Holy Synod: Kosovo Serbia’s most precious part

"The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has condemned Ahtisaari’s Kosovo status proposal".

Strange! The Serbian Orthodox Church never condemned Milosevic’s, Sheshelj, Mladic for atrocities perpetrated against other nations in Croatia, Bosna, Kosova !!!

my respect to b92. you are really unbias, and neutral. i wonder how did orthodox church react when the albanians were slaughtred, if they reacted at all.

Too bad Serbia's most precious part was never developed after 1912. No universities were built there, the seminaries remained in Belgrade and Sremski Karlovci, and no government plans for improving the lives of all the people there were really considered. One of the criticisms I have of Serbia's fascination over Kosovo is that they just seem to want the land, but never do anything with it. The state of underdevelopment only further exacerbated tensions between Serb and non-Serb communities, which was carried through into the Tito era. Crying over something one not only never really controlled, nor gave much thought into directly developing seems more than problematic.

Addendum: Jarina again I feel the need to inform you that Patriarch Pavle, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, repeatedly condemned Milosevic's regime and supported the student movements in the late 1990s to overthrow the regime.

once again, jarina disqualifies herself with such a non-serious comment... instead of just doing a little bit of reseach...

I'm confused Mike, how then did university of Pristina get there if no universities were built there? In fact Kosovo was basically a financial black hole for both Serbia and SFRJ. Money was poured into it from all 6 republics and it was squandered on foolish things by the Albanian leadership. I remember in the 70's the Albanains used an enormous sum of money to build some kind of statue of some Albanain hero in the library rather than putting the money to good use.

Mike and Jarina are right.

Kosovo would have been much better off under Enver Hoxa.

Tourists would be flocking to see thousands of pill-boxes and visit the quaint old rural town of Priština, and of course, would have had the Great Hoxa to thank for it all. Think of living under the glorious dictatorship with only China as an ally, having broken relations with the SFRY and the Soviet Union and a host of other states.

The great Hoxa would have poured ten times the resources into Kosovo than Tito would have done and the rest of Albanian would gratefully donated a good 10% of their wages for their Kosovo bretheren.

Yes, the albanians had a really tough deal in the SFRY.

The university in Pristina was built, if I'm not mistaken, in the early 1960s. My point is that Serbia regained Kosovo in 1912, and between then and Tito, the state didn't do anything to build up the area - either for Albanians or Serbs. And yes, you are correct about the failed policies of FADURK. However, I also believe that government mismanagement led to large sums of FADURK aid to be squandered, not to mention worker self-management programs that thrived in Slovenia, Croatia, and Vojvodina, to be largely absent in Kosovo.

Too little, too late to «prevent UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari in his dangerous intention!» Patriarch Pavle should have awakened in 1990 (?) when Milosevic removed Kosovo's autonomous status and started to assassinate Albanians! I know well that the Orthodox Church sided with the serbian war criminals and not their victims! This also is a shame!

Mike,

Why do you focus just on Serbia? After all, it was at the 1878 Congress of Berlin that the European powers defined the borders of the current Albania as a way of keeping the expansion of the Russian empire into the Balkans at bay and left quite a few albanians outside said border.

Your beef should be with Europe.

What monies do you think should have been spent on Kosovo from 1912 to 1945 then? Where do you think this money should have come from? Serbia was like any other state. The captial/metropolis produces and
spends the lion share, the country always comes last. This is absolutely nothing new.

Are you trying to say that Serbia should have treated the kosovo albanians specially? That would have made everyboy else very jealous.

As we are on the point of 1912, remember that Serbia fought a war of independence with the help of Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro against the Ottomans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Balkan_War) and again in 1913 against the Bulgarians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Balkan_War
So, where does the money come from?

Serbia was decimated in the First World War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Campaign_%28World_War_I%29)
"Serbia had suffered enormous casualties during the war. The Serbian First Army had been decimated towards the end of the war, falling from about 420,000 [4] at its peak to about 100,000 at the moment of liberation. The Kingdom of Serbia lost 1.3 million inhabitants[verification needed] during the war[5]- (both army and civilian losses)- which represented 33% of its overall population and 60% [6] of its male population- a demographic disaster whose effects are still evident today. More specifically, Serbia lost 370,000 soldiers, or 26 percent, of all mobilized manpower (for comparison: France 16.8; Germany 15.4; Russia 11.5; Italy 10.3 percent). In addition, Serbia suffered 1,100,000 civilian casualties during the war, amounting to more than 1/4 of all inhabitants of pre-war Serbia. In the end of the war there were 114,000 disabled soldiers and 500,000 orphaned children.,--cit. Serbian History : Dusko M.Kovacevic, Dejan Mikavica, Branko Beslin, Biljana Simunovic-Beslin)"

So, what resources was Serbia supposed to put into Kosovo?

