Five years after the monastery of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in the village of Zociste near Orahovac was completely looted and torched, monks have returned to the burned ruins of this holy shrine with the intent of renewing monastic life there. With the blessing of Bishop Artemije, the renewal of Zociste Monastery will be led by Protosingel Peter, the abbot of the monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi, who arrived in the monastery on Wednesday with Hieromonk Serafim and Hierodeacon Spiridon.

Special thanks for the return of the monks goes to Italian general Errico Danilo, the commander of MNB South-west in Prizren, and his deputy, German colonel Erchard Buehler. Although KFOR has been unwilling to provide security for the return of the monks in previous years, General Ericco immediately made it clear that the restoration of Zociste Monastery would be one of the priorities during his mandate. On his orders Italian soldiers thoroughly cleared the terrain and created conditions for the return of the monks. The monastery is now under the protection of Austrian KFOR, as Zociste is in their area of responsibility. Local Albanians also agreed to the monks' return, and the monks hope that it will be possible to restore the good neighborly relations that existed before the war, and enable the return of the displaced Serbian population.

Zociste Monastery, Bishop Teodosije with Fr. Petar and monks

"The needs are great and we hope that our faithful people will help with the restoration of this holy shrine," said Bishop Teodosije after visiting Zociste. With the blessing of Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, plans have already been made for the restoration of the monastery under the direction of the Diocese.

Zociste Monastery was built in the 14th century and the monastery church of Sts. Cosmas and Damjan dating back to that period was preserved until 1999. In the summer of that year, after the deployment of KFOR, members of the Kosovo Liberation Army looted and torched the monastery. The monks were evacuated at the last minute. The monastery is the permanent home of the relics of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, which are presently located in Sopocani Monastery. Local Albanians who sought prayers and healing here for the ill before the war still visit the ruins of this holy shrine. Among the burned remains of the church Father Petar observed the remnants of green and red candles lit here in stealth by the Albanians of the Orahovac region.

Zociste Monastery, Italian soldiers among the ruins of the church. Remnants of red and green candles lit by local Kosovo Albanians in the hope that this will bring them healing are still visible