Priština official declares he'll "demolish church"

This church has absolutly nothing to do with serb heritage in Kosovo. Construction was started during the Milosevic years of terror in Kosovo, and it was intended to be a sign of serbian rule over Kosovo. It is locagted on the University of Pristina campus, and actually only has its outside walls finished, it is a half finished ruin, and keeping in mind what Milosevic wanted to use it for, any serb who questions Serbia's recent bloody history should agree that this monument of terror and dominance should be removed.

Will this guy 'demolish' Thaci's Villa, too? As far as I know, it has been build in an area which was not intended for building houses.

That church was built in central Pristina in the 90s as an expression of Serbian political dominance. It's a symbol of opression. It's never been a church. It's never been finished. It's not a part of the Serbian cultural church heritage in the region.

Rather than tearing it down, it would be better to turn it into a museum of Serbian oppression during the late 80s and 90s. Might as well use it for something. It could be a tourist attraction.

whoever has seen that church would want it demolished, its a horrible design, built in the worst possible location. he should not stop there however, there's an awful lot of buildings in Pristhina that need demolishing, the Boro-Ramiz complex being one of them, and that god awful football stadium too

(Danilo, 22 April 2014 16:02)

People who never lived in Serbia are probably shocked when they read comments from Danilo (assuming he really is/lives in Serbia and isn't just posing). But the reason why I believe him is because such self hatred is unfortunately present in Serbia.

There was no "Serbian oppression". Before the war, 50, 000 Serbs lived in in Pristina. How did that community not have a right to build a Church for their religious practices, on their own sovereign land? Albanian militants, for their part were murdering police officers and Albanian officials who were not sympathetic to the KLA. Reacting to this is hardly an act of "oppression".

These fantasies of "Mil-oh-sevich" being this mad man committing genocide have nothing to do with what actually happened in the 90s. Slobo was a scum bag, but not any more/less of a scum bag than Tudjman the neo-nazi, Izetbegovic the radical Islamist or Thaci the organ extractor.

The eparchy said in a statement that it had secured all the necessary paperwork for the construction,

Please, find one civilized country that gives building permit to a church, to build a building on college property???

the K-K-Kosova church burning/seizing brigade is up to their antics here on B92. How morose.

Why can't this pathetic imitation of an "independent country" build something instead of threatening to knock down churches? 6 years and all they can promise is more rubble,and that's all you K-K-Kosova cheerleaders seem to want for your "country"

"... and it has been hinted that the unfinished cathedral of Christ the Savior in Priština would be turned into 'a museum in memory of Kosovo Albanians'"

Makes sense, as an example of Albanian culture and behavior in Kosovo, carved in stone.

In 1989 Milosevic, under the threat of force, dissolved the autonomy of Kosovo. He removed Albanians from civil service and closed Albanian schools and created an aphartheid regime. Don't be so obtuse and pretend that you don't know this happened. If you really don't, then you really should try to learn the first thing about this region you claim to care about.

Maybe it should not be demolished but rather a sign on all 4 corners that say "This is the decaying heart of the Serbian Orthodox Church"

"Why can't this pathetic imitation of an "independent country" build something instead of threatening to knock down churches"

judging from your post, i'd say you have never been to Prishtina. the problem isn't that nothing has been built, the problem is that too much has been built without any due thought. That poor excuse for a church, is a useless piece of construction that serves no purpose, other than to wish one was blind every time one walks past it. that it has been built near the university is also unfortunate. it needs demolishing with a lot of other useless things in Prishtina, but its best to start with that one

@ Ari Gold,

Danilo aka Doot, Danilo Vancouver and Danny Danbridge etc., etc. is some kind of control freak who uses the internet for his social life and human interaction.

He writes (repeatedly and predictably) that he is from Vancouver, Canada and his boss transferred him to Serbia where he now, sitting alone and frustrated, types endlessly about his pitiful miserable life.

His incessant crying on the internet is only useful if one gets really terribly bored and needs some sick bottomless pit of repetition-compulsion.

the K-K-Kosova church burning/seizing brigade is up to their antics here on B92. How morose.