From where?

I would be really interested to read your response. Cheers.

To conserned:

Patriarch Pavle he and the Orthodox Church they are promoters of Serb nationalism and Greater Serbia.

Some facts:

Patriarch Pavle he and the Orthodox Church with Radovan Karadžić, rejected the Vance-Owen peace plan, and even joined Karadžić in saying that there had been no rapes or rape camps conducted by Serbs during the war on Bosnian women, and even accused Bosnian Muslims and Croats of the same thing (this was later found to be wrong.)

He support the unrecognized breakaway Serb republic in Croatia Krajina. When a swift Croatian offensive put the western Slavonia region back in Croatian control, he urgently telephoned Slobodan Milošević, asking if he will defend Serbia's "brethren in need."

Several months later on July 31, he traveled to the Krajina capital Knin with Ratko Mladić (currently indicted for war crimes and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal), to assure the rebel Serbs of military and religious support.

Patriarch Pavle had joined many nationalists in urging Belgrade not to give up Karadžić and Mladić, who have been indicted for war crimes, to the ICTY.

Dear friends The Serbian Orthodox Church has considerable influence in Serbia and has generally given tacit support to the Serbian politicians (Karadžić, Mladic, Arkan Sheshelj, Miloshevic, Koshtunica and 2003 Nikolic to the most “Serbian democrat’s”).

On 23 March 1999, the Holy Synod warned the international community that Nato bombs would not end fighting between Serbs and “Terrorist” ethnic Albanians in Kosova.

Year 2000 The synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has made an unprecedented call for the resignation of Slobodan Milosevic for loosing “Holy Serbian land Kosova”. (not for killing Albanian’s people but for loosing Kosova).

For more facts about Serbian Orthodox Church, dear friends you have to look B92 archive, Politika archive, Beta archive, Panorama (ex-Rilindja) archive.

Shameless, indeed! Let me remind all that in the last '80 the Serbian Church brought Princ Lazar'r relics through Serbia and Kosovo, urging the Serbs to be ready to fight, as he did 600 yrs. ago, and to be ready to die, like him, for Kosovo. When they condemned Milosevic, Milosevic was clearly a loser to the eyes of all and was harming Serbia. The Serbian Church simply disqualifies for being taken seriously. It has to examine its postion in the whole event, before daring to talk about the future.
Last, smb. please explain me, to what extent is Serbia a secular state today?

I never said Kosovo would have been better off under Hoxha. If anything, Hoxha would have ordered all monasteries to be demolished. Thank God Kosovo remained part of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Yet the fact remains that Kosovo was never properly invested in, and what resources were available were jealously guarded by Rankovic's cadres prior to 1966 and then again under Milosevic after 1987.

It is imperative that freedom of religion not be infringed upon regardless of a territory's political status and that monuments and churches be accorded respect and sanctity.

RE: Albanian Extremists Abuses-March 17, 2004

Even if all the alleged charges of political compliance of the Serbian Holy Synod of the Orthodox Churches provides no justification for this:

