- - . With the blessing of His Grace Artemije Bishop of Ras-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija

20. - - ALBANIAN GENOCIDE OF THE SERBS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY Documents of the Archives of the Diocese of Ras-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija . , , 5 e-mail: zagorbg@sezampro.rs , 500 2011. Published by agor 5 Knez Miletina Street, Belgrade, Serbia Cover design by Sanja Popovi Printed and bound in Serbia by Zuhra, Belgrade 2011 ISBN 978-86-85323-28-7

20. - -

ALBANIAN GENOCIDE OF THE SERBS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURYDocuments of the Archives of the Diocese of Ras-Prizren and Kosovo-MetohijaTranslated from the Serbian by Kosara Gavrilovi

AGOR BELGRADE 2011

/ Original title 20. - -, -, 2008.

FOREWORD

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The appearance of this unusual book was made possible in the first place by the Divine Providence made manifest through an extraordinary and most glorious miracle of God. After the tribulation of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo-Metohija in June 1999 when together with our people we were banished from our Episcopal Palace and our diocese was occupied by the German KFOR, which took upon itself a written obligation to defend the Palace, the premises of the Orthodox Theological Seminary and the Monastery of the Holy Archangels. We left the Episcopal Palace leaving behind all of its furniture, furnishings and fittings, as well as the extensive and very valuable diocesan archives, and temporarily moved the See of our diocese to the Monastery of Graanica. In 2004, without any forebodings about things to come, we felt an inner urging to move our Archives from Prizren to Graanica. We accomplished this on March 15, 2004only a day before the appalling March Pogrom, perpetrated by Albanian criminals in the presence of international KFOR troops. The brunt of the pogrom was borne by Prizren. On March 17, all holy places in Prizren were torched, among them the Episcopal Palace. Had the Archives not been moved on the very eve of the assault, they would have been consigned to the flames and lost forever in the conflagration. With them would have perished also all records and documents which testify to the suffering of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo-Metohija during the entire twentieth century. The Archives were put in order and catalogued by Slavica Radomirovi, staff member of the Coordinating Center for Kosovo-Metohija, and her assistants in consultation with us. The examination and organization of the Archivesa veritable sea of documentsrevealed moving testimonials to the suffering of the Serbs and of our Church, in times of war and in times of peace, in the period between two world wars. These testimonials describe continual attacks of the Albanian national minority against the Serbs, their lives, their faith, their dignity and honor, assaults upon their churches and monasteries and, especially, upon monastic property. We are dealing here with nonsense, with a historical paradox where an ethnic minority of a country can be allowed to endanger the safety of the na9

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tional majority after which that country is named. Who could describe the crimes committed by Albanians against the Serbs in the course of the twentieth century? Who can descrtibe them, who can quantify them? This book makes no such claims. This book cites only the crimes, the cruelty of which has impelled those who have witnessed them to leave a written record of them with the Diocese of Ras-Prizren. All these crimes have a common denominator: they represent a unique genocide of the Serbian people committed repeatedly, not only during the miseries of wars and foreign occupations, but also in times of peace, a fact which has no precedent in the history of the world. Article 2 of the UN Convention on Genocide states: In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, such as: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. All these types of genocide listed in the UN Convention but one, the exception being the last on the listand of these we found no written recordwere committed against the Serbs of Kosovo-Metohija in the course of the twentieth century.1 Methods of pressure, intimidation, persecution, murder, rape, robbery, lying to authorities in those rare cases when identified suspects were brought before them, symbolic penalties, unheeded warnings, not guilty verdicts, ascribing crimes to small children for children will be children, all these are repeated, day after day, month after month, year after year. When reading official reports of the clergy and the administrators of monasteries, submitted to succeeding ruling bishops of the Diocese of Ras-Prizren between 1919 and 1989 and, especially those after World War Two, one gets the impression that these reports describe events which have taken place in the last eight years in Kosovo-Metohija under the Protectorate of the UN. Everything is reproduced with the fideity of a photograph. The criminals are the same; only their names change, except that sometimes the names are missing. The victims are the same; and the victims always have Serbian names and surnames. The drama is reenacted countless times, always following the same plot. Only actors and locations may change.This state of affairs reached its culmination on the threshold of the twenty-first century, specifically in June 1999. It continues even to this day. Moreover, it does so in the presence and under the protection of the UN itself represented by its civil and military authorities, UNMIK and KFOR respectivelythe very authorities which came to KosovoMetohija to offer protection and provide peaceful and safe existence for all. Other books have dealt, and new ones will deal, with this topic in greater detail.111

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The numerous selected materials, 215 documents included in this book, are divided into five parts and three special addenda (see Table of Contents) according to the communality of topics, the topics with which the documents themselves deal, or according to specific periods of time which they cover, such as, for instance, World War Two (between 1941and 1945). Care was taken to present all the documents in a form as faithful to the original as possible. So, if the reader occasionally finds spelling mistakes or typographical errors, let him be assured that they are not there as a result of the editors or the publishers carelessness; they are there precisely because of our desire to the stay as close as possible to source documents.2 This is amply attested to by the number of facsimiles of more important documents included in this book. The compilation of this book has taken three years to complete. Much work and much good will but also considerable resources have been invested in it. It was not easy to decide on the scope and the contents of this obviously unusual book. We tried to keep its scope within reasonable boundaries without doing harm to the truth to which it testifies. We chose only those documents which testify unequivocally and speak to all for whom they are intended about the monumental dimensions of the crimes committed against the Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, against their spiritual and cultural heritage, their personal and real estate throughout the twentieth century. It may appear strange that this book contains no documents which speak of the most recent crimes, which are still being perpetrated in Kosovo-Metohija by Albanians under the protection of UNMIK and KFOR, and that it does not mention the forcible severance of Kosovo-Metohija from Serbia. It must be pointed out that the period of our episcopacy in the Diocese of Ras-Prizren, which began in 1991, is not covered by this book in its entirety for obvious reasons. That may be done as an annex to this book, compiled and published by someone else as part of the literature on the dissolution of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and on the rule of UNMIK and KFOR over Kosovo-Metohija. The appearance of this book at this precise time, when the high and mighty of the international community are intent on rewarding these Albanian atrocities and the more recent crimes perpetrated since June 1999 against the Serbian people and its holy places (destruction and desecration of over 150 churches and hundreds of cemeteries and monuments) by giving independence to Kosovo-Metohija, or rather by forcibly separating it from Serbia, thereby creating a second Albanian state in the Balkans, represents the voice of conscience and of justice laid low calling to heaven. It is another powerful reminder and a sign to those who have eyes but do not see and have ears but do not hear (Ps.Translators note (TN): Unfortunately it was not possible to carry out this idea in translation.132

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135: 16-17) to come to their senses (Luke 15:17) and to cease adding lawlessness to lawlessness and crime to crime by tearing the heart out of Serbia and rewarding her by admitting her corpse into Europe. The message of this book to all who are trying to sever Kosovo from Serbia can be reduced to one single sentence: there is no price at which Kosovo can be bought, nor is there a treasure which can replace Kosovo for the Serbs. Gratitude for this book is due to all who have labored on it and by their labors helped the truth to see the light of day. Their greatest reward will be the knowledge that through their labors they have contributed to the defense of Kosovo-Metohija precisely in the final phase of the battle which began in 1389 and will end in our lifetime. Those who come after us will know how to express their gratitude for their efforts and God will know how to reward them. ARTEMIJE Bishop of Ras-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija

At Vidovdan 2008 In the Monastery of Graanica

15

1941.

