La Iglesia Ortodoxa serbia informa que de 8.000 serbios que habÃa en Prizren en el año 1999 sólo permanecen 31 hoy
(En la foto, un aliado de la OTAN: un terrorista del UCK)
March 16, 2007
Bishop Teodosije visits church of St. George and remaining Serbs in Prizren
During his visit to the church of St. George, Bishop Teodosije also visited the remaining Serbs who live in Prizren. In conversation with them, he reminded them that Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija should remember the words of the Lord in the Gospel according to Luke (Luk 12:32): "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom". "For centuries Christians have been a little flock but God according to the Apostle Paul (1Cr 1:27-28) reminds us that among us there are none very strong in body 'but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are'. We must never forget," said the Bishop, "that we are not alone; even when it seems that we are despised and abandoned by all, our saints are with us and many honorable Christians who served the Lord in this noble and honorable city. Their prayers give us strength and determination to bear our cross to the end, whatever it may be like. Thank God that our hope lies not in the kingdom of this world but in becoming partakers of the heavenly and incorruptible Kingdom to which the gates have been opened to us by the Lord Christ by His Resurrection.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL BURNED IN RIOTS 2004 CONTINUING
Remaining Serbs in Prizren look forward to the day when the bells
on St. George Cathedral will ring once again. Photo of work on the
dome and bell tower, and installation of the lead roof, March 14, 2007
(Click on photo to enlarge)
KIM Info Service
Decani - Prizren, March 15, 2007
On Sunday, March 11, 2007, Bishop Teodosije, the Abbot of Decani Monastery and his monks Jezekilj and Atanasije visited St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Prizren, which is undergoing restoration in accordance with the program of the Commission for the Restoration of Serbian Orthodox Holy Shrines in Kosovo and Metohija. "The work that has been done on this church so far has been of high quality and we expect that the central dome and doorway will be fully completed within days," said the Bishop.
At the same time, restoration of the Bishop's residence and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary (the old Sime Igumanov endowment building) is scheduled to begin soon. "If everything goes according to schedule, by the end of 2007 all Prizren churches damaged in 2004 should be renewed and, God willing, used for liturgical services for the remaining faithful and numerous displaced persons who would like to say a prayer in the churches where they have been baptized and married," said Bishop Teodosije.
Taking advantage of his visit to Prizren, Vicar Bishop Teodosije visited the remaining 30 or so Prizren Serbs who stayed on in the city after June 1999 and the March 2004 pogrom. By doing so the Bishop wanted to encourage the remaining Serbs who, like all other Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, await the outcome of the Kosovo and Metohija question with dread and wonder whether expelled Serbs will return. They say they are especially looking forward to the hearing the bells on the churches of the Theotokos of Ljevis (Bogorodica Ljeviska) and St. George, evidence that there are still some Serbs remaining in Prizren.
TRAGIC STORY OF PRIZREN AFTER 1999
Before the 1999 war approximately 8,000 Serbs lived in the city of Prizren itself. After massive departures following the June 1999 arrival of members of the Kosovo Liberation Army and German KFOR troops, some one hundred Serbs stayed on in the city temporarily for a few more days along with Bishop Artemije and priests of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, who stayed with their faithful to the end. However, after daily murders, abductions, the brutal murder of monk Chariton (Hariton) of Holy Archangels Monastery and countless other forms of pressure, the Serbs, most of whom had found sanctuary in Sts. Cyril and Methodius Monastery, were evacuated in Red Cross buses. Only a few tens of Serbs stayed in the Orthodox Christian Seminary, while the rest are living in their homes in the city with the help of their Albanian and Turk neighbors. Because of the difficult living conditions and systematic destruction of Serb-owned property in the medieval city, the ancient capital of the Serbian Emperor Dusan, by 2003 the entire Serb population numbered about 50 people.