Name Place Type Foundation date Magnitude of destruction Comment
St. Cyril and Methodius Prizren Seminary 19th c. burned, destroyed UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
Bishop's residence Prizren Residence burned, dynamited UNMIK/KFOR Report - March 18: Archbishop seat, Archangel Monastery, an Orthodox Church and Orthodox Seminary set on fire & destroyed
Christ the Savior Prizren Church 1330 burned UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
Holy Archangels Prizren Monastery 1343-1352 burned UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
Holy Virgin of Ljevis Prizren Church 9-11th c./ 1306 / frescoes from 12th c. burned inside UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
St. George Prizren Church 16th c. burned inside Runjevac church; UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
St. Nicholas Prizren Church 1331 burned Tutic's church; UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
St. George Cathedral Prizren Church 1856 burned, desecrated and mined UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire.
St. Kyriake (Sunday) Prizren, Potkaljaja Church 14th c, reconstructed later burned March 17 - whole Serbian part of town burned and destroyed
St. Panteleimon Prizren, Potkaljaja Church 14th c, reconstructed later burned March 17 - whole Serbian part of town burned and destroyed
Sts. Cosmas and Damian (Unmercenary Physicians) Prizren, Potkaljaja Church 14th c, reconstructed later burned March 17 - whole Serbian part of town burned and destroyed
St. Kyriake (Sunday) Prizren, Zivinjane Church mined UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 19 - Explosion completely destroys old Orthodox Church near Zivinjane village)
St. Kyriake (Sunday) Orahovac, Brnjaca Church 1852 burned, destroyed (UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 18 - Orthodox Church set on fire & destroyed in Brnjaca village)
Holy Virgin Djakovica Church 16-19th c burned, razed to the ground
Holy Trinity Cathedral Djakovica Church mined, debris removed UNMIK/KFOR Report March 18 - Rioters remove debris of destroyed Orthodox Church with trucks & trailers Approx 5,000 K-Albanians participate.
St. Lazarus Djakovica, Piskote Church destroyed, only floor remains The church which was was only looted now is completely destroyed with only its floor remaining. Several tombs were opened and the bones of the deceased scattered.
St. Elias Djakovica, Bistrazin Church completely destroyed Church was vandalized inside in 1999 but stood intact until March 17-19, when it was mined and blown up.
Devic (St. Ioanichius) Srbica Monastery 15th c. burned to ground Tomb of St. Ioanichius of Devic opened and desecrated. Fire was burned in the tomb of the Saint.
St. John the Baptist Pec Church burned
Most Holy Mother of God Pec, Belo Polje Church burned, desecrated inside
St. John the Baptist Pec, Pecka Banja Church burned
St. Uros the Emperor Urosevac Church 14th c. hand granades, burned UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 17 - 3 hand grenades thrown at Serbian Orthodox church - church set on fire, at least 19 KFOR soldiers and policemen wounded defending the church, destroyed city cemetery;
UNMIK/KFOR Report March 18 - 1,500 K-Albanians rampage - burn Orthodox Church & up to 5 K-Serb houses in townK-Albanian crowd attempts to set Orthodox Church on fire in K-Serb village of Talinovce Church was set to fire - 5 K-Albanian males arrested
St. Eliah Urosevac, Nekodim Church destroyed Destroyed with cemetery
St. Peter and Paul Urosevac, Talinovac Church destroyed Destroyed with cemetery
Most Holy Mother of God Urosevac, Sovtovic Church destroyed Destroyed with cemetery
Donja Slapasnica Kamenica, Donja Slapasnica Church stoned Under investigation
St. Archangel Michael Stimlje Church 1920 burned
St. Nicholas Pristina Church 19th c burned UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 18 - Rioters attack Old Orthodox Church in Taslixhe - the church burned to the ground with the parish home and all church archives
St. Nicholas Kosovo Polje Church 1940 burned inside, desecrated
St. Katherine Kosovo Polje, Bresje Church 19th c. vandalized inside
St. Eliah Vucitrn Church 19th c. burned
Church in Poluzje Vucitrn, Poluzje Church burned
St. Archangel Michael Obilic Church new burned inside
St. Sava Kosovska Mitrovica South Church burned twice UNMIK/KFOR Report - March 18: Molotov cocktails thrown into perimeter of KFOR-guarded Orthodox Church in South Mitrovica. Church & several neighboring houses set on fire.
St. Elian Podujevo Church 1929 destroyed UNMIK/KFOR Report - March 18 Orthodox Church set on fire. Czech officer confirmed that coffins were dug up and bones of dead scattered.
St. Peter and Paul Istok Church explosions
Church in Baja Istok, Baja Church explosions
Church in Vitina Vitina Church granades, burned (according to UNMIK/KFOR Report: 4 K-Serbian houses set on fire & Orthodox Church badly damaged)
Decani Monastery 1327-1335 attacked by mortar Monastery was attacked by 6 mortar grenades on March 17, around 22.00. No damage was made to the holy site (confirmed by KFOR and monks of the monastery)

I see that Konstantin Gregovic has brought some names of some orthodox churches that were burned during the march 2004. I condemn the act of burning the churches because they are part of the Country named Kosova. Therefore, since they are part of the country named Kosova, the kosovar government put millions of euros to built those churches again.
But, if i brought here the names of all the catholic churches and the muslim mosques that were destroyed in Croatia, Bosnia and KOsova, then B92 would have to open a special page because this simple comment are would not fit all of those churches and mosques burned by Serbian criminal military.
FACTS, the kosovar government condemned the burning of churches, paid for them to be rebuilt and gave a special status to the orthodox church.
FACT : In the other side, the serbian government didnt even care to apologize for all the crimes and all the catholic churches and the muslim mosques that were burned during the war.
When you compare these two to what it comes?
I bet every person living in the world of reality can understand that the kosovar side has done all the neccesary steps to make sure that the burned churches must be rebuilt, while the serbian leaders didnt even do the simplest thing to apologize. This is really sad...