PART ONEALBANIAN CRIMES AGAINST THE SERBS BEFORE 1941

001. 1915. 23. 1920. ., . ., , 26. ...42 17. .. . 2410. : ..... , , : 1915. . , . . . . , . , . , , . 3 4. 14. , . . . 3 4. 15 . 3. , 12. , , .., I . III . , , 18

001. Massacre of Serbs in the Monastery of Saint Mark of Koria in 1915Executed on July 23, 1920 in the Office of the Prefecture in Tetovo. On orders of the investigating judge of the court of original jurisdiction in Prizren, No. 42 dated April 26 and No. 2410 dated July 17, of the current year, Mihailo J. Alimpijevi [Antonijevi], secretary at the Prefecture of the District of Tetovo, submits this complaint: . Before submitting the complaint, I beg to be excused for the delay of this submission which was made necessary by the need to gather as much evidence as possible, and having done this to the best of my ability, I now submit the complaint. At the time of the retreat of 1915, being the clerk at the Prefecture of the District of Poarevac, I joined the retreat with my family consisting of my father Jovan Antonijevi, now deceased, retired borough prefect, and my sister Katarina who lives with me. In Crnoljevo, because of extreme cold and other weather conditions, my father fell seriously ill and, as no medical care was available, I was forced to interrupt our journey and rest for a while. We stopped in the village of Koria, right below the Monastery of Saint Mark, in the vicinity of Kaba. As at that time the Elder of the monastery was my good friend, Hieromonk Danilo Poali, I complained to him about my fathers illness and he invited us to stay at the Monastery, so that my father could rest a while before continuing on our journey. This took three to four days, and on November 14 I went to Prizren to find out in which direction and on what date the retreat would resume. In Prizren I got the travel papers for my family from the then secretary Mr. iv. Milivojevi, who told me that we should have two to three days time before we left again as the enemy had not taken Suva Reka yet. The following day, on November 15, I returned to the Monastery of St. Mark where I found a group of soldiers mostly last call reservists, a majority of them sick, and with them there were people from Luiki district, and, as I used to be the district clerk there 12 years ago, many people recognized me. And so did Stanko19

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Petrovi of Graanica who was the mayor and at the time I am speaking about Captain First Class and in charge of the company of last call reservists in the Monastery. People complained that they were weak, old, naked and barefoot, which indeed was the truth, and that it was hard for them to join the retreat as they would all die of hunger and cold, it seemed to me they were leaning on Stanko to let them stay, that is to say to surrender, I dont know what they decided because I went to the room where my family was. About four oclock in the afternoon there was loud gunfire from the guns up on Prizren fort, which was defending the city from the enemy. Then from the Monasterys bell-tower we saw shrapnel fall in the field below the village of Koria and immediately afterwards there appeared a line of enemy riflemen and we saw immediately that we were surrounded, and, to avoid being killed for nothing, Danilo the Elder, now deceased, raised a white flag on the church steeple. That was about 5 oclock in the afternoon. The dusk was falling but still we could see. Then two Albanians came into the Monastery courtyard and said that we were surrounded and that, unless we immediately laid down arms, leaving a short time for the surrender, they could not guarantee what would happen to us. After a few minutes of consultation and upon hearing the soldiers declare that they would not fight (quite a few of them were shivering with fever) we agreed to surrender on condition that they release us the following day. Barely a few minutes went by when an Albanian mob, some 40 or 50 fully armed men, entered the Monastery and started taking away our arms which everyone surrendered voluntarily seeing no other way out. Three Albanian leaders gave us their word of honor that nothing would happen to us. They were: Jusuf Aga N. of Kaba, whose house was just across from the Monastery; Redep Alit of Kaba, whose brother is Mahmut Alit; and another older, well-built Albanian whom I would know if I saw him, but that was not to be! As early as seven oclock, immediately after the miserable supper, they started the search. As is well known, at that time St. Marks Monastery had about 100 guest rooms. For greater convenience, the Albanians disposed their soldiers placing a guard in front of every room, and inside the rooms our wretched soldiers waited to hear what their fate would be. In our room, I with my father, my sister and Danilo, now deceased, waited to see what would happen. At about 8 oclock, Jusuf Aga came into our room with Redep and another Albanian and said that we must all give some money, as was the custom, and that officers also must do so. I immediately took out 200 dinars in banknotes, which was all I had in my wallet, and gave them to Jusuf who laughed and put the money in the pocket of his jerkin. My father lay on the sofa just watching and thinking that no good would come of all this. Then Jusuf told me to hand over all the weapons we had with us as he knew that I was not unarmed. I gave him a new revolver; one smaller one which my father21

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carried; two sabers, which were hanging on the wall. One of them was quite valuable. It had been given to me by a cavalry officer, MILORAD MILIVOJEVI, now deceased, who was a police officer in Poarevac and died there. On his deathbed, he asked that the saber be given to me which his wife did after his death. It had cost him more than 200 crowns. It had a silver hilt and was engraved all over. Milivojevi had bought it for his wedding in Budapest. Then Jusuf forced the Elder Danilo and me to clean the bullets for his bandolier and without any preliminaries or courtesies he took my fathers amber cigarette holder, his watch and chain, two silver cigarette cases and removed two gold rings from my fathers fingers. From me he took a diamond ring, a gold watch and chain which my father had given me when I got my commission seventeen years ago. Then he ordered Danilo and me to go to Danilos room immediately which we did leaving my father and my sister in our room. Later on I learned that they had brought to that room also Baba Mitra3, an old cleaning woman who worked in the Monastery and stayed there overnight. We spent the entire night in Danilos room which was in a separate small building. All we could hear was banging, groans, sounds as if a search was being conducted, things, furniture and other possessions being taken out. At about five oclock in the morning two Albanians came to fetch us and took us into the yard. As my fathers room was close by I called him and he came out with my sister. He was wearing only his underpants and a shirt. My sister also wore only her bed-jacket and her skirt. We just looked at each other and I understood: they had been robbed. I saw their tear-stained faces. I went to my father and kissed his hand. I could not do the same for my sister as I was yanked away by Albanians and taken to the next yard. There I saw some 26 28 soldiers standing in a file which Danilo and I were told to join and which was then led up the hill towards Kaba. We had not yet left the Monastery garden when I saw two Albanians leading my father, who had a coat thrown over his shoulders. They took him in the direction of Koria. He had hardly taken 50 steps when we heard gunfire, and I saw my father fall headlong down the hill. Immediately afterwards we were taken up the mountain. We were made to walk in such a fashion that each man had an Albanian armed with a rifle walking directly behind him. They stopped us every so often, probably intending to kill us there and then, but finally they led us to Kaba and into an old Albanians house which I would recognize even today. The old man was blind in one eye. They kept us there locked up and under guard which changed often. Among others, with us was Uncle Kosta, the Monasterys verger, who had gathered from their conversation that we would all be killed. When asked what they were going to do with us, they replied that they would send us all to the Bulgarian ComTN: baba literally old woman or grandmother but in rural areas and small towns used as an affectionate honorific.233

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mander. At about 2 oclock in the afternoon they brought us some hot cornbread. Everybody ate except me and as soon as a soldier had eaten he would fall asleep. Danilo also fell asleep only I pretended to sleep and watched to see what would happen. Outside, in the yard there was suddenly a terrible noise and shouting of Allah! Allah! And just before dusk some 7 to 8 younger Albanians and the man who was blind in one eye ran into our room. Among them I saw Sulja N., the Monasterys watchman who was one of those who had given his word to Danilo that they would not kill us. Then they ordered us to get ready, they were taking us to the Commander! The wretched soldiers were happy to hear this but Danilo told me with his eyes only that we were finished. Then a few more Albanians came in with bayonets on their rifles and ordered us to form a double file and told us that every three to four minutes a pair of us was to go out into the yard. The wretched soldiers filed out and finally only three of us were left behind, me, Danilo and the old verger Uncle Kosta. Uncle Kosta, who could speak Albanian, turned to a large Albanian begging him for something, but the Albanian took out a curved knife and, I remember it well, said Shut up, you! His sleeves were rolled up and as soon as Uncle Kosta went out we heard a horrible scream. Even before this, at intervals, I had heard muffled blows and groans but not such a loud scream, the scream of a wretched victim being slaughtered and then thrown into a chasm as I saw later by daylight. Then only Danilo and I were left. He also begged, but in vain. He was dragged out, and he tossed to me his tobacco tin with his name on it. This tin was later taken away from me by the Bulgarians when they searched me. Seeing that there was nothing for it, I started walking out of my own accord when suddenly someone coming through the door hit me so hard and sent me flying into a corner to the left of the door leading to the corridor. Partly because of the force of the blow, partly because of the grizzly sight I was half unconscious and when I came to I found myself in the same room, next to a fire which the Albanians had built and was lying there while some ten or so of them were sitting in a semicircle smoking. One of them had a bloodied hand (bandaged). They offered me tobacco and ordered me to keep quiet about what I might have seen. We stayed there like that for another hour, and then they set off taking me with them. We stopped at a house and they had dinner there, then the brothers Mahmut Alit and Redep took me to their house and told me not to be afraid since I was their guest now. There I spent the night with grandmother (mother) and 2 to 3 male children. In the morning I asked what had happened to my sister, and, finally, one of the children told me that she had survived and that they would bring her to me. So about 2 oclock in the afternoon they brought my sister and Baba Mitra was with her. There, in the house of these two brothers my sister, Baba Mitra and I stayed for eight days. It would be pointless to describe my misery and the pain in my soul when I heard from Baba Mitra that more than one half of the25

