Parishioner tells UOJ about attack on church in Zagreb
A believer of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Zagreb–Ljubljana Metropolis called for seeing in what happened to the shrine something more than mere vandalism.
On the night of April 23, 2026, an attack occurred on the Lord's Transfiguration Cathedral of the Zagreb-Ljubljana Metropolis of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Zagreb. Parishioner Marko Princ shared his view on what happened with the UOJ in Serbia, noting that, in his conviction, there is a deeper spiritual meaning behind the external events.
According to the believer, despite the incident, parish life continued in its usual rhythm. "The morning service was peaceful, as always, and only the craftsman repairing the glass reminded us of what had happened," he recounted.
Princ emphasized that for a believing person, it is important to look at such events not only as an act of hooliganism. "As a Christian, I clearly see that the ultimate authority that benefits from such incidents is the devil, who sows division and enmity between people," he noted.
Marko also reminded that the church in Zagreb is a place where people of different nationalities and faiths gather.
"Invisible forces of evil are troubled by such things, especially in this politically unstable region. They are troubled by the fact that people gather together around God in His holy temple. I see deeper spiritual roots in the frequent verbal attacks on our Church in the mass media and from various organizations – fortunately marginal ones – which may contribute to such incidents," he said.
In conclusion, Marko Princ called on believers to respond to such challenges in a Christian manner: not to direct anger at people, but to remember that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood,... but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12), and also to pray for enemies and preserve love.
As the UOJ reported, on April 23, 2026, unknown persons committed an act of vandalism against the cathedral of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Zagreb. In the middle of the night, perpetrators began throwing chairs and other objects from neighboring cafes toward the entrance to the church, the fence, and the church courtyard. As a result, the criminals broke an antique stained glass window of the cathedral.