Religion should be a personal thing. Religion should not be used by the government for propaganda against another country.
The kosovar albanians never used catholic churches or muslim mosques to wage hate against the serbs.
While unfortunately the serbs used the orthodox priests to bless the soldiers who would go and kill children and other innocent victims. And this is PROVEN even by videos, its a living fact that the orthodox serb priests blessed the criminals before they would go and kill innocent people.
I think what the serb church should do is to try to improve its own image first of all in front of the world.
THe whole world knows it for fact that the orthodox church of serbia had a really big influence in crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and KOsova. The orthodox church of Serbia can not improve Serbia's image without improving its own image first.
I have nothing against the orthodox church of serbia, nothing against Patriarch Pavle or Artemije, but if Artemije goes around the world and accuses the albanians of being terrorists, then how do you expect us the albanians to live under the rule of serbs????
Please serbs, get back to reality, I think you lived enough in the world of myths, its time for you to wake up.

Mike is a moderate with pro-Serbian leanings. He openly condemns actions the Serbian leadership took that he disagrees with. In fact, I strongly agree with him that Serbia should have placed more importance on Kosovo in the past, and that we made many mistakes in how we handled it. As a Serbian-American, I almost always agree with Mike’s comments 100%. More people need to look at the situation objectively and admit the mistakes made by their own side in these issues. Admitting we made mistakes is not the same thing as saying all Serbs are evil, or that we weren’t victims at times in the various conflicts. We all need to adopt an objective view of things if the region is ever to see peace.

Certain areas of Kosovo represent the foundation of our civilization. Its not who was there first, or even that its entirely religious in nature. I am truly sorry for the crimes committed against the Albanians, but to punish Serbs the world over by denying the very foundation of our society even existed and calling these feelings a myth is insulting to our beliefs. The vast majority of Serbs the world over did not support the murder of innocent civilians, yet we are all effected by these decisions.

“7.3 The SOC shall be the sole owner of its property in Kosovo, with exclusive discretion over the management of its property and access to its premises, as set forth in Annex V of this Settlement. “

Hopefully the international community is serious about this clause in the proposal, however practically speaking, we would need to retain full control over the road systems that link all our Churches together in order to guarantee that we have full and free access. However, I do not think this clause is something the International Community really thought about and we will see how this issue plays out in the negotiations.

Let us work together to find a solution that guarantee’s the interests of Serbia and protects our culture, yet gives freedom to Albanians everywhere. Partition has the possibility of granting this. Do not abandon the wishes of Albanians outside of Kosovo just for the short terms goals of a minority of Albanians.

Mike, that's a lot of 'shoulds'. I wouldn't separate Kosovo from Macedonia nor Montenegro who are equally as poor. You still don't define 'properly' or tell us where the money should have come from.

Afrim,

The EU/UN etc. provided rebuilding funds. Capitals do not a FACT make. There's a lot of supposition in the rest of your claims too.

As for blessing soldiers, this is quite common in america, the UK etc. etc.

we serbians are principle loving people thats why our ancestors resisted the islamization by the ottoman empire. we defended our religion even though it equated to hardships and death,. that's the reason why we couldn't let go of this heartland>>>excerpt>>>As the Islamization process was taking place, it took root better in some areas, among certain classes and in certain environments. For example, the process was much faster in Albanian and Bosnian areas than in the region of Serbia's former state. Accepting Islam in Albanian regions was a less painful process, because the Albanians did not have an autocephalous Church, and their Christianity, whether Byzantine or Latin, had not become as integral in Albanian life and remained either Greek or Italian. And in Bosnia the widely spread Bogomil sect did not hold Orthodox Christianity in high esteem.

Wealth and material position were also important factors that entered into the decision process at times of conversion. Town dwellers, landowners, and military oriented personalities had to think in terms of Islam, if they wanted to preserve what they had and to take part in new accumulation. Those with professional skills - artisans, doctors, scholars, and administrators - could not expect to fare well if they stuck to their old faith. This, however, was not true of the common people and the peasants.

It is precisely the Serbian orthodox church who has been glorifying ethnic hatred for some decades if not centuries. But WHY? Why making such grave allegations against other Christians, NATO and again against K-Albanians. This Man Patriarch Pavle is out of his mind instead of promoting peace he goes one and breed hate . His reactions reflects his very personality, this response is not addressed to this article alone it is a response to his absurd anti-independence propaganda.

I have said so many time before and would like to reiterate again that the K Albanian since the Serb propaganda devour labelling K-Albanians as Muslims are far more modern and westernised than the Serbian orthodox civilisation.

I am sure that Kosovars will protect the Kosova’s heritage. Suggestions that the churches in Kosovo should serve only Serbs are absolutely preposterous.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty

"The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has condemned Ahtisaari’s Kosovo status proposal".