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soldiers were slaughtered and that my group, together with Danilo and Uncle Kosta, was most probably also slaughtered and thrown into the chasm. It was then that I learned of the unhappy lot of my father who had not been killed outright but was riddled with bullets and left on the road to die. Baba Mitra found this out from Sulja who came to see and comfort them. My sister came in her clothes which were in tatters and told me of the miseries she had sufferedphysically assaulted, tortured for money, searched time and time again until her very soul stood naked. She came to me in her underwear and stockings. Everything else was taken off her and stolen. Eight or nine days later, after ceaseless begging on our part, they decided to let us go on condition that we would not return either to Prizren or Kosovo but go home to Serbia or Bosnia. We agreed, and one night they gave us some Albanian rags and took away the rags we still had on. So, disguised as an Albanian and his sister, with an escort of two boys we set off through the woods. We walked from midnight till ten oclock the following morning without stopping but were halted several times by military sentriesBulgarian or German and always released. When we reached the highway at Suva Reka, we saw a group of our refugees and among them a wounded officer. Not being able to contain myself I ran to them and taking off my head the kerchief, which I have kept to this day, told them that I was a Serbian civil servant and asked them to let me join their group, which they did. The two boys, our escort, looked at each other, turned around and fled in the direction they had come from. Etc. Mihailo J. Antonijevi, manu propria Secretary of District Prefecture

. Reconstruction of Monastery of St. Mark of Koria. Photographed at the beginning of the twentieth century.

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002. . 499 7 XI 25 X 1933. . 260, .. . 5, (400) : . , , . . , . , . : () . , , . , . , . : , , , . ,28

002. Albanian assaults on Devi MonasteryAdministration of Devi Monastery District of Devi, Region of Raka Confidential No. 499 November 7/October 25, 19334 Devi To the Ecclesiastical Court Prizren In accordance with the approval of the Diocesan Board of Management No. 260 of the current year, the Administration requested the services of the District Clerk for the purpose of marking the trees in our woods. The Clerk came on the fifth day of this month and marked up to 400 standing trees in the place named Topola, for which services he received his daily allowance and was paid for the mileage covered. For this purpose, the Administration needed to obtain the necessary certificate from the commune regarding the ownership of the woods and the permit from the Banovina5 Administration for cutting marked trees in accordance with the new law on forests. The Administration of the Monastery requested and duly received the said certificate from the Court of the Commune of Laua. However the entire Court consists of Drenica Albanians, most of them being parties to outstanding lawsuits involving this Monastery. For this reason we are petitioning the Court to intervene, urgently if possible, with the Banovina Administration in Cetinje to permit the Administration of the Monastery to cut the marked trees. At the same time, we wish to inform you of the following: this Administration has come to the conclusion that the only way to save the property of the Monastery (i.e. the woods) would be to have a special commission appointed by higher government authorities, otherwise few persons could be found to survey the Monastery woods because of anonymous or open threats from the Albanians. As we have seen, these threats have succeeded in putting off anyone from cutting marked trees for any price. We respectfully inform you of this and request your intervention also with the Minister of Justice to help us establish clear boundaries between thedouble date represents the difference between the Julian and the Gregorian calendars, the former being used by the Church and the latter by the state. 5 Between two world wars Yugoslavia was administratively divided into a number of regions which were each governed by a Ban and therefore called Banovina.294 The

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property of the Monastery and of its neighbors so that the Monastery can be given clear title to its property. Otherwise, a hundred Albanians will be found willing to swear that the Monastery owns nothing, on the basis of which the Court in the Commune of Laua will grant them the title to the property, because our few witnesses will not prevail over theirs as the law treats everybody equally. I think it would be unjust that today Albanians from Drenica of evil repute should share in the property of this our sacred place. Moreover, it is unjust that they should do it during the life time of our beloved King Aleksandar who knows full well what misery they have caused his people. I also believe that if he knew to what harsh treatment the property of this Monastery is subjected by those who had treated us thus for over 500 years, they would, without a doubt, become more tractable. If I had done wrong, by writing this last sentence, I ask for forgiveness, but there is no peace, no hope of survival for this Monastery unless the status of its property is quickly regularized. In the hope that you will not fault me for being inept in this petition, I respectfully remain Your obedient Elder of Devi Monastery Hieromonk Simeon Milosavljevi

. Monastery Devi, photographed at the beginning of the twentieth century

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003. . . . 17.8 1941.. , 1936 . . , . , , , : , , , . 1928 , 1936 . . .. . , , , , . , , , . , , . , . 300.000.- . : , , , , , ; .. , .32

003. The Memorial Church in DjakovicaUnder the August Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Marija THE COMMITTEE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ORTHODOX MEMORIAL CHURCH DEDICATED TO FREEDOM No. 17. February 8, 1941 Djakovica Mr. Minister, In 1936, Her Majesty Queen Marija graciously agreed to extend her august patronage to the construction of an Orthodox Church Dedicated to Freedom with a Memorial Ossuary in Djakovica. This Church is dedicated to the service of God and to the service of the nation. It is dedicated to the service of God because our five hundred year-old foe had destroyed all the holy places of divine worship in this region, leaving the growing Orthodox population of this district with no place where to gather and worship. It is dedicated to the nation because the bones of our heroes, who did not spare their lives when called on to save their Fatherland, still lie scattered in the forests and ravines of Metohija, Kosovo, Sandak and northern Albania. For this reason the Committee thought that these relics should be placed in the ossuary which is being constructed under the Church itself. The Committee has been engaged on this project since 1928, but the actual work began in 1936 when Her Royal Majesty graciously consented to be its August Patron. Having invested a considerable effort in the project, the Committee has so far been able only to roof the structure, as you can see on the photograph, but not to go any further because of the lack of funds. It is a RELIGIOUS and even a greater NATIONAL imperative for this Church to be completed, for the Serbs of this region to gather together in joint prayer to the Lord and for the earthly remains of our war martyrs to find a place for their final repose which would be worthy of them and which they have richly deserved. Those who fell defending the Fatherland deserve it, and the younger generations would know that the Fatherland cares for those who died defending it and would be willing to emulate their example. For us to accomplish the goal of completing the Church, we would need financial assistance in the amount of 300,000 dinars. We have appealed for help to the following ministries: Justice, Finance, Agriculture, Public Works, Foreign Affairs, Army and Navy, as well as to His33

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Holiness the Patriarch and the Ban of Zetska Banovina. We fear, however, that little attention will be paid to our appeals. This is why we turn to you, as the Minister of Court, asking you with all our hearts to appeal on our behalf to the above mentioned Ministries and institutions urging them to furnish us with the necessary means to complete the Church. Her Royal Majesty has promised us an iconostasis, but we cannot expect to receive such an important gift before other works on the Church are completed. At the same time we beg you, Mr. Minister, to have the kindness of informing Her Royal Majesty about the progress of work on the completion of the Church of which Her Majesty is the gracious Patron. Enclosed, please, find a photograph of the Church Radovan J. Milutinovi, teacher Secretary of the Committee Fr. Slobodan A. Popovi Chairman of the Committee

Mr. Milan Anti Minister of Court Belgrade

, Memorial Church Dedicated to Freedom in Djakovica during reconstruction

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001

36

003

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PART TWODESTRUCTION OF SERBIAN CHURCHES BY ALBANIANS IN WORLD WAR TWO

004. 1941 j , ., : , . , . . , . , , . , . . , . . , . : , , . . . - . : . 40

004. Crimes against the Monastery of Saint Mark of KoriaExecuted in 1941 in the Ecclesiastic Court in Prizren There appeared before this Court, without being summoned, Hieromonk Gedeon aka, Superior pro tem. of St. Marks Monastery, and deposed as follows: After the arrival of the Italian Army in Prizren and in this region, the servants of the Monastery declared that they could not stay one day longer in the Monastery because they are afraid of the villagers of Kaba. Immediately after this, the Albanian villagers of Kaba started bringing their livestock in to graze through the woods and the meadow and into the Monasterys yard itself. When I intervened asking them to move away from the Monastery and to take their animals to graze wherever they used to graze before, they replied that everything belonged to them and that no one could keep them away. They began to steal our livestock and so, seeing that I could not survive there on my own, I informed competent authorities that I was forced to leave the Monastery. All the more so, because the former servants of the Monastery, who were Muslims, had rejected the offer of competent authorities to continue working in the Monastery and protect it because they were afraid of villagers of Kaba. When I moved out, I took some more valuable things with me and brought them to the Ecclesiastic Court. Other things were left in the Monastery because they were impossible to move being too heavy or unwieldy. While I was still in the Monastery, some Kaba villagers broke into a shed and took the plough and the bedding which belonged to the keeper of the Monasterys livestock. Of my own knowledge, I cannot tell what happened to the Monastery after I was gone, but I have heard others say that the Church itself was pillaged and that the trees in the woods are being cut down every day and that we can take it that the woods are completely destroyed. The tenant farmers of Muslim faith, namely Ali Gegi, Velija Uka, Abaz Sejza and others, have given nothing that was due to the Monastery of the wheat from our land. I am literate. Hieromonk Gedeon aka Elder of St. Marks Monastery CERTIFIED BY: edomir M. Simi41

005. . 1.1. 1942. . . , . - . 267 3 1942- . , , : 1.) 10.000 2.) , 1941 1942 5 ....................................... 2.000 3.) .... 15.000 . 4.) .............. 2000 , 29.000 ( : ) . . , 2 1942 . , .