Why can't this pathetic imitation of an "independent country" build something instead of threatening to knock down churches? 6 years and all they can promise is more rubble,and that's all you K-K-Kosova cheerleaders seem to want for your "country"
(marKo, 22 April 2014 19:11)

Two things:

Permission given by Milosevic. He was building crap like that all over the place to show that Serb dominated. It is a symbol of repression.

It is built inside a university campus. That is simply idiotic.

I agree with Danillo. Turn into a museum. Put huge plaques in English describing why Milosevic decided to build it, and put all the belongings, pictures and video loops of all the victims of the war. Not only rebuild it but make it huge. Show the world how Milosevic used religion to kill people, children among them.

"... a huge mosque should be build few meters away."

no it shouldn't

Just curious, Roger7. What does any of that have to do with a half-finished church in Pristina?

Hey Dani repression....what repression?? I think you got that the wrong way round my friend... as usual!!

Dear J, 2 things.

The land that the church is on is private, it does not belong to you, or Danilo or even the Kosovo Assembly, the Parliament of Belgrade, or even the queen of England. If you want to go to court over it, your side will lose another land ownership dispute to the church again.

-- marKo, this is inside the campus of the university. No matter what your church claims, this was not their property until Milosevic gave it to them. The university has been there for a longer time and it was theirs until Milosevic took it away.. It was their property. Milosevic's laws are no longer valid.

If you want to act unilaterally and knock a church down to prove a point about dominance and who is powerful and who is in charge now, how are you different than Milosevic?

-- I didn't suggest to knock the building down. I say keep it and make it a museum.

-- BalkanAnthropologist, I subscribe to a world without religions. You have my agreement to turn any of these objects into museums, libraries, study halls etc. etc. Doesn't matter if they're mosques or churches. It would be a service to all humanity.

There was no "Serbian oppression". Before the war, 50, 000 Serbs lived in in Pristina. How did that community not have a right to build a Church for their religious practices, on their own sovereign land? Albanian militants, for their part were murdering police officers and Albanian officials who were not sympathetic to the KLA. Reacting to this is hardly an act of "oppression".

Ari the church is not issue just the land being built it Belongs to University of Pristina its not so hard to understand. You live in Canada or US if u want to build a church in school grounds u will be sent to jail. Just because its a church does not make it legal, it could be a hospital or anything else it should face the same fate, if so courts order it so.

There is a brand new cathedral build after the war Downtown Pristina no one has issue with it as it was done legally.

[http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g295385-d3569556-Reviews-Mother_Teresa_Cathedral-Pristina.html]

look in photo 7 you will see the orthodox Church next to library , just to let you know the Muslim community also asked to build a Mosque near it and it was denied.

So please stop with pointing a finger and learn the Facts.

Puppet Government in Pristina can not demolish Serbian Orthodox Church.UNSC have lots to say about that.After all UN resolution 1244 still govern Serbian province KOSMET.If that was up to Albanian authority in Pristina there would not be any Serbian Church on territory of KOSMET.No one in entire Europe waging any war against any church except Kosovo Albanians.These people should be caged until they reach necessary maturity so they can live peacefully with rest of the civilized people of Europe.

"...basically need to level most of what I comfortably call the ugliest city in Europe. "

I agree with you, its a truly ugly place. its a testament to the brilliant architectural genius of Yugoslavia though isn't it? However, this levelling that you call for, has to start somewhere and the logical place to start is with that god-awful-incomplete-built-near-the-university church. it just makes sense to demolish something that is not finished and is a far bigger eyesore than even that horrible library just across

"But that would pretty much eliminate the only aesthetically pleasing Turkish monument in the city, so let's just leave things as they are. "

since you seem to draw a parallel between the two, let me tell you, the Sinan Pasha mosque is actually very beautiful, this church on the other hand isn't. if its mosques you think need demolishing based on how ugly they look, i can give you a list, starting with that one that looks like a badly designed rocket just near the airport.

I'm afraid this church won't be demolished. This church was build illegally under Milosevic's dictatorship. In case it's not demolished a huge mosque should be build few meters away.