Especially until the end of 1999 Serb houses in Potkaljaja, the part of the city beneath the old fortress and above the Bishop's residence, were targets of almost daily torchings, and nothing was done to stop these barbaric acts and looting. During the course of the following months, despite the difficult situation for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, it appeared that the security situation was slowly stabilizing in Prizren and some individuals even began to return to city, so that the number of Serbs had increased to almost one hundred just before the March 2004 tragedy. Among them was the Pleskonjic family, including two small children, who lived in the Seminary building. At that time all the Prizren churches, with the exception of St. Nicholas Church next to the Gymnasium (which was seriously damaged by an explosion during the summer of 1999) were intact, and the parish priests in the Bishop's residence continued their pastoral care of the remaining Serbs, regularly serving in St. George Cathedral and taking care of the people. Some Serbs also frequently traveled to nearby Holy Archangels Monastery, located only a few kilometers from the city in the Bistrica River canyon.
Newly restored tomb of Metropolitan Joanikije
of Raska and Prizren in the little church of
St. George Runovic. The tomb was desecrated in
March 2004 riots - Photo: KIM Info Service
(Click on photo to enlarge)
The tragic events of the evening of March 17, 2004 had very serious repercussions for the remaining Serbs in the city. In just a few hours of unprecedented barbarism and violence, all the Orthodox churches in the cities were torched and seriously damaged, among them the church of the Theotokos of Ljevis (Bogorodica Ljeviska). The Bishop's residence, the Seminary and dozens of Serb homes were also torched and vanished in flames. Holy Archangels Monastery was also set on fire. German KFOR evacuated Father Miron from the Bishop's residence and the Archangels monks, as well as the remaining Serbs from the city, and provided them with temporary accommodation. Only a few Serbs remained in the city under the care of their neighbors, who protected them. For almost two years the Serbs evacuated from Prizren, who were lodged in the German KFOR base, were unable to return to their homes, and during that time some of them decided to leave the city for good. The Archangels monks returned in just one months and began work on rebuilding one of their residence halls on the ashes of the medieval holy shrine built by Serbian Emperor Dusan.
Today there are 31 Serbs living in Prizren scattered throughout the city. Sadly, none of them live in the famous Serb quarter of Potkaljaja. The ruins of houses can still be seen in what was once the oldest and most beautiful part of the city. In the meanwhile, since 2005 there has been a gradual restoration of Prizren holy shrines under the auspices of the Restoration Committee headed by the Council of Europe. Presently much of the damage to the church of the Theotokos of Ljevis (Bogorodica Ljeviska), which was last year added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, has been repaired. St. George Cathedral is quickly undergoing restoration under the supervision of architect Milan Catic from Pec, as are the little church of St. George Runovic and St. Nicholas Tutic, where most of the work has been completed. There is still work to be done on the restoration of frescoes in the church of Christ the Savior, located on the hill above Potkaljaja, as well as extremely sensitive work on protection of the frescoes in Bogorodica Ljeviska.
"FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK"
Because it was impossible to visit all the houses and apartments where Serbs are living, the Prizren Serbs gathered in three locations in the city after receiving word that Bishop Teodosije would be visiting the church of St. George and that he would like very much to meet with the people. The Bishop first visited the Serbs who gathered in the home of Janko and Dosta Jankovic. Host Janko Jankovic explained to the Bishop that he had spent the entire period since 1999 in his house thanks to Albanian friends, who helped him in the most difficult moments. During the conversation the Bishop learned that these people are not receiving any form of organized assistance. Expressing his admiration for these brave and dignified people, Bishop Teodosije said that he hoped that the situation would, by the grace of God improve, and he explained that in addition to the restoration of St. George Cathedral, there are also plans to restore the Bishop's palace and the parish home (located in the same courtyard) during the course of the year in the hope that liturgical life in this city can soon be restored. All present received assistance received by the Decani monks from Orthodox faithful in the USA provided through the Decani Monastery Relief Fund (DMRF).