42

005. Destruction of churches in the District of DjakovicaSERBIAN ORTHODOX PARISH OF PONOEVAC No. 1 September 1, 1942 PONOEVAC Petition of the Church of The Holy Trinity in eremet, District of Djakovica concerning war damaged property TO THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURT PRIZREN Regarding the order of the Orthodox Bishop of Ras-Prizren, His Grace Serafim E.No. 267 dated August 3, 1942-XX, I have the honor to submit to you the Petition concerning the Church of the Holy Trinity in eremet, Commune Junica, District Djakovica, which was damaged as follows: 1) The Church was demolished and completely destroyed with all furniture , furnishings and fittings in the value of 10,000 frangs6; 2) Harvest from 5 hectares of parish meadowlands used by parishioners and not gathered in 1941 and 1942 in the value of 2,000 frangs; 3) A completed but not yet consecrated church in Donji Nec in the same commune damaged to the point of being in danger of immediate collapse while all its furniture and fittings are completely destroyed in the value of 15,000 frangs; 4) A not completed church in Smonica sustained damage in the value of 2,000 frangs. In all, therefore, this church, which is the central church in the parish of Ponoevac, has sustained damage in the total amount of 29,000 (twenty nine thousand) frangs. In compliance with the order of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in Shipnia7, I have the honor of sending to you the aforesaid submission and respectfully request your disposal of same in accordance with the terms of your jurisdiction. In Djakovica September 2, 19426 7

Slobodan A. Popovi, priest Rector of the Church

TN: Albanian currency used Kosovo-Metohija during the occupation. TN: Name given to the region of Kosovo-Metohija by the Axis occupying forces in WWII.43

006. . 50.1. 1942- - . . , . . , . - .. 267 3 1942- . . : 1) 4002) 1000.3) ( ) 2400.4) 400.5) 4000.6) 5,95 1941 1942. . 4000.7) 220 4780.8) ........................................................... 300.9) ...................................................................... 800.10) , ... 20000. ( ) 38080.-

44

006. Destruction of the church and the Serbian cemetery in DjakovicaSERBIAN ORTHODOX PARISH OF DJAKOVICA No. 50 September 1, 1942 DJAKOVICA Petition of the Church of the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God in Djakovica concerning war damaged property TO THE METROPOLITAN OF THE AUTOCEPHALOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH IN IPNIJA HIS EMINENCE KRISTIFOR TIRANA Regarding the order of the Orthodox Bishop of Ras-Prizren, His Grace Serafim E. No. 267 dated August 3, 1942-XX, we have the honor to submit to you the Petition concerning the war damaged property of the Church of the Dormition of Holy Mother of God in Djakovica which was damaged as follows: 1) Walls surrounding the yard and other areas surrounding the Church in the value of 400.00 frangs 2) Church stable in the area surrounding the Church 1,000.00 3) Barbed wire fence around the Orthodox Cemetery 2, 400.00 4) Damage to a hearse 400.00 5) Cemetery Chapel completely destroyed 4,000.00 6) Harvest from 5.95 hectares of parish meadowlands used by parishioners and not gathered in 1941 and 1942 4,000.00 7) 220 cubic meters of stone prepared for the completion of a new church in Djakovica 4,780.00 8) Damage to the lightening conductor 300.00 9) Tin guttering 800.00 10) Woodwork, tools and construction materials 20.000.00 TOTAL in frangs (Thirty eight thousand and eighty frangs) 38,080.00

May I respectfully remind you that all monuments in the Orthodox cemetery have been destroyed but their value cannot be shown here because I consider them property of private individuals at whose cost they were erected over the graves of deceased members of their families, and I am not in possession of information detailing the actual value of these monuments.45

. , 1 1942. . . I . .

46

Following the order of the Presidency of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in ipnija, I have the honor of sending to you the aforesaid submission and respectfully request your disposal of same in accordance with the terms of your jurisdiction. Slobodan A. Popovi Parish priest of Djakovica Parish District I Rector of the Church

In Djakovica September 1, 1942

47

007. . 42 30VIII1942 , , 3 1942 . 267, , : 1) 1941 . , . 2) , - . : 17 , 7 2 . , , , , . 3) , . 24. 1941 ., . , , .. , , . . ( 1 , 48

007. Assaults on Monastery DraganacSERBIAN ORTHODOX MONASTERY No. 42 August 30, 1942 DRAGANAC To the Ecclesiastical Court Prizren Regarding the order of the Orthodox Bishop of Ras-Prizren, His Grace Serafim No. 267 dated August 3, 1942, I have the honor to submit to you information concerning the war damage done to the Monastery in my charge, which damage being as follows: 1) In our woods in the month of October 1941, unidentified thieves stole the oxen owned by the Monastery, the current market price of which is seven thousand lek8. 2) The field called Pluina, which is inscribed in the property deed of the Monastery as belonging to the Monastery, is now regarded by the members of the family of ukrija Ibrahimovi, sandal maker residing in Gnjilane, as their own. This year, members of the Ibrahimovi family have taken from the Monastery on the principle that might is right one quarter of grain, namely: 17 buckets of barley, 7 buckets of wheat, and two buckets of rye. They took the grain without violence and gave us a proper receipt leaving the matter to the Court to decide. If the Court rules that the field in question is the property of the Monastery, they will be obliged to return the grain taken in kind or pay for it at market prices. 3) A quantity of wood from the Monasterys old plantation and a larger quantity from the newly planted wood was cut and taken for fuel by Bey Zegiri Emini from Gnjilane. An official complaint was made by me to the Prefect on September 24, 1941 without any results so far. Both in the case of the field Pluina and the theft of wood it is essential to submit to the Civil Court with your authority a complaint containing precise information about the damage sustained and our demands that Mr. Ibrahimovi and Bey Emini appear in Court and give proof of their right to the Monasterys property, which they have been making use of, in view of the fact that these gentlemen have informed the Administration of the Monastery that they are in possession of Turkish titles to the property in question.8

TN: See footnote 6 above.49

26 ), : , e

50

In other respects, I have managed by the grace of God to preserve the Monastery which is in good condition. In view of the fact that, at the request of the people, Monastery Draganac serves also the parish of Straa, (Straa is located at a distance of one kilometer from Draganac, while other villages in the vicinity are located at distances of 2 to 6 kilometers) I take this opportunity to inform you that I have managed to preserve all parish property and that I carry out Gods work punctually and punctiliously just as in peacetime. Respectfully yours, Abbot Grigorije Elder of Draganac Monastery

51

008. , , . , 100.000. 5. IV.1941.

1.

1 - . . . 108

. : 10 , 3 , 1 , 4 , , 8 , 2 , 2 , 500 : 2. : . . . . ., , , , , ...

50.000.-

10.000.160.000.-

1.500.000.-

3.

500.000.-

4.

, , , , , . .: 2 , , 2 , 6

50.000.-

52

008. Eradication of churches in MetohijaTHE LIST of war damaged Church institutions with monetary value expressed in prewar dinarsNo. Type of demaged institution Church CommunityPe Object damaged Cause of damage Value in dinars up to Apr. 5, 1941

1.

1 house in Kr. Aleksandra street 108 Officefurniture: 10 modern chairs, 3 tables, 1 typewriter, 4 cupboards, heating stove, 8 ordinary chairs, 2 writing desks, to shelves for files, etc. Library of the Church Community (500volumes)

Bombardment

100.000.-

Bombardment

50.000.-

Bombardment TOTAL:

10.000.160.000.-

2.