Oh ya, if that was a muslim mosque, there would be an out rage through out the whole muslim world

My my, take a look at all these cyber Illyrians calling for the destruction of something. In reality, such statements from whoever said it (I'm not interested in hitting the back button to find out which kleptocrat trying to score pre-election points it was) are currently only rhetorical. Yes the church has remained incomplete since the end 1990s and yes there's little to no plans for the church's construction to complete, but if we're going to demolish things in Pristina on account of their usefulness or aethetic pleasure, we basically need to level most of what I comfortably call the ugliest city in Europe.

Or better, a backwater village with a skyline.

Now that everyone's had their opportunity to weigh in their carefully typed useless opinions, the church - as well as a number of other unwanted eyesores in Pristina - will remain in legal limbo until the SPC decides to sell the land to whatever construction firm in Pristina wants to buy it to build the latest gaudy monument to some killed village bumpkin-turned-bare chested KLA superhero.

the Sinan Pasha mosque is actually very beautiful, this church on the other hand isn't. if its mosques you think need demolishing based on how ugly they look, i can give you a list, starting with that one that looks like a badly designed rocket just near the airport.
(Nikolle, 23 April 2014 16:26)

Don't worry. I've no desire to rent a bulldozer for Sinan Pasha. It is a lovely building, and to the Ottomans' credit, it's one of those rare cases where a mosque is built from a church stone by stone. Usually Turks are either lazy or lack any engineering intelligence to build something of their own, and just take over a church by sticking a minaret on the side and gluing a Crescent over where they cut a Cross down. Sinan Pasha at least gives one the impression there was some masonry involved.

As for the church in question in Pristina, I have to admit I'm really no fan of this 1990s era Neo-Byzantine architecture. Since I can't imagine the 40,000+ Serbs who left Pristina to return anytime soon, I can see the dilemma of what to do with potentially prime real estate, but let's not be under any pretense something's going to happen any time soon.

As for airport mosques, I haven't seen the one you mention, but in the spirit of agreeing on architectural WTFs, we can add it to our list of things that need to go.

Dear J, 2 things.

The land that the church is on is private, it does not belong to you, or Danilo or even the Kosovo Assembly, the Parliament of Belgrade, or even the queen of England. If you want to go to court over it, your side will lose another land ownership dispute to the church again.

If you want to act unilaterally and knock a church down to prove a point about dominance and who is powerful and who is in charge now, how are you different than Milosevic?

The same could be said about the Mosques in Kosovo, they are seen my many as a symbol of oppression and breeding grounds for terrorism, a documented and well known fact. Should we rip them down as well? It's this mentality that will get everyone involved inflamed and upset. I'd personally be seeking compensation for the damaged property ,churches etc that we're destroyed by the Albanian Government in Kosovo. It's only fair, they want to rule, you can take responsibility. You can't pick and choose.

Danilo

I like it when you talk rough like this. You are in control just like you like it :)

When NATO falls so will the temporary occupation.

You have about as much chance trying to make friends with wild birds. A strange race.

its a testament to the brilliant architectural genius of Yugoslavia though isn't it?
(Nikolle, 23 April 2014 10:45)

At the risk of moving the conversation away from the incendiary and towards the ironically convergent, yes it is. I can add at least a half dozen building in Belgrade that are in need of severe remaking from when they were built in that architectural Dark Age.

And don't get me started on Skopje.

"Turn into a museum. ... Show the world how Milosevic used religion to kill people, children among them.
(j, 23 April 2014 04:22)"

Well if we're going to play the "use someone else's building to as a monument to your own suffering" game, we might as well extend the gesture to the Sinan Pasha mosque in Prizren: either turn it into a museum commemorating 500 years of Turkish rule over Serbia, or better yet, demolish it and reuse the stones to rebuild the Holy Archangels Monastery from which the stones came.

But that would pretty much eliminate the only aesthetically pleasing Turkish monument in the city, so let's just leave things as they are.

Yet the whole thing would still be funny: a shell of a Serbian church used to document Serbian crimes; a shell of a Turkish/Albanian mosque used to document Turkish/Albanian crimes, all within a shell of a statelet protecting organized crime :)

Danilo why are you ignoring me? Remember collarme?
We can whip these guys into shape together.

He's goig to regret what he said very soon, I assure you for that. And more, he will state to media that he was missinterpreted ;)

citizen from Prishtina

This church has absolutly nothing to do with serb heritage in Kosovo. Construction was started during the Milosevic years of terror in Kosovo, and it was intended to be a sign of serbian rule over Kosovo. It is locagted on the University of Pristina campus, and actually only has its outside walls finished, it is a half finished ruin, and keeping in mind what Milosevic wanted to use it for, any serb who questions Serbia's recent bloody history should agree that this monument of terror and dominance should be removed.

That church was built in central Pristina in the 90s as an expression of Serbian political dominance. It's a symbol of opression. It's never been a church. It's never been finished. It's not a part of the Serbian cultural church heritage in the region.

Rather than tearing it down, it would be better to turn it into a museum of Serbian oppression during the late 80s and 90s. Might as well use it for something. It could be a tourist attraction.

whoever has seen that church would want it demolished, its a horrible design, built in the worst possible location. he should not stop there however, there's an awful lot of buildings in Pristhina that need demolishing, the Boro-Ramiz complex being one of them, and that god awful football stadium too

(Danilo, 22 April 2014 16:02)

People who never lived in Serbia are probably shocked when they read comments from Danilo (assuming he really is/lives in Serbia and isn't just posing). But the reason why I believe him is because such self hatred is unfortunately present in Serbia.

There was no "Serbian oppression". Before the war, 50, 000 Serbs lived in in Pristina. How did that community not have a right to build a Church for their religious practices, on their own sovereign land? Albanian militants, for their part were murdering police officers and Albanian officials who were not sympathetic to the KLA. Reacting to this is hardly an act of "oppression".

These fantasies of "Mil-oh-sevich" being this mad man committing genocide have nothing to do with what actually happened in the 90s. Slobo was a scum bag, but not any more/less of a scum bag than Tudjman the neo-nazi, Izetbegovic the radical Islamist or Thaci the organ extractor.

Will this guy 'demolish' Thaci's Villa, too? As far as I know, it has been build in an area which was not intended for building houses.

The eparchy said in a statement that it had secured all the necessary paperwork for the construction,

Please, find one civilized country that gives building permit to a church, to build a building on college property???

the K-K-Kosova church burning/seizing brigade is up to their antics here on B92. How morose.

Why can't this pathetic imitation of an "independent country" build something instead of threatening to knock down churches? 6 years and all they can promise is more rubble,and that's all you K-K-Kosova cheerleaders seem to want for your "country"

The same could be said about the Mosques in Kosovo, they are seen my many as a symbol of oppression and breeding grounds for terrorism, a documented and well known fact. Should we rip them down as well? It's this mentality that will get everyone involved inflamed and upset. I'd personally be seeking compensation for the damaged property ,churches etc that we're destroyed by the Albanian Government in Kosovo. It's only fair, they want to rule, you can take responsibility. You can't pick and choose.

its a testament to the brilliant architectural genius of Yugoslavia though isn't it?
(Nikolle, 23 April 2014 10:45)

At the risk of moving the conversation away from the incendiary and towards the ironically convergent, yes it is. I can add at least a half dozen building in Belgrade that are in need of severe remaking from when they were built in that architectural Dark Age.

And don't get me started on Skopje.

"Turn into a museum. ... Show the world how Milosevic used religion to kill people, children among them.
(j, 23 April 2014 04:22)"

Well if we're going to play the "use someone else's building to as a monument to your own suffering" game, we might as well extend the gesture to the Sinan Pasha mosque in Prizren: either turn it into a museum commemorating 500 years of Turkish rule over Serbia, or better yet, demolish it and reuse the stones to rebuild the Holy Archangels Monastery from which the stones came.

But that would pretty much eliminate the only aesthetically pleasing Turkish monument in the city, so let's just leave things as they are.

Yet the whole thing would still be funny: a shell of a Serbian church used to document Serbian crimes; a shell of a Turkish/Albanian mosque used to document Turkish/Albanian crimes, all within a shell of a statelet protecting organized crime :)

Hey Dani repression....what repression?? I think you got that the wrong way round my friend... as usual!!

My my, take a look at all these cyber Illyrians calling for the destruction of something. In reality, such statements from whoever said it (I'm not interested in hitting the back button to find out which kleptocrat trying to score pre-election points it was) are currently only rhetorical. Yes the church has remained incomplete since the end 1990s and yes there's little to no plans for the church's construction to complete, but if we're going to demolish things in Pristina on account of their usefulness or aethetic pleasure, we basically need to level most of what I comfortably call the ugliest city in Europe.

Or better, a backwater village with a skyline.

Now that everyone's had their opportunity to weigh in their carefully typed useless opinions, the church - as well as a number of other unwanted eyesores in Pristina - will remain in legal limbo until the SPC decides to sell the land to whatever construction firm in Pristina wants to buy it to build the latest gaudy monument to some killed village bumpkin-turned-bare chested KLA superhero.

Puppet Government in Pristina can not demolish Serbian Orthodox Church.UNSC have lots to say about that.After all UN resolution 1244 still govern Serbian province KOSMET.If that was up to Albanian authority in Pristina there would not be any Serbian Church on territory of KOSMET.No one in entire Europe waging any war against any church except Kosovo Albanians.These people should be caged until they reach necessary maturity so they can live peacefully with rest of the civilized people of Europe.

@ Ari Gold,

Danilo aka Doot, Danilo Vancouver and Danny Danbridge etc., etc. is some kind of control freak who uses the internet for his social life and human interaction.

He writes (repeatedly and predictably) that he is from Vancouver, Canada and his boss transferred him to Serbia where he now, sitting alone and frustrated, types endlessly about his pitiful miserable life.

His incessant crying on the internet is only useful if one gets really terribly bored and needs some sick bottomless pit of repetition-compulsion.

Dear J, 2 things.

The land that the church is on is private, it does not belong to you, or Danilo or even the Kosovo Assembly, the Parliament of Belgrade, or even the queen of England. If you want to go to court over it, your side will lose another land ownership dispute to the church again.

If you want to act unilaterally and knock a church down to prove a point about dominance and who is powerful and who is in charge now, how are you different than Milosevic?

"... and it has been hinted that the unfinished cathedral of Christ the Savior in Priština would be turned into 'a museum in memory of Kosovo Albanians'"

Makes sense, as an example of Albanian culture and behavior in Kosovo, carved in stone.

Oh ya, if that was a muslim mosque, there would be an out rage through out the whole muslim world

Danilo

I like it when you talk rough like this. You are in control just like you like it :)

"Why can't this pathetic imitation of an "independent country" build something instead of threatening to knock down churches"

judging from your post, i'd say you have never been to Prishtina. the problem isn't that nothing has been built, the problem is that too much has been built without any due thought. That poor excuse for a church, is a useless piece of construction that serves no purpose, other than to wish one was blind every time one walks past it. that it has been built near the university is also unfortunate. it needs demolishing with a lot of other useless things in Prishtina, but its best to start with that one

In 1989 Milosevic, under the threat of force, dissolved the autonomy of Kosovo. He removed Albanians from civil service and closed Albanian schools and created an aphartheid regime. Don't be so obtuse and pretend that you don't know this happened. If you really don't, then you really should try to learn the first thing about this region you claim to care about.

the K-K-Kosova church burning/seizing brigade is up to their antics here on B92. How morose.

Why can't this pathetic imitation of an "independent country" build something instead of threatening to knock down churches? 6 years and all they can promise is more rubble,and that's all you K-K-Kosova cheerleaders seem to want for your "country"
(marKo, 22 April 2014 19:11)

Two things:

Permission given by Milosevic. He was building crap like that all over the place to show that Serb dominated. It is a symbol of repression.

It is built inside a university campus. That is simply idiotic.

I agree with Danillo. Turn into a museum. Put huge plaques in English describing why Milosevic decided to build it, and put all the belongings, pictures and video loops of all the victims of the war. Not only rebuild it but make it huge. Show the world how Milosevic used religion to kill people, children among them.

When NATO falls so will the temporary occupation.

You have about as much chance trying to make friends with wild birds. A strange race.

He's goig to regret what he said very soon, I assure you for that. And more, he will state to media that he was missinterpreted ;)

citizen from Prishtina

Just curious, Roger7. What does any of that have to do with a half-finished church in Pristina?

I'm afraid this church won't be demolished. This church was build illegally under Milosevic's dictatorship. In case it's not demolished a huge mosque should be build few meters away.

There was no "Serbian oppression". Before the war, 50, 000 Serbs lived in in Pristina. How did that community not have a right to build a Church for their religious practices, on their own sovereign land? Albanian militants, for their part were murdering police officers and Albanian officials who were not sympathetic to the KLA. Reacting to this is hardly an act of "oppression".

Ari the church is not issue just the land being built it Belongs to University of Pristina its not so hard to understand. You live in Canada or US if u want to build a church in school grounds u will be sent to jail. Just because its a church does not make it legal, it could be a hospital or anything else it should face the same fate, if so courts order it so.

There is a brand new cathedral build after the war Downtown Pristina no one has issue with it as it was done legally.

[http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g295385-d3569556-Reviews-Mother_Teresa_Cathedral-Pristina.html]

look in photo 7 you will see the orthodox Church next to library , just to let you know the Muslim community also asked to build a Mosque near it and it was denied.

So please stop with pointing a finger and learn the Facts.

"...basically need to level most of what I comfortably call the ugliest city in Europe. "

I agree with you, its a truly ugly place. its a testament to the brilliant architectural genius of Yugoslavia though isn't it? However, this levelling that you call for, has to start somewhere and the logical place to start is with that god-awful-incomplete-built-near-the-university church. it just makes sense to demolish something that is not finished and is a far bigger eyesore than even that horrible library just across

"... a huge mosque should be build few meters away."

no it shouldn't

"But that would pretty much eliminate the only aesthetically pleasing Turkish monument in the city, so let's just leave things as they are. "

since you seem to draw a parallel between the two, let me tell you, the Sinan Pasha mosque is actually very beautiful, this church on the other hand isn't. if its mosques you think need demolishing based on how ugly they look, i can give you a list, starting with that one that looks like a badly designed rocket just near the airport.

Danilo why are you ignoring me? Remember collarme?
We can whip these guys into shape together.

the Sinan Pasha mosque is actually very beautiful, this church on the other hand isn't. if its mosques you think need demolishing based on how ugly they look, i can give you a list, starting with that one that looks like a badly designed rocket just near the airport.
(Nikolle, 23 April 2014 16:26)

Don't worry. I've no desire to rent a bulldozer for Sinan Pasha. It is a lovely building, and to the Ottomans' credit, it's one of those rare cases where a mosque is built from a church stone by stone. Usually Turks are either lazy or lack any engineering intelligence to build something of their own, and just take over a church by sticking a minaret on the side and gluing a Crescent over where they cut a Cross down. Sinan Pasha at least gives one the impression there was some masonry involved.

As for the church in question in Pristina, I have to admit I'm really no fan of this 1990s era Neo-Byzantine architecture. Since I can't imagine the 40,000+ Serbs who left Pristina to return anytime soon, I can see the dilemma of what to do with potentially prime real estate, but let's not be under any pretense something's going to happen any time soon.

As for airport mosques, I haven't seen the one you mention, but in the spirit of agreeing on architectural WTFs, we can add it to our list of things that need to go.

Maybe it should not be demolished but rather a sign on all 4 corners that say "This is the decaying heart of the Serbian Orthodox Church"

Dear J, 2 things.

The land that the church is on is private, it does not belong to you, or Danilo or even the Kosovo Assembly, the Parliament of Belgrade, or even the queen of England. If you want to go to court over it, your side will lose another land ownership dispute to the church again.

-- marKo, this is inside the campus of the university. No matter what your church claims, this was not their property until Milosevic gave it to them. The university has been there for a longer time and it was theirs until Milosevic took it away.. It was their property. Milosevic's laws are no longer valid.

If you want to act unilaterally and knock a church down to prove a point about dominance and who is powerful and who is in charge now, how are you different than Milosevic?

-- I didn't suggest to knock the building down. I say keep it and make it a museum.

-- BalkanAnthropologist, I subscribe to a world without religions. You have my agreement to turn any of these objects into museums, libraries, study halls etc. etc. Doesn't matter if they're mosques or churches. It would be a service to all humanity.