Strange! The Serbian Orthodox Church never condemned Milosevic’s, Sheshelj, Mladic for atrocities perpetrated against other nations in Croatia, Bosna, Kosova !!!

my respect to b92. you are really unbias, and neutral. i wonder how did orthodox church react when the albanians were slaughtred, if they reacted at all.

Too bad Serbia's most precious part was never developed after 1912. No universities were built there, the seminaries remained in Belgrade and Sremski Karlovci, and no government plans for improving the lives of all the people there were really considered. One of the criticisms I have of Serbia's fascination over Kosovo is that they just seem to want the land, but never do anything with it. The state of underdevelopment only further exacerbated tensions between Serb and non-Serb communities, which was carried through into the Tito era. Crying over something one not only never really controlled, nor gave much thought into directly developing seems more than problematic.

Addendum: Jarina again I feel the need to inform you that Patriarch Pavle, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, repeatedly condemned Milosevic's regime and supported the student movements in the late 1990s to overthrow the regime.

once again, jarina disqualifies herself with such a non-serious comment... instead of just doing a little bit of reseach...

I'm confused Mike, how then did university of Pristina get there if no universities were built there? In fact Kosovo was basically a financial black hole for both Serbia and SFRJ. Money was poured into it from all 6 republics and it was squandered on foolish things by the Albanian leadership. I remember in the 70's the Albanains used an enormous sum of money to build some kind of statue of some Albanain hero in the library rather than putting the money to good use.

Mike and Jarina are right.

Kosovo would have been much better off under Enver Hoxa.

Tourists would be flocking to see thousands of pill-boxes and visit the quaint old rural town of Priština, and of course, would have had the Great Hoxa to thank for it all. Think of living under the glorious dictatorship with only China as an ally, having broken relations with the SFRY and the Soviet Union and a host of other states.

The great Hoxa would have poured ten times the resources into Kosovo than Tito would have done and the rest of Albanian would gratefully donated a good 10% of their wages for their Kosovo bretheren.

Yes, the albanians had a really tough deal in the SFRY.

The university in Pristina was built, if I'm not mistaken, in the early 1960s. My point is that Serbia regained Kosovo in 1912, and between then and Tito, the state didn't do anything to build up the area - either for Albanians or Serbs. And yes, you are correct about the failed policies of FADURK. However, I also believe that government mismanagement led to large sums of FADURK aid to be squandered, not to mention worker self-management programs that thrived in Slovenia, Croatia, and Vojvodina, to be largely absent in Kosovo.

Too little, too late to «prevent UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari in his dangerous intention!» Patriarch Pavle should have awakened in 1990 (?) when Milosevic removed Kosovo's autonomous status and started to assassinate Albanians! I know well that the Orthodox Church sided with the serbian war criminals and not their victims! This also is a shame!

Mike,

Why do you focus just on Serbia? After all, it was at the 1878 Congress of Berlin that the European powers defined the borders of the current Albania as a way of keeping the expansion of the Russian empire into the Balkans at bay and left quite a few albanians outside said border.

Your beef should be with Europe.

What monies do you think should have been spent on Kosovo from 1912 to 1945 then? Where do you think this money should have come from? Serbia was like any other state. The captial/metropolis produces and
spends the lion share, the country always comes last. This is absolutely nothing new.

Are you trying to say that Serbia should have treated the kosovo albanians specially? That would have made everyboy else very jealous.

As we are on the point of 1912, remember that Serbia fought a war of independence with the help of Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro against the Ottomans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Balkan_War) and again in 1913 against the Bulgarians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Balkan_War
So, where does the money come from?

Serbia was decimated in the First World War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Campaign_%28World_War_I%29)
"Serbia had suffered enormous casualties during the war. The Serbian First Army had been decimated towards the end of the war, falling from about 420,000 [4] at its peak to about 100,000 at the moment of liberation. The Kingdom of Serbia lost 1.3 million inhabitants[verification needed] during the war[5]- (both army and civilian losses)- which represented 33% of its overall population and 60% [6] of its male population- a demographic disaster whose effects are still evident today. More specifically, Serbia lost 370,000 soldiers, or 26 percent, of all mobilized manpower (for comparison: France 16.8; Germany 15.4; Russia 11.5; Italy 10.3 percent). In addition, Serbia suffered 1,100,000 civilian casualties during the war, amounting to more than 1/4 of all inhabitants of pre-war Serbia. In the end of the war there were 114,000 disabled soldiers and 500,000 orphaned children.,--cit. Serbian History : Dusko M.Kovacevic, Dejan Mikavica, Branko Beslin, Biljana Simunovic-Beslin)"

So, what resources was Serbia supposed to put into Kosovo?

