Decani Monastery (file photo)

European Union has sponsored the reconstruction of two Serb Christian Orthodox objects in Prizren, in south-western Kosovo.

According to Renzo Daviddi, the head of the European Commission’s liaison office in Kosovo, the project cost EUR 1.5 million. The reconstruction of the Residence of the Raska-Prizren Episcopate and the Orthodox Seminary in the center of town started last year. The two buildings were destroyed during the riots of March 2004 that stemmed out of frustration with the economic and Kosovo status process at the time.

“Reconstruction of these objects stresses the importance that the EU gives to cultural and religious diversity. With the submittal of the keys today we hope to contribute to the future generations in Prizren. For generations Prizren has been a multicultural town,” stated Daviddi during the inauguration.

Accepting the keys was Bishop Hrisostom of the Bihac-Petrovac Episcopate in Serbia.

“With the rebuilding of the Residence of the Episcopate of Raska-Prizren, the Seminary and other objects, we strengthen the commitment of our Church to encourage Serb Orthodox clerics and people to return to Kosovo,” said Bishop Hrisostom.       

Raska-Prizren Episcopate, which leads Serb Orthodox believers in Kosovo, is undergoing deep divisions over the stance the Serb Church should take towards Kosovo independence. Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren who leads from the Gracanica Monastery near Prishtina has been supporting a more radical stance of cutting all contact with Kosovo and international authorities, including the EU, and suspending all Kosovo government-sponsored reconstruction projects for his religious objects damaged during the 2004 riots. This position is challenged by the monks at the important Decani monastery in western Kosovo who favor stronger relations with official Prishtina. This has earned the Decani monks threats of ex-communication and physical altercations.  

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Owen said:

	... The religion of Bishop Artemije seems to be rather remote from the religion of Jesus Christ. It's unfortunate that it takes a dignitary from an outside episcopate to celebrate the closing of a couple of the open wounds.
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September 18, 2008
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Sebaneau said:

	... The "Bihać-Petrovac Episcopate" is of course not "in Serbia" but in Western Bosnia --and that's what's interesting. Artemije Radoslavljević of Ras and Prizren played a major role in the "canonization" by the "Serb Orthodox Church" of the antisemite, fascist and admirer of Hitler Nikolaj Velimirović on May 19, 2003.
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September 17, 2008
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