Church CommunityDeani

Two churches in villages Rastavica and Ratite newly built in formerYugoslavia of durable materials Materials for building a new church in Djakovica: stone, tiles, lime, iron, beams Church: roof, window panes, doors, rugs, censores, vestments, furniture Church Community: 2 cupboards, 1 heating stove, 2 tables, 6 chairs

Demolished by Occupying Forces and their henchmen 1.500.000.-

3.

Church CommunityDjakovica

Occupying Forces took them away

500.000.-

4.

Church CommunityVitomirica

Occupying Forces took and turned the Church into prison

50.000.-

53

5.

: 4 , 10 , 4 , 1 , . .

50.000.-

. 114 , 16/3 1945

, . , : . .

54

5.

Church CommunityIstok

All furniture and fittings of the Church and the Church Community: 4 tables, 10 chairs, 4 rugs, 1 set of vestments, silver artoclasia etc.

Occupying forces took them away and turned the Church into prison

50.000.-

Reg. No. 114 Pe, July 16/3 1945

This List, based on reports received from above listed Communes, was compiled and verified by: Vasilije St. Kilibarda, priest Episcopal Regent

55

009. . 41 11VIII1945. . 40 7. 1945 , , , . , , , , . , , .

56

009. Monastery Draganac threatenedSERBIAN ORTHODOX MONASTERY No. 41 August 11, 1945 DRAGANAC To the Diocesan Board of Management, Diocese of Ras-Prizren Prizren As a supplement to my report No. 40 dated August 7, 1945 regarding the damage sustained by the Monastery, I am forwarding to you the original of the complaint lodged with the Prefect Mehmed Ali Bey Emini against Hamdija Ibrahimovi, Hatem and Redep Radenan who stole our Monasterys oxen. This complaint was forwarded by the Prefect, together with his opinion, to the Commandant of the Italian Carabineers, who not only did nothing about it but, to the contrary, called me and the lawyer azim Makre to his office, swore at us and threatened us with arrest. The thieves were immediately released because azim Makre and I were forced to withdraw our complaint as we were harassed by the occupying forces and their faithful and devoted henchmen brothers Ibrahimovi of Gnjilane. Respectfully yours Abbot Grigorije Elder of Draganac Monastery

57

010. . 65 13I1945 . 3I1945 . . 63, . . , , 7 1945 40, , 11VIII1945 41 6 1945 . . 40, 16/VIII45 3I . 68. ( ).

58

010. Damage done to Monastery DraganacSERBIAN ORTHODOX MONASTERY No. 65 September 13, 1945 DRAGANAC To the Diocesan Board of Management, the Diocese of Ras-Prizren, Prizren In accordance with your order No. 63 of September 3, 1945, it is my honor to report on the damage done to Monastery Draganac using the appropriate form. The data listed in the form are true and confirmed as such by the Peoples Committee of the Commune of Bostan. I also enclose a drawn, detailed and documented report of the entire damage done to the Monastery from August 7, 1945 (No. 40), the original of the complaint lodged with the Prefect Mehmed Ali Bey Emini against Hamdija Ibrahimovi, Hatem and Redep Radean who stole our Monasterys oxen on August 11, 1945 (No. 41) and copy of the protocol of August 6, 1945 (No. 40), all in accordance with yours of August 16, 1945 No. 68, 3IX. In a separate matter, through the Peoples Committee of the Commune of Bostan I have lodged a claim for war damage sustained by me personally in the amount of thirty one thousand and two hundred fifty prewar dinars (during the occupation I did not receive my salary as Monasterys Elder and had to pay court costs defending the Monasterys property in the amount of 200 napoleons. Respectfully yours Abbot Grigorije Elder of Draganac Monastery

59

011. . 36 22/9 1942. 29, 13 1942 , : : 1) ( ) . (, , , .) 150.000.- ( ..) 2) ( ) , . . 75.000.- ( ). 3) . 35.000.- ( ). 4) ( ) . 20.000.- ( ). , . . . . . .

60

011. Destruction of churches in the Episcopal Regency of Pe ORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF PE No 36 April 22/9, 1942 PE TO THE DIOCESAN BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, PRIZREN In accordance with your order No. 29 of April 13, 1942, it is my honor to inform the Board of the following: The list of churches robbed and/or destroyed in the Pe Episcopal Regency is as follows: 1) The church in the village of eremet (Prefecture of Djakovica) is completely destroyed and robbed of all its movable property. The value of the church and its movable property (crosses, the Gospel, vestments, the bell etc.) in todays Yugoslav currency is about 150,000 dinars (one hundred and fifty thousand din.); 2) The church in Donji Rati (Prefecture of Djakovica) has been broken into and its roof removed. The walls are still standing. All its movable property has been stolen. The value of the stolen property and the roof is about 75,000 dinars (seventy five thousand dinars). 3) The roof of the church in Rastavica has been removed so its walls also have been damaged by rain. The value of materials taken is 35,000 (thirty five thousand) dinars. 4) The church in Vitomirica (Prefecture of Pe) has been broken into and robbed of all its movable property valued at 20,000 (twenty thousand) dinars. I must point out that Monastery Devi is located on the territory of the Prefecture of Pe but not on the territory of this Regency. That Monastery is destroyed with all its auxiliary buildings and robbed of all its movable property. I cannot even guess at the value of damage sustained. I have the honor of presenting to you the above report and await your further instructions. Vasilije St. Kilibarda, priest Episcopal Regent

61

012. . 1682/.307 26 1961 , , . 24/.47 19 1961 , : . . , , . , , , -

62

012. Gathering of information on destroyed churchesTHE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH No. 1682/Zap. 307 May 26, 1961 Belgrade Your Grace, The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church adopted Decision AS No.24/Zap. 47 on May 19, 1961 which reads as follows: The Holy Synod of Bishops shall intervene with peoples authorities requesting that Orthodox war-damaged churches be not demolished but be protected and given assistance for their rehabilitation. At the same time it shall require the diocesan authorities to provide concrete information regarding churches which were destroyed or damaged during the war. Pursuant to the above Decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops, we have the honor to inform you thereof and request from you the information referred to therein. I remain Your Graces brother in Christ, For the President Of the Holy Synod of Bishops Hrizostom, Bishop of Branievo, Member of the Synod TO HIS GRACE PAVLE, BISHOP OF RAS-PRIZREN PRIZREN

63

013. . 52 15 1961 . 727/61 . 1 1 , . , . .

64

013. Churches destroyed in the Episcopal Regency of PrizrenORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF PRIZREN No. 52 July 15, 1961 PPIZREN

To the Diocesan Board of Management, Prizren In regard to the announcement No. 727/61, I have the honor to inform you that on the territory of the Prizren Episcopal Regency one church was destroyed in the village of Gradi on the road between Prizren and Djakovica and one chapel in Prizren, to the left of the entry to the gorge of the river Bistrica, was badly damaged during the war. This chapel was repaired after the liberation but was subsequently destroyed. Milan Dj. Trifunovi, archpriest Episcopal Regent

65

014. . 12 9I1961 . .57 8I61., : . , . 1932 . , , , , , , , . , , , , , . . . .

66

014. Church in Prizren destroyedSERBIAN ORTHODOX PARISH OF PRIZREN No. 12 September 9, 1961 PRIZREN TO THE EPISCOPAL REGENT PRIZREN As requested by yours No. 57 dated September 8, 1961, I have the honor to report as follows: With the exception of the Chapel of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Prizren no other churches were destroyed or damaged in the parishes which I service. The chapel in question was built in 1932 but was badly damaged during World War II and now, after the liberation, it was nearly completely demolished by the Muslims, located as it is in a Muslim quarter outside the town. As, in the first place, the Church in Prizren has no financial means with which to rebuild this chapel, and, secondly, it would be pointless to rebuild it and then leave it at the mercy of the irresponsible Muslim mob, which would most certainly demolish it again, all plans for the rebuilding of the Chapel of the Holy Prophet Elijah have been set aside for the time being. Respectfully awaiting further instructions, Boko Popovi, archpriest Parish priest of Prizren and Gornje Selo

67

015. . 411 11 1961 . . 1991/ . 357 20 1961 . 779 2 1961 , , : . 779 2 1961 , , : .. . 30 5 1961 : , , , , . , , 1938/39 . 1941 , , . . 1942 . , , 2 . . , , . . , . . ., .. 1959. 68

015. Destruction of churches in the Episcopal Regency of PritinaORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF PRITINA No. 411 September 11, 1961 Pritina

To the Diocesan Board of Management, Prizren As instructed by the Holy Synod of Bishops in its request No. 1991/zap. 357 dated June 20, 1961and Your order No. 779 of July, 2 1961, requesting reports on churches which were damaged or destroyed during World War II; I have the honor of submitting this humble report: In regard to No. 779 of July 2, 1961 I received a report from the acting parish priest of Gole, No. 30, dated September 5, 1961to the effect that: During World War II, in the parish of Gole the church of Pomazatin, district of Pritina, was damaged and the parish church in Novo ikatovo, district of Pritina, was razed to the ground. The church in Pomazatin, district of Pritina, was built in 1938/39. The church was never consecrated. The church, which was to be consecrated in 1941, was intended to serve the faithful of the following villages: Pomazatin, Veliki Belaevac, Mali Belaevac, Kuzman and Velika Slatina. The church was built of hard materials; it was actually built of stone. The church was damaged in 1942. Albanians Shqipetari from the surrounding area damaged the roof breaking the tiles; removed and destroyed the iconostasis and icons, leaving only two icons behind. Using some sort of blunt object, they made holes in the walls making it necessary to replaster and repaint them. All windowpanes were broken. Some window frames were removed as they were made of iron, the Holy Table was demolished and the top of the Holy Table broken. The Albanians took down the bell, damaged it and later buried it. A parishioner, a Serb from Pomazatin, accidentally found the bell as he was ploughing his field. The church was repaired in 1959 by the acting parish priest of Gole, archpriest Trajko Z. Trifunovi. The roof was replaced and covered with tiles.69

. . , . . , , 3. . 5.00.000.- . 75.000. . , , . , . 22 4 , . . 1937/38 . 3.000.000. 1961 . . . . . : , , , , , , . 3 . . 68 31 1961 : . 308 24 VII 1961 II . . , 1935 , .70

The only thing left to do was to cover the roof over the sanctuary with concrete and tiles. Because of the lack of funds, the Church Community could not complete the repairs of the church and make it usable again as a place of worship. The repairs were paid for by the Gole Church Community in Batuse. That is to say they were paid for by the Agricultural Cooperative in Veliki Belaevac which was ordered by the District Court in Pritina to pay restitution to the Church Community in lieu of rent for using the church as a granary without authorization. The court case was brought by Archpriest Trajko Z. Trifunovi. To bring the church back to its original state and make it fit again to be used as a place of worship would cost 500,000 dinars. The Church Community has only 75,000 dinars on deposit with the Episcopal Board of Management in Prizren. But the rehabilitation of this church is also threatened by another very serious matter: the Serbs are leaving Pomazatin for Serbia, as they are leaving other villages here. The church should be rehabilitated, but it is not at all sure that a single Serb will stay in Pomazatin. In the neighboring village of Veliki Belaevac, of the original 22 Serbian households only 4 are left, and these four are planning to leave. During World War II, the parish church of Novo ikatovo was razed to the ground. This church was built in 1937/38 and served as the parish church for the parish of Drenica on the territory of the Zvean Episcopal Regency. The church was built of hard material; it cost 3,000,000 dinars to build and the Albanians demolished it in 1961. The Albanians took away the bell and sold it, but we do not know to whom. The church is razed to its foundations, but the foundations are still there. Nothing was done in terms of rehabilitating this church because the Church Community is unable financially to do it. For their spiritual needs the faithful go either to Pritina or to Monastery Devi. As the Serbs are leaving the parish of Drenica, specifically the villages of Komoran, Vukovac, Donji Zabeo, Poklek, Glogovac and Novo ikatovo, while their houses and lands are being bought up by Albanians, it is not likely that the church will be rehabilitated. It may well be that within less than three years, there will be no Serbs left in these villages. The parish priest of the Uroevac parish in his No. 68 of July 31, 1961 reported as follows: In regard to the announcement No. 308 of July 24, 1961, I have the honor to inform you that during World War II, in my parish, commune of Kaanik, the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah was destroyed. This church was built in 1935. Before the war and during the war divine services were held in it. Now it has neither windows nor doors. Only the walls and the roof are left, and the roof is badly damaged. We could do neither partial nor complete71

. . . 5.00.000.-. I .90 31 1961 : .85/61 . . 308 21 VII 1961 . . . . . . . 150.000.2.00.000.-. 80.000 , . . . 1931. . . .54 31 1961 : .308 24 1961 . . . , , , . . . : , , -, , , I, II III . . ..779/61.

72

repairs because there are no funds. The rehabilitation of this church would require 500,000 dinars. In his No. 90 of July 31, 1961, the parish priest of the First Podujevo Parish District reports as follows: As a supplement to the report I sent in No. 85/61 in reply to yours No. 308 of July 27, 1961, which I received only today and which must have wandered all over the place or was stuck somewhere in the Post Office, I wish to inform you of the following: The church of St. Andrew in Podujevo was exposed to artillery fire in the last war and hit several times by grenades. Immediately after the liberation, with the help of authorities and the faithful, the church was repaired to the point where it was possible to hold services in it. But these repairs were done in haste and not thoroughly. For it to be properly repaired we would need a sum of 150,000 200,000 dinars. As the Church Community is not able to bear this cost, having only 80,000 dinars of ready money, this general overhaul cannot be undertaken at this time. All our efforts to collect the money by asking the faithful to contribute voluntarily to the repair of the church failed because the response was poor. The church was built in 1931. Requesting further instructions. The parish priest of Sirinika upa in his No. 54 of July 31, 1961 reports as follows: In regard to yours AN No. 308 of July 24, 1961, please be informed that no churches were destroyed in the parish of Sirinika upa in World War II. Only the Chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul in Fireja sustained minor damage to the mortar. However, the church is in good enough condition for liturgy to be served in it. All other churches are as they were before. We report this for your information and await further instructions. In the parishes of Laplje Selo, Lipljan, Donja Guterica, Nerodinje, timlje, Graanica and in Pritina parish districts I, II and III no churches were damaged during World War II. I have the honor of submitting the aforesaid report and request further instructions. Ref. No. 779/61 Trajko Trifunovi, archpriest Episcopal Regent

73

016. . 12 14I1961 .57 21 1961 II : 1/ . , , 1935 ; 1941 -, ; 2/ . , 1467 ; , ; 800.000 . . II

74

016. Churches destroyed in the vicinity of PrizrenSERBIAN ORTHODOX PARISH OF PRIZREN No. 12 September 14, 1961 PRIZREN To the Episcopal Regent Prizren In regard to your request No. 57 of July 21, 1961, I have the honor of submitting this report on churches destroyed during World War II in the parish of Prizren 1) Destroyed the Church of St. Peter of Koria in Koria, district of Prizren. The church was built in 1935 and served all parochial needs. In 1941 the church was razed to the ground by Albanians of the same village and has not been repaired or restored because of the lack of money. 2) Destroyed the Church of St. Mark in Kaba, district of Prizren. The church was built in 1467 and served all monastic needs. The church was restored with the funds of Sima Igumanov Foundation, Orthodox Serbs in America and the Diocesan Board of Management. The restoration costs amounted to 800,000 dinars. I have the honor of submitting the aforesaid report and request further instructions. edomir . Simi, archpriest Parish priest of the Prizren Parish District II

75

017. . 24 15I1961 . 57/61 , . . . , . . ,

76

017. Church destroyed in MuutiteSERBIAN ORTHODOX PARISH OF MUUTITE No. 24 September 15, 1961 MUUTITE

To the Episcopal Regent Prizren In regard to yours No. 57/61, please be informed that on the territory of this parish no churches were destroyed during World War II, with the exception of the Chapel St. Kyriokia in Trnje. There is no need to restore the said chapel as most of the faithful have left and moved to other regions.

Cv. Kampereli, priest Parish priest of Muutite

77

78

79

019. . 83/2 10. . 1961 . 727 779 / 61, , , , . ()

80

019. Report on churches in the Episcopal Regency of GnjilaneORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF GNJILANE No. 83/2 October 10, 1961 GNJILANE TO THE DIOCESAN BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Prizren In regard to yours No. 727 and 779/61, I have the honor to report that on the territory of this Regency there were no instances of damage or destruction of churches in World War II. Archpriest [signature illegible] Episcopal Regent

81

020. . 57 23. 1961 . 779/61 . , , . .

82

020. Church destroyed in the parish of OrahovacORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF PRIZREN No. 57 October 23, 1961 PRIZREN

TO THE DIOCESAN BOARD OF MANAGEMENT PRIZREN In regard to yours No. 779/61, I have the honor of informing you that on the territory of the parish of Orahovac and Velika Hoa there were no instances of destruction in World War II with the exception of the church in Gradite close to the vanjski bridge on the Prizren Djakovica road. Milan Dj. Trifunovi, archpriest piscopal Regent

83

021. . .233 291961. . . 179/61., . 1019 2I1961 , , II . 205/61 20 I1961.

84

021. Churches destroyed in the parish of DeviTHE ORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF KOSOVSKA MITROVICA No. 233 October 29, 1961 Kosovska Mitrovica T the Diocesan Board of Management Prizren

As a supplement to report No. 179/61 and pursuant to your request in No. 1019 of November 2, 1961, in reference to said report, please be informed that churches in Rudnik and Banje in the Parish of Devi were damaged in World War II and have not been repaired to date because of the lack of funds. A more detailed report No. 205/61 was sent to you on November 20, 1961. Milan Popovi, archpriest Episcopal Regent

85

022. . 92 11. I 1962 . 1219 26 1961 , . 727 779 /61 : : 1/ 1912 . 2/ . . . 3/ , , . .

86

022. Destruction of churches in the Episcopal Regency of PeORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF PE No. 92 January 11, 1962 PE

TO THE DIOCESAN BOARD OF MANAGEMENT PRIZREN Regarding yours No. 1219 of December 29, 1961, as well as previous announcements nos. 727 and 779/61, please be informed that: Churches were destroyed in this Regency during World War II as follows: 1) The newly built church in Rati a memorial church dedicated to those who were killed in the Balkan War of 1912 fighting for the liberation from the Turks; 2) The newly built parish church in Rastavica was entirely demolished. Both of the above-mentioned churches are located in the district of Djakovica. Nothing has been done so far about restoring them, nor will anything be contemplated in this regard because of the lack of funds. 3) In Ljubovo, near Peka Banja, in the Parish of Istok, an uncompleted church was damaged, and nothing has been done about its restoration and completion. There are no prospects or possibilities of contemplating the restoration of the above-mentioned churches. Bjelanovi, archpriest Episcopal Regent

87

023. ( ) 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 1938/39 . . 1942 . 60% . . 3 () . . . . . 1959. . , . , . . .

5 , ?

6 ; , 17 7 ? 8 8.00.000.-

9 . 75.000.- 10 . . 17 .

88

023. Churches destroyed in the Episcopal Regency of Pritina LIST of places of worship (churches, monasteries, chapels) in the Diocese of Ras-Prizren damaged during WWII to be repaired1 Place and district where shrine located 2 Year when it was built 3 For what purpose used before WWII Pomazatin, district Pritina 1938/39 Unconsecrated church of Proph. Elijah

4 When and who by and to what extent was The church was damaged in 1942 by local it damaged Albanians. 60% of roof construction destroyed; tiles broken; all windowpanes broken; iron frames removed from 3 windows, the Holy Table and Iconostasis with all icons destroyed and materials therefrom taken away; inside walls greatly damaged. 5 Has it been repaired, partially/completely Acting parish priest had the church with what funds and with whose assistance repaired in 1959. Roof construction was repaired and roof retiled and is in good condition now. Restoration paid for by the Gole Church Community in Batuse, acting parish priest and the faithful of Pomazatin provided labor 6 If partially repaired, why not completely The Church Community had no funds and all 17 families which constitute the congregation of Pomazatin are poor 7 If not repaired at all, why not 8 Rough estimate of full restoration cost 800,000 dinars

9 To what extent, if at all, can Church Com- The Church Community in Batuse has 75,000 d. munity cover the cost 10 Are there reasons why shrine should not There are reasons why the church should not be restored as the villagers are leaving be restored of Pomazatin, moving to Pritina and other areas of Serbia. For the time being there are still 17 households in Pomazatin. Some people have sold their lands, and in a very short time there will be no Serbs left to protect the church.

89

1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 5 4 , ?

1935 .

4 ;

6 ; 7 ? 8 9 . 5.00.000.-

10 . . 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 1930.

4 1944 . 5 , ? 1945 . 1962 .

6 ; 7 ? 8 9 . 10 .90

1 Place and commune where shrine located Kaanik, commune Kaanik 2 Year when it was built 3 What purpose used before WWII 1935 Place of worship - Church of Holy Prophet Elijah

4 When and who by and to what extent was During and after WWII it damaged 5 Has it been repaired, partially/completely Partially repaired with financial and other with what funds and with whose assistance assistance of the Uroevac Church 6 If partially repaired, why not completely For the lack of money 7 If not repaired at all, why not 8 Rough estimate of full restoration cost 9 To what extent, if at all, can Church Community cover the cost For the lack of financial resources 500,000 dinars The Church Community to which the church belongs has no money.

10 Are there reasons why shrine should not There are reasons why the church could not be restored: There are no Ortbodox be restored left and there is no one to protect the church 1 Place and commune where shrine located Podujevo, Commune 2 Year when it was built 3 What purpose used before WWII 1930 Parish church

4 When and who by and to what extent was In 1944 by Bulgarian and German artillery fire it damaged 5 Has it been repaired, partially/ completely with what funds and with whose assistance The church was repaired in 1945 with the help of the peoples authorities and the resources of the Church. In April repairs were made with resources of the Church Community of Podujevo

6 7 8 9 10

If partially repaired, why not completely If not repaired at all, why not Rough estimate of full restoration cost To what extent, if at all, can Church Community cover the cost Are there reasons why shrine should not be restored91

1 ; 2 ; 3 ;

1930. . III 1942. , . 1960. , . .

4 ; 5 , ?

6 ; 7 ? 8 9 . 10 .

. 213 23 1962 .

92

Place and commune where shrine located Donja Brnjica, commune Pritina

2 Year when it was built 3 What purpose used before WWII

1930 Place of worship Church of Holy Trinity. It was the parish church of Pritina parish district III In 1942 the roof collapsed because it had not been built properly

4 When and who by and to what extent was it damaged

5 Has it been repaired, partially/completely In 1960 the church was completely restored with what funds and with whose assistance with its own money and with financial assistance of the Pritina Church Community as well as the work and commitment of Jordan Milanovi, church warden and builder from Donja Brnjica

6 If partially repaired, why not completely 7 If not repaired at all, why not 8 Rough estimate of full restoration cost 9 To what extent, if at all, can Church Community cover the cost 10 Are there reasons why shrine should not be restored

ORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF PRITINA No. 213 May 23, 1962 Prititina

Trajko Trifunovi, archpriest Episcopal Regent

93

( ) ()

1 2 3 . 4 .

1937/38 . 1941

5 0,40 6 . 7 8 , .

: , , , , .

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LIST of places of worship (churches, monasteries, chapels) in the Diocese of Ras-Prizren damaged during WWII to be repaired

1 Place and commune where shrine located 2 Year when it was built 3 What purpose used before WWII 4 When and who by and to what extent was it damaged

Village of Novo ikatovo, Commune Glogovac 1937/8 Church of Holy Trinity. It was the parish church of the parish of Drenica In 1941 the church was destroyed and all furniture and fittings of the church and parish office were taken away by Albanians from neighboring villages The foundation remains up to the height of 40cm No No

5 What is the present condition of the ruins 6 Have any steps been taken for the restoration of the church 7 Do alternative accommodations for holding services exist and are they adequate 8 Are there realistic prospects for the restoration of the church, if so give rough estimate of restoration costs and state what resources the owner of the church has for this purpose

There are no prospects because the faithful of Novo ikatovo, Trajkovo, Glogovac, Donji Zabel, Poklek and Komorane continue to leave steadily and there will be no Orthodox left to protect the church

95

1 2 3 . 4 .

1934 . . 1946 .

5 . 6 . 7 8 , .

: . 213 23 1962 .

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1 Place and commune where shrine located 2 Year when it was built 3 What purpose used before WWII 4 When and who by and to what extent was it damaged

Village Doganjevo, commune Uroevac 1934 Unconsecrated Church of St. Nicholas In 1946 the church was destroyed by the residents of Doganjevo

5 What is the present condition of the ruins Not even the foundations remain 6 Have any steps been taken for the restoration of the church 7 Do alternative accommodations for holding services exist and are they adequate No None

8 Are there realistic prospects for the None restoration of the church, if so give rough estimate of restoration costs and state what resources the owner of the church has for this purpose

Certified by: ORTHODOX EPISCOPAL REGENCY OF PRITINA No. 213 May 23, 1962 Prititina

Trajko Trifunovi, archpriest Episcopal Regent

97

024. . 1 7 1972 . 24 28 1972 . 667 191971 , (4) . , (5) ( ) . , , . , , . , . : 9 . I . .