From where?

I would be really interested to read your response. Cheers.

To conserned:

Patriarch Pavle he and the Orthodox Church they are promoters of Serb nationalism and Greater Serbia.

Some facts:

Patriarch Pavle he and the Orthodox Church with Radovan Karadžić, rejected the Vance-Owen peace plan, and even joined Karadžić in saying that there had been no rapes or rape camps conducted by Serbs during the war on Bosnian women, and even accused Bosnian Muslims and Croats of the same thing (this was later found to be wrong.)

He support the unrecognized breakaway Serb republic in Croatia Krajina. When a swift Croatian offensive put the western Slavonia region back in Croatian control, he urgently telephoned Slobodan Milošević, asking if he will defend Serbia's "brethren in need."

Several months later on July 31, he traveled to the Krajina capital Knin with Ratko Mladić (currently indicted for war crimes and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal), to assure the rebel Serbs of military and religious support.

Patriarch Pavle had joined many nationalists in urging Belgrade not to give up Karadžić and Mladić, who have been indicted for war crimes, to the ICTY.

Dear friends The Serbian Orthodox Church has considerable influence in Serbia and has generally given tacit support to the Serbian politicians (Karadžić, Mladic, Arkan Sheshelj, Miloshevic, Koshtunica and 2003 Nikolic to the most “Serbian democrat’s”).

On 23 March 1999, the Holy Synod warned the international community that Nato bombs would not end fighting between Serbs and “Terrorist” ethnic Albanians in Kosova.

Year 2000 The synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has made an unprecedented call for the resignation of Slobodan Milosevic for loosing “Holy Serbian land Kosova”. (not for killing Albanian’s people but for loosing Kosova).

For more facts about Serbian Orthodox Church, dear friends you have to look B92 archive, Politika archive, Beta archive, Panorama (ex-Rilindja) archive.

Shameless, indeed! Let me remind all that in the last '80 the Serbian Church brought Princ Lazar'r relics through Serbia and Kosovo, urging the Serbs to be ready to fight, as he did 600 yrs. ago, and to be ready to die, like him, for Kosovo. When they condemned Milosevic, Milosevic was clearly a loser to the eyes of all and was harming Serbia. The Serbian Church simply disqualifies for being taken seriously. It has to examine its postion in the whole event, before daring to talk about the future.
Last, smb. please explain me, to what extent is Serbia a secular state today?

I never said Kosovo would have been better off under Hoxha. If anything, Hoxha would have ordered all monasteries to be demolished. Thank God Kosovo remained part of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Yet the fact remains that Kosovo was never properly invested in, and what resources were available were jealously guarded by Rankovic's cadres prior to 1966 and then again under Milosevic after 1987.

It is imperative that freedom of religion not be infringed upon regardless of a territory's political status and that monuments and churches be accorded respect and sanctity.

RE: Albanian Extremists Abuses-March 17, 2004

Even if all the alleged charges of political compliance of the Serbian Holy Synod of the Orthodox Churches provides no justification for this:

