Destruction of Orthodox Christian Heritage by Albanian Extremists in Macedonia* *
We only technically use the name of Macedonia which
One of the most important obstacles to this political and military goal is the fact that in Kosovo and Metohija as well as in Macedonia there are numerous Orthodox Christian shrines and monuments of worldwide renown which testify that this area has never been historically Albanian and that it was only during the Turkish occupation that Albanian Moslems as priviledged population spreaded in this region. That is why Albanian extremists both in Kosovo and Macedonia began devastation of Orthodox Christian culture in order to create not only ethnically but culturally and religiously clean Albanian Moslem territory as a base for further expansion in the Balkans. Beside destruction and desecration of the Orthodox Christian monuments in Kosovo and Metohija (more than 100 after June 1999) since this summer more than twentyimportant Orthodox Christian shrines have been desecrated or completely destroyed in Macedonia. Among them are Leshok Monastery, Matejce Monastery and church of St. George in Recica. How long it will take for Christian leaders of Europe and America to understand that Albanian expansion in the Balkans creates a base for the expansion of Islam in the heart of Europe? photo: Monastery of Matejce - UCK symbol on the western church wall painted with 14th century frescoes and a UCK man with weapons in the church Albanian
terrorist erase Macedonian symbols in Tetovo - ABOUT TWENTY CHURCHES AND
MONASTERIES DEMOLISHED, BURNT DOWN AND DAMAGED TETOVO - In the past six months over 20 churches and monasteries in the Tetovo area, situated in the areas of military activities, are destroyed, burnt down or damaged. Albanian terrorists have reached for the sacral objects, for those that represent symbols of the Christianity and orthodoxy, for values that mark the history and the tradition. A part of them were placed under the protection of the state. The last of those objects was the religious temple "Sv. Atanasie" in Leshok village. The artefacts of this cathedral date back to 14th century A.D., and given the numerous features and meanings, they represents the pride of the whole Polog Christianity, of the Orthodox Church in Macedonia, as well as of the culture, art and literature in Macedonia. LESHOK MONASTERY - MATEJCE MONASTERY - ST. GEORGE CHURCH
THE
MONASTERY OF MATEJCE History of the Monastery The monastery
of Matejce is one of those monasteries in Macedonia that were built high
up in the mountains at 1005 meters above sea level, on the southeastern
side of the mountain Skopska Crna Gora, the Kumanovo side. SERBIAN
ORTHODOX PATRIARCH PAVLE Serbian
Orthodox Church officialy has jurisdiction over the Orthodox community
in Macedonia. Self proclaimed independent Macedonian Orthodox Church appeared
when the Macedonian dioceses split from its jurisdictional unity with
the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1964. The MPC since then remains officialy
unrecognized in the family of Orthodox Christian Churches. Serbian Orthodox
Church is therefore directly concerned about the destruction of its religious
and spiritual heritage on the territory of Macedonia. Great number of
medieval Orthodox churches in Macedonia, especially in Tetovo, Kumanovo
and Skopje area were built by Serbian medieval kings and nobility, the
fact which modern Macedonian historians systematically avoid.
Matejce Monastery with Albanian extremists who made their camp here and a few months when Orthodox faithful were allowed to pray under the desecrated frescoes with UCK graffitti. CHURCH ST.
SPAS IN MATEJCE IN FLAMES
ALBANIAN TERRORISTS' BOMBS BLAST THE LESHOK MONASTERY (Mia,21.08.2001.)
- The Albanian terrorists destroyed completely the church St. Athanasius,
within the complex of Leshok monastery in the Tetovo village of Leshok.
