina) 15th century,
set on fire and heavily damaged by explosive. |
The parish church
in Grmovo, near Vitina, first it was
set on fire and then completely destroyed
by explosive.
The church before destruction
The
Church of St Nicholas was once in
the village of Gatnje (Urosevac), east
of today's Gornja Mahala. The new church,
which was built on the old foundations
in 1985, was looted, vandalized and
seriously damaged by explosive (the
altar area).
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The
church of St. Nicolas in Kijevo,
near Klina, 14th century, completely
destroyed by explosive
St
Eliah Church in Podujevo, built
in 1930, demolished in 1941, restaured
in 1971. In July 1999 the church was
vandalized by the Albanian extremists.
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The
parish church in Novake village,
near Prizren, vandalized and
damaged. In the meantime the church
as well as all Serb houses were
completely destroyed. The latest
photos are not available. |
 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. During the
summer 1999 after the KFOR arrival
the church was damaged by Albanians.
In
a powerful explosion which rocked
the city of Pristina the church was
completely destroyed on July 16, 2000.
SERB
ORTHODOX CHURCH NEAR PRISTINA BLOWN
UP, JULY 16
The ruins of the church in Pomazatin,
July 2000
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 seriously
damaged by explosive.
The
Church of St Archangel, in Musutiste.
It was set on fire and was partially
destroyed by the local Albanians
in summer 1999, after the KFOR deployment.
The
Church of St Parasceva, in the
village of Zaskok near
Urosevac, was mined and completely
destroyed after the arrival of KFOR
troops in summer 1999.
The
Church of St Nicholas, in the
village of Zociste near
Urosevac, was mined and completely
destroyed after the arrival of KFOR
troops in summer 1999.
Foreward
to the Publication on Destruction
of Orthodox Shrines
Metropolitan
Amfilohije's Speech on CRUCIFIED
KOSOVO
Bishop
Artemije's Speech on DESTROYED
CHURCHES
Crucified
Heritage, by Prof. Ljubisa Folic
Appeal
of the Serbian Orthodox Church,
Dec 6
Another
Medieval Monastery Destroyed in
Kosovo, Dec 6
THE
KOSOVO EXODUS CONTINUES, IWPR,
JAN 25, 2000
St.
Elias Church near Gnjilani destroyed
on Jan 14, 2000
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