Name Place Type Foundation date Magnitude of destruction Comment
St. Cyril and Methodius Prizren Seminary 19th c. burned, destroyed UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
Bishop's residence Prizren Residence burned, dynamited UNMIK/KFOR Report - March 18: Archbishop seat, Archangel Monastery, an Orthodox Church and Orthodox Seminary set on fire & destroyed
Christ the Savior Prizren Church 1330 burned UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
Holy Archangels Prizren Monastery 1343-1352 burned UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
Holy Virgin of Ljevis Prizren Church 9-11th c./ 1306 / frescoes from 12th c. burned inside UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
St. George Prizren Church 16th c. burned inside Runjevac church; UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
St. Nicholas Prizren Church 1331 burned Tutic's church; UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
St. George Cathedral Prizren Church 1856 burned, desecrated and mined UNMIK/KFOR Report March 17 - Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire.
St. Kyriake (Sunday) Prizren, Potkaljaja Church 14th c, reconstructed later burned March 17 - whole Serbian part of town burned and destroyed
St. Panteleimon Prizren, Potkaljaja Church 14th c, reconstructed later burned March 17 - whole Serbian part of town burned and destroyed
Sts. Cosmas and Damian (Unmercenary Physicians) Prizren, Potkaljaja Church 14th c, reconstructed later burned March 17 - whole Serbian part of town burned and destroyed
St. Kyriake (Sunday) Prizren, Zivinjane Church mined UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 19 - Explosion completely destroys old Orthodox Church near Zivinjane village)
St. Kyriake (Sunday) Orahovac, Brnjaca Church 1852 burned, destroyed (UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 18 - Orthodox Church set on fire & destroyed in Brnjaca village)
Holy Virgin Djakovica Church 16-19th c burned, razed to the ground
Holy Trinity Cathedral Djakovica Church mined, debris removed UNMIK/KFOR Report March 18 - Rioters remove debris of destroyed Orthodox Church with trucks & trailers Approx 5,000 K-Albanians participate.
St. Lazarus Djakovica, Piskote Church destroyed, only floor remains The church which was was only looted now is completely destroyed with only its floor remaining. Several tombs were opened and the bones of the deceased scattered.
St. Elias Djakovica, Bistrazin Church completely destroyed Church was vandalized inside in 1999 but stood intact until March 17-19, when it was mined and blown up.
Devic (St. Ioanichius) Srbica Monastery 15th c. burned to ground Tomb of St. Ioanichius of Devic opened and desecrated. Fire was burned in the tomb of the Saint.
St. John the Baptist Pec Church burned
Most Holy Mother of God Pec, Belo Polje Church burned, desecrated inside
St. John the Baptist Pec, Pecka Banja Church burned
St. Uros the Emperor Urosevac Church 14th c. hand granades, burned UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 17 - 3 hand grenades thrown at Serbian Orthodox church - church set on fire, at least 19 KFOR soldiers and policemen wounded defending the church, destroyed city cemetery;
UNMIK/KFOR Report March 18 - 1,500 K-Albanians rampage - burn Orthodox Church & up to 5 K-Serb houses in townK-Albanian crowd attempts to set Orthodox Church on fire in K-Serb village of Talinovce Church was set to fire - 5 K-Albanian males arrested
St. Eliah Urosevac, Nekodim Church destroyed Destroyed with cemetery
St. Peter and Paul Urosevac, Talinovac Church destroyed Destroyed with cemetery
Most Holy Mother of God Urosevac, Sovtovic Church destroyed Destroyed with cemetery
Donja Slapasnica Kamenica, Donja Slapasnica Church stoned Under investigation
St. Archangel Michael Stimlje Church 1920 burned
St. Nicholas Pristina Church 19th c burned UNMIK/KFOR Report: March 18 - Rioters attack Old Orthodox Church in Taslixhe - the church burned to the ground with the parish home and all church archives
St. Nicholas Kosovo Polje Church 1940 burned inside, desecrated
St. Katherine Kosovo Polje, Bresje Church 19th c. vandalized inside
St. Eliah Vucitrn Church 19th c. burned
Church in Poluzje Vucitrn, Poluzje Church burned
St. Archangel Michael Obilic Church new burned inside
St. Sava Kosovska Mitrovica South Church burned twice UNMIK/KFOR Report - March 18: Molotov cocktails thrown into perimeter of KFOR-guarded Orthodox Church in South Mitrovica. Church & several neighboring houses set on fire.
St. Elian Podujevo Church 1929 destroyed UNMIK/KFOR Report - March 18 Orthodox Church set on fire. Czech officer confirmed that coffins were dug up and bones of dead scattered.
St. Peter and Paul Istok Church explosions
Church in Baja Istok, Baja Church explosions
Church in Vitina Vitina Church granades, burned (according to UNMIK/KFOR Report: 4 K-Serbian houses set on fire & Orthodox Church badly damaged)
Decani Monastery 1327-1335 attacked by mortar Monastery was attacked by 6 mortar grenades on March 17, around 22.00. No damage was made to the holy site (confirmed by KFOR and monks of the monastery)

I see that Konstantin Gregovic has brought some names of some orthodox churches that were burned during the march 2004. I condemn the act of burning the churches because they are part of the Country named Kosova. Therefore, since they are part of the country named Kosova, the kosovar government put millions of euros to built those churches again.
But, if i brought here the names of all the catholic churches and the muslim mosques that were destroyed in Croatia, Bosnia and KOsova, then B92 would have to open a special page because this simple comment are would not fit all of those churches and mosques burned by Serbian criminal military.
FACTS, the kosovar government condemned the burning of churches, paid for them to be rebuilt and gave a special status to the orthodox church.
FACT : In the other side, the serbian government didnt even care to apologize for all the crimes and all the catholic churches and the muslim mosques that were burned during the war.
When you compare these two to what it comes?
I bet every person living in the world of reality can understand that the kosovar side has done all the neccesary steps to make sure that the burned churches must be rebuilt, while the serbian leaders didnt even do the simplest thing to apologize. This is really sad...