Destroyed are the monastery building, the valuable icons and frescoes
and the wood-carved altar. The
scenes of utmost barbarism and profanity
(Vecer,24.08.2001.) - What was left from the Church of St. Atanasie and St. Lazar from the Monastery of Leshok, destroyed with the explosive planted by the Albanian terrorists on August 21, at 03.10 in the morning, is the entrance hall with the narthex and the two domes from the Northern and Southern side. What is visible from the outside is the pentagonal apside, but what else is left no one can say for sure because it is buried under the ruins..., it is said in the report from the inspection made by the Republic Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture team (consisting of Milan Ivanovski, archeologist and conservator and Vlado Kiprijanovski, photographer and record keeper) who managed to arrive yesterday in the ruined church and made an inspection of what was left from this monument of culture, informed the director of the Institute, Jovan Kondijanov. The explosive that destroyed the church was placed at the supporting columns of the central dome. The dwelling premises were slightly damaged (broken window glasses) as a result of the detonation during the explosion, while the open porch with the dining room, the old dwelling premises as well as the small church dedicated to the Holy Mary are in a better situation. Cyril Pejcinovics tomb at the northwestern corner of the grave board is damaged from the pieces falling from the church during the explosion, 30 to 40 meters. Also, the inspection found wooden parts from the altar. They were collected and taken to the Institute to be conserved and placed where they belong if the church is reconstructed. However, during the inspections icons and other church inventory were not found, so it is believed that they are still under the ruins of the southeastern side of the church. The part that was left, the entrance hall with the narthex, has an enormous fissure where the tetragons are separated from the facade, while inside parts from the roof and the gallery situated above the aertex are hanging. As the members of the team said, due to security reasons nothing has been inspected under the ruins. The director
Kondijanov informed that plans have been made for the church to be reconstructed
and used as an orthodox temple when the time permits. THE LATEST ACT OF ALBANIAN BARBARISM IN MACEDONIA The
church of St. George at Recica burned by Albanian terrorists Latest Act of Vandalism of Terrorists in Tetovo Area- Monastery St. Gjorgi in Mala Recica Burnt Web posted Source: Albanian Terrorists Burned Another Monastery On Saturday, the night before a religious holliday, Albanian terrorists in Tetovo burned the church St Gjorgjija. Just night before the same holliday St. Gjorgjija, the terrorist burned down the small but monastery with big cultural value for Macedonia. St Gjorgjija, in Golema Rechica, Tetovo area, dated from 14.bc, was a monument of culture protected by the law, but obviously, not from the terrorists law. NATO, OSCE, and the Macedonian Forces, while conducting an investigation, had to leave the scene, due to sporadic shootings in the same area. The church of St. Gjorgjija dating back to 14th century in the village of Golema Rechica was destroyed on Saturday in a fire set by unknown persons. The fire burned its walls, frescos, icons, screen and the auxiliary facility sheltering the kitchen. An Albanian from the village of Golema Rechica was the first to report about the fire. When the fire-fighting squad and the OSCE mission arrived at the spot, the church was already burnt to the ground. Golema Rechica is not under Macedonian control. The Macedonian police were allowed to move into the village as late as yesterday together with OSCE and NATO representatives. According to the Crisis Management Center, another act of vandalism took place a little later in the complex of the church of St. Gjorgjija. Unknown persons set ablaze the inner part of the lodging area in close proximity to the church. As the police were examining the site, shots were heard around the complex. The church of St. Gjorgjija is mentioned in the church records of 13th century. During the Ottoman Empire, it was torn down twice. In 1920 a new church was built that was refurbished in 1965. It was then that ones of the most beautiful lodgings were built. On May 6 and December 9, the patron saint of the church is honored. In the past several months, the church had no priest because of the military crisis. The Ministry of Culture condemned the act of vandalism over this monument whose fresco paintings date back to 14th century. "This is a serious attack on efforts to restore confidence and implement the Framework Agreement. It sets back all efforts to find a civilized solution to the crisis in Macedonia. The burning of the monastery complex of St. Gjorgjija on the eve of the day of its patron saint shows that militant groups still exist trying in any possible way to subvert the peace process and inflict irreparable damages primarily to their own people for whose 'greater human rights' they claim to fight," relates the statement issued by the Ministry of Culture. The coordination body for crisis management says this is an act in breach of all international standards and conventions, and all the more so, an act against humanity and civilization in general. Churches in Macedonia are physical evidence of the spiritual values that helped the Macedonian community survive and persevere. The coordination body considers that precautions should be reinforced to protect public law and order and forestall criminal activities, thus securing freedom of movement and protection of physical and spiritual values. The block of Macedonian
parties and associations of Tetovo totally disagree with President Trajkovski
that the situation in Macedonia has improved considerably. They consider
such statements completely disproportionate prompting understandable revolt
particularly among the Macedonians in Tetovo and the surrounding area. Experts
on Burning Down Church St. Gjorgija in Mala Recica- Marvellous
Monument of Medieval Art Destroyed According to
me, church St. Gjorgija was intentionally burnt down by Albanian
terrorists in order for Christian population not to be able to celebrate
holiday St. Gjorgija. As a matter of a fact, the same thing
happened to Lesok monastery. Unfortunately, we do not know what has been
stolen before the burning down, and what has been destroyed by the fire.
The same thing happened with the displays from the collections in the
Teke and other religious and museum objects that are under the control
of the Albanian terrorists, Director of Museum of Tetovo Area Srecko
Jovanovski stated, after Saturdays act of vandalism. SUGGESTED LINKS:
NLA/UCK
Human Right Fighters or Terrorist, Reality Macedonia |