Albanian hackers attack website of the
Serbian Orthodox Diocese
in Kosovo

Gracanica, December 18, 2004
Early this morning (CET) Albanian hackers broke into the
server of the Serbian Unity Congress (SUC) in the United
States and attacked the website of the Diocese of Raska
and Prizren. The archive of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren
has been completely erased as well as some other content.
A banner was placed on the kosovo.com forum
(http://www.kosovo.com/forum) saying

KOSOVO WILL BE INDEPENDENT FROM THE SERBS

The sign is in three languages (Albanian, English and Serbian)
and is signed by the pseudonyms of the hackers, ManiaC,
Woops and Diablo666.

The Information Service of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren
hopes that these problems will soon be resolved and that our
service will be able to normally continue with its work.

ERP KIM INFO SERVICE
Gracanica

December 17, 2004
K & M Newsletter 17-12-04

Restoration of Zociste Monastery halted, Church hopes
KFOR will show flexibility

"It is absurd that the people incited by those who destroyed this
Orthodox monastery are now demanding from the international
peacekeeping forces that a part of the repaired roof be taken
down just because extremists do not want this holy shrine to be
rebuilt. This is a very clear example that the standards policy is
not being implemented, and that despite official statements of
'great success' in the restoration of destroyed buildings, monks
are being prevented from living a normal life in this centuries-old
holy shrine," said Bishop Artemije in a statement for the
ERP KIM Info Service.

ERP KIM Info Service
Gracanica, December 17, 2004

More than five years after extremists of the Kosovo Liberation
Army destroyed the monastery of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in
Zociste near Orahovac, the brother monks of this monastery
returned to the holy shrine with the blessing of Bishop Artemije
in order to renew monastic life there. The repair of the monastery
began in November and so far a part of the torched living quarters
has been rebuilt, although the 14th century church is still in ruins.
The return of the monks was made possible by the initiative shown
by the KFOR commanders of the Italian and German contingents
at that time, general Danilo Errico and colonel Erhardt Buehler,
respectively.

After the end of the mandate of these two officers, who
wholeheartedly supported the initiative of the Diocese of Raska
and Prizren to restore this holy shrine, local representatives of
Austrian KFOR could not hide that they were not happy with the idea
of complete restoration of Zociste Monastery. The local Albanian
community began to set increasingly radical conditions, demanding
that under no circumstances can they help the monks with the
restoration in any way. The Austrian troops took the Albanian
threats so literally that at first they would not allow them the use
of their portable toilet nor charge the batteries on their mobile phone.

However, despite all obstacles Protosingel Petar, the abbot of the
monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi (the Pillars of St. George) near
Prizren, and acting abbot of the monastery of Zociste, and two
other brother monks continued with the restoration. With the help
of builders from the nearby village of Velika Hoca, the first
construction work began and the roof was repaired on one part
of the living quarters. However, a few days ago a local Austrian
KFOR commander informed the monks in no uncertain terms
that further rebuilding was not permitted because it would irritate
the local Albanian population. He even went so far as to request
from the monks to take down a part of the newly repaired roof
out of deference to the demands of "the Albanian population".
The commander said that building of that part of the roof had not
been previously agreed although Fr. Peter claims that no restrictions
of that no such agreement has been made with KFOR.

This decision deeply disturbed the monks. In the opinion of Bishop
Artemije of Raska and Prizren, the order to remove a part of the
newly repaired roof is contrary to the standards policy, which
foresees the unconditional restoration of destroyed churches and
houses, and an unprecedented concession to the extremists who
destroyed the monastery. "It is absurd that the people incited by
those who destroyed this Orthodox monastery are now
demanding from the international peacekeeping forces that a part
of the repaired roof be taken down just because extremists do
not want this holy shrine to be rebuilt. This is a very clear example
that the standards policy is not being implemented, and that despite
official statements of 'great success' in the restoration of destroyed
buildings, monks are being prevented from living a normal life in
this centuries-old holy shrine," said Bishop Artemije in a statement
for the ERP KIM Info Service.

Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, the auxiliary bishop in Kosovo has
recently discussed this problem with the present commander of the
Multinational Brigade South-West, the German general Richard
Rossmanith and remains hopeful that the General will continue
giving his support to the reconstruction of this Christian shrine
which would be particularly important as an encouragement to
the monks in the forthcoming Christmas season.

"I strongly believe that General Rossmanith who has shown sincere
respect to our Christian heritage in Kosovo will find the best way to
overcome this problem and help the local Albanian community
understand that reconstruction of the monastery will be to the benefit
of all communities," said Bishop Teodosije in his statement to
ERP KIM Info-service.

-------------------------------------------

We are further enclosing an article from today's edition of the Belgrade
daily "Vecernje Novosti" that talks about the problems faced by
the monks of Zociste Monastery.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vecernje Novosti daily, Belgrade, December 17, 2004

KFOR troops ask monks to stop renewal of destroyed monastery and
remove a part of the rebuilt roof because it "irritates" the local
Albanian population

Don't irritate the Albanians
I. R. - D. D. 16.12.2004,

"When we began to rebuild the roof, the Austrian commander
responsible for protecting the monastery ordered us to take it down.
We were horrified by his order. He said that we had promised to
build only two or three monastic cells this year. No such agreement
existed," said Fr. Petar, the abbot of the monastery of Djurdjevi
Stupovi, adding that later another explanation was given: that the
restoration of a fourth monastic cell was irritating the Albanian
local population

The monastery of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in Zociste, one of
the greatest Serbian medieval monasteries, recently experienced
its third "shipwreck" since the arrival of the UN in Kosovo.
First it was torched by Albanian extremists in autumn 1999,
and this spring it was dynamited. Nevertheless, this autumn three
monks returned, rebuilding three monastic cells. Engineers and
construction workers who worked on the reconstruction project
advised that a fourth cell was necessary for the refectory, furnace
room and bathroom. However...

"When we began to rebuild the roof, the Austrian commander
responsible for protecting the monastery ordered us to take it
down. We were horrified by his order. He said that we had
promised to build only two or three monastic cells this year.
No such agreement existed," said Fr. Petar, the abbot of the
monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi, adding that later another
explanation was given: that the restoration of a fourth monastic
cell was irritating the Albanian local population. There are still
many problems in the monastery. Winter is descending,
the monks are still living under tents, and they do not have
enough heating oil. They say that the Austrian contingent
provided them with a few hundred liters. They asked for at
least two more barrels but are not sure they will get it.

Resigned, Bishop Artemije says that the order to remove
a part of the roof is an inappropriate reaction by the
Austrian KFOR troops.

"When the monastery was torched and holy shrines throughout
Kosovo and Metohija were being destroyed, no one set any
incomprehensible conditions for the Albanians. This is further
proof of international injustice," said Bishop Artemije.
________________________________________

Feast of St. Joanikije of Devic celebrated on burned ruins
of medieval monastery

During the March pogrom Devic Monastery was attacked by
Albanian terrorists and almost leveled with the ground. By the
grace of God, the monastery is being resurrected. Thanks to
the efforts of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren and the
monastery administration, the church has been covered,
and the old refectory restored even though most of the
torched monastery complex remains in ruins

Devic Monastery - Most of the monastery complex,
which was torched during the March pogrom, remains in ruins

ERP KIM Info Service, Svetigora Press
Devic, December 16, 2004

On the feast of St. Joanikije (St. Ionnachius) of Devic,
December 15, 2004,
the patronal feast of the monastery of Devic was celebrated.
Devic Monastery was burned to the ground by Albanian
extremists during the March pogrom this year.
Holy Hierarchal Liturgy was served by His Eminence
Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the
Littoral with the concelebration of Their Graces
Bishops Artemije of Raska and Prizren, Atanasije of
Zahumlje and Herzegovina (retired), Teodosije of Lipljan,
the abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, and Maksim of Hum,
together with eight priests and two deacons. During the
Liturgy Metropolitan Amfilohije delivered a sermon to the
faithful, speaking of the resurrection of the holy shrine
which continues to live thanks to the prayers of its
wonder-working founder, St. Joanikije of Devic.
May of those who gathered partook in the Holy Eucharist.
This year the faithful gathered from all parts of Serbia and
Montenegro to celebrate the feast of the God-pleasing
Joanikije of Devic together with the sisterhood of this
holy family headed by Mother Anastasija.

During the March pogrom Devic Monastery was attacked
by Albanian extremists and almost leveled with the ground.
By the grace of God, the monastery is being resurrected in
the same way as it resurrected after the Second World
War when Albanian Nazi squads of Balli Combetar burned
this holy shrine and killed its abbot Fr. Damaskin Boskovic.

(see more: http://www.kosovo.com/edevic.html
and the situation after the March Pogrom at:
http://www.kosovo.com/pogrom_march/devic1/page_01.htm )

Thanks to the efforts of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren and
the monastery administration, the church has been covered,
and the old refectory restored where a festal banquet was served
to the guests after Holy Liturgy. The slava cake was cut in honor
of the feast day and in memory of St. Joanikije of Devic. During
the luncheon, guests were welcomed by host Bishop Artemije as
well as Bishop Atanasije, who expressed gratitude to the French
KFOR general responsible for this sector.

After the banquet, a meeting was held of the Committee for
Kosovo of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox
Church chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije.
The Committee discussed the restoration of the monasteries of
Devic, Holy Archangels and Zociste, where the monks and nuns
have returned following their destruction.

View of the old living quarters with new chapel
completed just before the March violence

Milosevic trial