98

024. Churches destroyed in the parish of GoleSERBIAN ORTHODOX PARISH OF GOLE No. 1 September 7, 1972 Batuse

To the Episcopal Regent Pritina In regard to yours No. 24 of January 28, 1972 and pursuant to the order of the Diocesan Board of Management in Prizren No. 667 of October 19, 1971, it is the honor of this parish priest to present you with 4 (four) copies of the photograph of the foundation and surrounding grounds of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Novo ikatovo of the former parish of Gole, which church was demolished during the last war, as well as 5 (five) copies of the damaged Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah (with particular emphasis on the interior of the church) in Pomazatin, also of the former parish of Gole. I respectfully request further instructions. Prior to demolition, or damage, these churches were in perfect condition, except that the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah was not yet consecrated by the ruling bishop. Enc.: Nine photographs Gligorije D. Trajkovi Parish priest of the Pritina parish district I Protoregent

99

. Exterior of the damaged Church of St. Elijah in Pomazatin

. : Interior of the Church of St. Elijah in Pomazatin showing damage to frescoes and iconostatis

. Surrounding grounds of the demolished church of Holy Trinity in Novo ikatovo100

004

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007

102

018

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024

104

19411945.

PART THREE

Albanian atrocities and eradication of Serbs and of all things Serbian in the 1941 1945 period

025. . . 780/. 140 1947.

, 1941 , , : 1) , , . 2) , . 3) . 4) , . . . , , . . , , . 5) , , , . . 6) , .106

025. Instruction of the Holy Synod for gathering information on the suffering of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people during World War II Ad. Sin. No. 780/Zap 140 for 1947

INSTRUCTION

With a view to gathering information on persecution and suffering of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people starting with the beginning of the occupation in April 1941, you are asked to give as brief, concise and clear answers as possible to the following questions: 1) When did the occupation begin in your town, parish, district etc.? 2) The general attitude of the population to the coming of the authorities and troops of the invader? 3) What was the attitude taken by the invader towards the Serbian Church and the Serbian people? 4) When did the martyrdom of the Serbian Church and the Serbian people begin and what was the immediate cause of its beginning? Are forms of martyrdoms and identities of victims known? Give precise names of towns/villages, counties and districts and descriptions of events about which you write. Specify, if possible, the time of their occurrence. If you personally experienced any unpleasantness, or spent some time in any place of imprisonment, internment or prisoner of war camp, describe the same in all necessary detail. 5) How many Serbs were killed in your town when, how and at whose hands? Who gave the orders for executions? Do you know the instigators and actual perpetrators of these executions? 6) How many Serbs were forcibly taken from their homes, sent to concentration camps within the country or outside of it and when?107

. 7) , . 8) , , , , . 9) : , , , , , . 10) , , , , . . 11) , , , , , . 12) , , , , .

108

7) How many Serbs from your town or district perished at home, in concentration or prison of war camps? 8) Were there instances in your district or parish where whole villages, settlements or individual houses were torched or destroyed, if so when, in what manner, for what reason and who were instigators and perpetrators? 9) What instances of persecution and harassment were the Serbian Church, her priests, monks, monasteries, churches, parish halls and cemeteries, as well as various economic, cultural, and social institutions and associations, subjected to? 10) Did you witness any pillaging or seizure of private property, if so when, in what manner, for what reason, on whose part. Were their instances of blackmail or other types of extortion? 11) In addition to the Serbs, did other nationalities live in you town, parish or district, if so what was their attitude to the Serbian Church and the Serbian people? Particularly, what was the attitude of their leaders and intelligentsia; please give names. 12) Please send us any materials such as photographs, posters, announcements, various flyers and the like from the time of occupation, should you have any.

109

026. - . 505 15 1947 . . 780/. 140 19/6 1947. : . : . , . - , . , , . . . . .110

026. Decision of the Holy Synod on the gathering of information on the suffering of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people during World War IITHE ECCLESIATICAL COURT OF THE DIOCESE OF RAS-PRIZREN C No. 505 May 15, 1947 Prizren TO ALL EPISCOPAL REGENTS IN THE DIOCESE In its No. 780/Zap. 140 of March 19/6, 1947 the Holy Synod of Bishops announced the following: Having considered the reports submitted by the Commission on gathering information about the suffering of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the clergy and the Serbian people, in its session held on the date indicated under reference number indicated above, the Holy Synod of Bishops decided as follows: To take cognizance of the reports submitted by the members of the Commission on gathering information about the suffering of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the persecution of the Serbian people. With a view to enabling the Commission to continue its work in the most effective manner, to instruct the Office of the Holy Synod of Bishops to examine its financial possibilities to provide the Commission with resources necessary for the continuance of its effective work, both as regards the services of current members of the Commission and recruiting other necessary staff. The Commission is to remain under the supervision of His Grace Nektarije, Bishop of Zvornik-Tuzla and member of the Holy Synod; it is to retain its current name, under which it has operated so far, and for the time being limit its activities to the processing of materials gathered so far in the manner already begun and verifying information contained in said materials. With a view to making these materials as complete as possible by covering all regions under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Patriarchate, particularly as regards the regions of Serbia, Montenegro and Banat, the Synod shall request Their Graces Diocesan Bishops to instruct all the clergy under their jurisdictions to send their reports on detailed surveys of events which took place during the occupation in each parish and in each village of each parish. This instruction is to state clearly what these reports are to include. Their Graces are requested to review these reports upon their receipt, classify them by Episcopal Regencies and forward them to the Holy Synod not later than the month of September of this year.111

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112

To inform of this Decision all Their Graces the Diocesan Bishops, as well as the Office of the Holy Synod of Bishops with a view to implementing said Decision and providing the members of the Commission with all necessary information and instructions. In informing the Episcopal Regents of the said Decision, the Holy Synod of Bishops has the honor of enclosing brief instructions for your clergy, indicating what information would be necessary to include in their reports and requesting the Episcopal Regents to draw the attention of the clergy in their jurisdictions to the importance of doing this work with all diligence and all their abilities, to be conscientious, precise and exhaustive in presenting the information required so that their reports will represent a true and complete picture of the harsh suffering endured in our recent past. In connection with this, His Grace Vladimir [Bishop of Ras-Prizren] decided as follows: This information shall be gathered through the instrumentality of our Episcopal Regents, and the wishes of the Holy Synod of Bishops shall be carried out with understanding and great caring because we are dealing with the history of our Church and her martyrdom which should be made known to all future generations. The aforesaid is sent to you together with instructions for submitting requested reports with the recommendation that all priests submit their reports to their Episcopal Regents and the latter forward the same to the Court not later than the end of the month of July of the current year. In order to achieve the full coverage of a Regency in its entirety, it would be necessary for individual parish priests to submit reports for their neighboring parishes, should these have fallen vacant. Upon the receipt of reports on his Regency, each Episcopal Regent shall verify whether all parishes under his jurisdiction have been reported on. Should this not be the case, the Episcopal Regent shall either prepare himself reports for missing parishes or ask the priests of neighboring parishes to take care of said reports. It is recommended that Episcopal Regents make as many copies of this announcement and accompanying instructions as there are priests in their area of jurisdiction and have them immediately and without delay distributed for completion. Milan Dj. Trifunovi, archpriest Bishops Deputy

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027.

- . 1404 19/6I1947 . 780/. 140 1947 . 2928 23/10 1947 , : : 1) ; 2) . . : 3) ; 4) ; 5) . : 6) ; 7) . . : 1) , 114

027. Submission to the Holy Synod of Bishops of information on the suffering of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people during World War IIORTHODOX BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF RAS-PRIZREN No. 1404 November 1/6, 1947 PRIZREN TO THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH BELGRADE In regard to the request of the Holy Synod of Bishops, No. 780/Zap. 140 in 1947 and No. 2928 of September 23/10, 1947, we have the honor to present the information required, namely: FROM THE REGENCY OF PRITINA 1) Joint report on all parishes with the exception of the parish of Sirinika upa and Sevaka upa 2) Separate report on the parish of Sirinika upa and Sevaka upa. FROM THE REGENCY OF KOSOVSKA MITROVICA 3) On the parish of Popovac; 4) On the parish of Banjska; 5) On the parish of Soanica. FROM THE REGENCY OF NOVI PAZAR 6) On the parish of Sopoani; 7) On the parish of Dobrinja. Other data will be forwar