Religion should be a personal thing. Religion should not be used by the government for propaganda against another country.
The kosovar albanians never used catholic churches or muslim mosques to wage hate against the serbs.
While unfortunately the serbs used the orthodox priests to bless the soldiers who would go and kill children and other innocent victims. And this is PROVEN even by videos, its a living fact that the orthodox serb priests blessed the criminals before they would go and kill innocent people.
I think what the serb church should do is to try to improve its own image first of all in front of the world.
THe whole world knows it for fact that the orthodox church of serbia had a really big influence in crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and KOsova. The orthodox church of Serbia can not improve Serbia's image without improving its own image first.
I have nothing against the orthodox church of serbia, nothing against Patriarch Pavle or Artemije, but if Artemije goes around the world and accuses the albanians of being terrorists, then how do you expect us the albanians to live under the rule of serbs????
Please serbs, get back to reality, I think you lived enough in the world of myths, its time for you to wake up.

Mike is a moderate with pro-Serbian leanings. He openly condemns actions the Serbian leadership took that he disagrees with. In fact, I strongly agree with him that Serbia should have placed more importance on Kosovo in the past, and that we made many mistakes in how we handled it. As a Serbian-American, I almost always agree with Mike’s comments 100%. More people need to look at the situation objectively and admit the mistakes made by their own side in these issues. Admitting we made mistakes is not the same thing as saying all Serbs are evil, or that we weren’t victims at times in the various conflicts. We all need to adopt an objective view of things if the region is ever to see peace.

Certain areas of Kosovo represent the foundation of our civilization. Its not who was there first, or even that its entirely religious in nature. I am truly sorry for the crimes committed against the Albanians, but to punish Serbs the world over by denying the very foundation of our society even existed and calling these feelings a myth is insulting to our beliefs. The vast majority of Serbs the world over did not support the murder of innocent civilians, yet we are all effected by these decisions.

“7.3 The SOC shall be the sole owner of its property in Kosovo, with exclusive discretion over the management of its property and access to its premises, as set forth in Annex V of this Settlement. “

Hopefully the international community is serious about this clause in the proposal, however practically speaking, we would need to retain full control over the road systems that link all our Churches together in order to guarantee that we have full and free access. However, I do not think this clause is something the International Community really thought about and we will see how this issue plays out in the negotiations.

Let us work together to find a solution that guarantee’s the interests of Serbia and protects our culture, yet gives freedom to Albanians everywhere. Partition has the possibility of granting this. Do not abandon the wishes of Albanians outside of Kosovo just for the short terms goals of a minority of Albanians.

Mike, that's a lot of 'shoulds'. I wouldn't separate Kosovo from Macedonia nor Montenegro who are equally as poor. You still don't define 'properly' or tell us where the money should have come from.

Afrim,

The EU/UN etc. provided rebuilding funds. Capitals do not a FACT make. There's a lot of supposition in the rest of your claims too.

As for blessing soldiers, this is quite common in america, the UK etc. etc.

we serbians are principle loving people thats why our ancestors resisted the islamization by the ottoman empire. we defended our religion even though it equated to hardships and death,. that's the reason why we couldn't let go of this heartland>>>excerpt>>>As the Islamization process was taking place, it took root better in some areas, among certain classes and in certain environments. For example, the process was much faster in Albanian and Bosnian areas than in the region of Serbia's former state. Accepting Islam in Albanian regions was a less painful process, because the Albanians did not have an autocephalous Church, and their Christianity, whether Byzantine or Latin, had not become as integral in Albanian life and remained either Greek or Italian. And in Bosnia the widely spread Bogomil sect did not hold Orthodox Christianity in high esteem.

Wealth and material position were also important factors that entered into the decision process at times of conversion. Town dwellers, landowners, and military oriented personalities had to think in terms of Islam, if they wanted to preserve what they had and to take part in new accumulation. Those with professional skills - artisans, doctors, scholars, and administrators - could not expect to fare well if they stuck to their old faith. This, however, was not true of the common people and the peasants.

It is precisely the Serbian orthodox church who has been glorifying ethnic hatred for some decades if not centuries. But WHY? Why making such grave allegations against other Christians, NATO and again against K-Albanians. This Man Patriarch Pavle is out of his mind instead of promoting peace he goes one and breed hate . His reactions reflects his very personality, this response is not addressed to this article alone it is a response to his absurd anti-independence propaganda.

I have said so many time before and would like to reiterate again that the K Albanian since the Serb propaganda devour labelling K-Albanians as Muslims are far more modern and westernised than the Serbian orthodox civilisation.

I am sure that Kosovars will protect the Kosova’s heritage. Suggestions that the churches in Kosovo should serve only Serbs are absolutely preposterous.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty