Serbs of Kosovo restore most of the churches destroyed in 2004

Kosovo Serbs have restored most of the churches and monasteries destroyed in the riots of 2004, including the only one in Kosovo Orthodox school – a seminary in Prizren, reported on February 2 in an interview with RIA Novosti Bishop Teodosije (Shibalich) of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija.

In March 2004, Kosovo Albanians wreaked havoc, which led to a mass resettlement of Serbs from Kosovo and the destruction of numerous monuments of history and culture.

"Most of the churches and monasteries destroyed during the riots of March 2004 have been restored. All sites were under the reconstruction at different stages, and 70% of the work had been completed by 2010. Then the Commission of the Council of Europe for the restoration of monuments, was discontinued, as Pristina insisted that the Serbian Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Belgrade was no longer involved in the reconstruction process," – said Bishop Teodosije.

At the same time, he added, some collapsed buildings have been restored thanks to the assistance of the Serbian government, the EU and the Norwegian government; some funds to restore the churches were raised by the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to Bishop Teodosije, the St. Nicholas Church of the XIX century, burnt in March 2004 in Pristina, is now partially restored, services are held by a priest and a deacon, who reside with their families at the church. "The unfinished Church of Christ the Savior in downtown Pristina is constantly being desecrated, provocative incidents happen from time to time, and, unfortunately, we have neither the resources nor the opportunity to finish it," said the bishop.

He also noted the encouraging fact: in Prizren, Sts. Cyril and Methodius’ Seminary has resumed its work. It employs 13 professors and trains 55 students. All seminary buildings destroyed in 2004 have been restored, said Bishop Teodosije.

According to the Raska-Prizren diocese, in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija today there are 160 parish churches and 14 active monasteries. At the same time, as noted by the spiritual leader of the Kosovo Serbs, "the majority of those churches that were destroyed in 1999, have not been restored so far."

Kosovo-Albanian structures in Pristina unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008.

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