OUT OF 8.000 SERBS BEFORE THE WAR IN 1999 ONLY 31 SERBS REMAIN IN PRIZREN TODAY
Bishop Teodosije, monks Jezekilj and Atanasije
in the Jankovic home, March 11, 2007 - Photo: KIM Info
(Click on photo to enlarge)
After visiting the Jankovic home Bishop Teodosije visited the Serbs gathered in the home of Jelica and Zorica Jovanovic. Jelica Jovanovic is the oldest Serb woman living in Prizren, who still remembers the Prizren days sung of in old Prizren city songs. Here Bishop Teodosije learned that this house was not abandoned during the March riots, either, because Jelica and Zorica enjoyed good neighborly relations with their neighbors, who are Prizren Turks, and who occasionally helped them. Bishop Teodosije distributed assistance of 100 EUR to each person from the DMRF. The people from the Jankovic home expressed their particular gratitude to their brothers and sisters in the United States and all over the world who remember them in their prayers and provide assistance through the Decani Fund.
GRANNY JELA (HELEN) IS THE OLDEST SERB IN PRIZREN NOW
Bishop Teodosije and Decani monks in front of the Jovanovic
home, March 11, 2007 - Photo: KIM Info Service
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Bishop Teodosije then also visited Prizren Cemetery. The Serbian Orthodox population was buried in most of the cemetery, while a smaller part is used for the burial of Albanian Roman Catholics. Thanks to the fact that there is a full-time caretaker at the cemetery, it is one of the few in Kosovo and Metohija where Serbian grave markers have not been destroyed; however, they are overgrown with weeds and brush. The Bishop prayed at the tomb of Bishop Vladimir of Raska and Prizren of blessed repose, the predecessor of Patriarch Pavle, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church today, on the throne of the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, and he served a short memorial service to the mother of monk Atanasije of Decani Monastery, Jelica Stevanovic. Vera Gigorijevic, a Serb woman from Prizren employed by the UNMIK local community office, informed the Bishop that Prizren municipality has issued a tender for the clearing of the Orthodox cemetery.
Bishop Teodosije at tomb of Bishop Vladimir of Raska and Prizren,
March 11, 2007 - Photo: KIM Info Service
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Bishop Teodosije and Decani monks serve short memorial service for Jelica
Stevanovic at Prizren Cemetery. Jelica passed away in 1998 on the eve of
war-time events, and her grave is now completely overgrown with weeds
(Click on photo to enlarge)
The last house Bishop Teodosije visited on that day was the home of an elderly Serb woman, Rumena Veljkovic. The Serbs who gathered in her home say that Rumena put her heart into preparing a welcome for the Bishop and abbot of Decani Monastery, but on the day before the visit she passed away in the Lord. Eternal memory to her blessed soul!
The Serbs from her part of the city who gathered in Rumena's house to prepare her funeral nevertheless welcomed Bishop Teodosije and the Decani monks. Among them was the youngest Serb resident of Prizren, 14 month-old Milica Djordjevic. Milica's mother, Evica Djordjevic, told the Bishop that on March 18, 2004 she was forced to flee to the German KFOR military base, and that she returned to her apartment in January 2006. Evica says that although she does not have any problems with most people, she is verbally assaulted almost every day by a neighbor who lives on the floor above her. The woman makes noise so that little Milica cannot sleep in peace, and her children frequently accost Evica with "Shkinja!" (a derogatory name for Serbs). Evica walks through Prizren only in the company of grandfather Adam Mujovic, who drives her shopping and to visit other Serbs, as well as to Holy Archangels Monastery, where she is always welcomed with joy.
RUMENA VELJKOVIC DIED JUST A DAY BEFORE BISHOP'S VISIT
Bishop Teodosije, monks Jezekilj and Atanasije with Serbs in front of the home
of the late Rumena Veljkovic, the old lawyer's family, March 11, 2007 - Photo: KIM Info Service
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Bishop Teodosije also learned from Vera Gligorijevic that the funeral expenses for Rumena Veljkovic will be covered by Prizren municipality, and that the funeral service will be served by Father Aleksandar Naspalic from Strpce, who has been carrying out parish duties in Prizren since the March 2004 pogrom with the blessing of Bishop Artemije. The money from the DMRF for the departed sister Rumena has been given to her neighbors for her funeral.
DONATIONS OF DMRF DONORS WILL PROVIDE FUTURE FOR LITTLE MILICA TOO
Evica Djordjevic with her 14 month-old daughter, Milica. The youngest Serb resident
of Prizren gives hope to others living there, March 11, 2007 - Photo: KIM Info Service
(Click on photo to enlarge)
The Prizren Serbs warmly thanked Bishop Teodosije for his visit and the most assistance passed out on this occasion. Bishop Teodosije tried to console the remaining Orthodox Christians in the city with the words of the Gospel, mentioning the words of the Lord in the Gospel according to Luke (Luk 12:32): "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom". "For centuries Christians have been a little flock but God according to the Apostle Paul (1Cr 1:27-28) reminds us that among us there are none very strong in body 'but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are'. We must never forget," said the Bishop, "that we are not alone; even when it seems that we are despised and abandoned by all, our saints are with us and many honorable Christians who served the Lord in this noble and honorable city. Their prayers give us strength and determination to bear our cross to the end, whatever it may be like. Thank God that our hope that our hope lies not in the kingdom of this world but in becoming the partakers of the heavenly and incorruptible Kingdom to which the gates have been opened to us by the Lord Christ by His Resurrection. Brothers and sisters, may you spend the remainder of the fast and our 'desert wandering to the Promised Land' in this hope of Resurrection," said Bishop Teodosije.
THANK YOU FATHER NEKTARIOS!
The brotherhood of Visoki Decani Monastery expresses its deepest gratitude to all donors to the Decani Monastery Relief Fund in the USA who with their donations have made it possible to help the people in Prizren, as well as to UNMIK representatives who assisted in making this visit possible.
In a letter to Archimandrite Nektarije Serfes, the president of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund in the USA, Bishop Teodosije expressed his special gratitude on behalf of all those who are receiving assistance from the Fund, as well as in the name of his brotherhood and in his own name for the honor of conveying the love of the many donors, known and unknown, who are helping our people in Kosovo and Metohija.
——————————————————————————–
HOW TO HELP KOSOVO SERBS WITH DONATIONS TO DECANI MONASTERY RELIEF FUND
If you would like to help Kosovo Serb Orthodox Christians in Prizren and elsewhere in Kosovo you may send your donations to Decani Monastery Relief Fund which is presided by Very Reverend Archmandrite Nektarios Serfes (Greek Orthodox Archdioces of Americas)
Your donations may be send to the following address:
Decani Monastery Relief Fund USA
C/O Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes
2618 West Bannock Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
USA
Your tax deductible donation will be wired immediately from the Fund�s account in Boise, Idaho to the Decani Monastery Relief Fund�s account in Belgrade, Serbia where the good fathers can draw on it to purchase additional firewood and pay utility bills for the schools in their district as needed throughout this winter. May God abundantly bless you for your Christian stewardship and for your human kindness!
More about Decani Monastery Relief Fund at:
http://www.kosovo.net/dec_relfund.html
PRIZREN CATHEDRAL BEFORE IT WAS BURNED BY ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS IN MARCH 2004
One of the last photos of the church of St. George before its destruction on March 17, 2004.
His Eminence Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren served liturgy in the presence
of the remaining Prizren Serbs. Bishop Artemije visited Prizren a number of times
after 1999 and the March 2004 pogrom. (Click on photo to enlarge)
WEEDS COVER CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX GRAVESTONES AT PRIZREN CEMETERY
Recent photo of the Orthodox cemetery in Prizren - The gravestones are not destroyed
but are overgrown with weeds, March 11, 2007 - Photo: KIM Info Service
(Click on photo to enlarge)
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comnetar 17 Marzo 2007
