Vojvodic: Pristina succeeds to the extent that Serbia fails to promote the truth

The key factor in preserving Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo is maintaining the Serbian population. If there are no Serbs there, the heritage will sooner or later be destroyed, Albanized, or "Kosovized," academic Dragan Vojvodic said in a podcast for Kosovo Online.

He warns that Kosovo Albanians are not alone in claiming historical monuments, but that they receive assistance from "scholars" in Croatia, Albania, and Europe who, either out of ignorance or ill intent, steer developments in their desired direction. He believes Serbia’s position is far from easy and that, without a serious strategy for preserving Serbian cultural heritage, the damage will be irreparable.

Vojvodic heads the Academic Committee of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) for the Study of Kosovo and is the author of numerous papers, collections, and exhibitions aimed at promoting and preserving Serbian cultural heritage.

"The task of science is to establish the truth, which can either be respected or falsified and distorted. Scientific knowledge is important, but the preservation of heritage is a task for everyone, media, the popular science sphere, diplomacy, and all state institutions. The Serbian people created their heritage in territories far beyond today’s borders of Serbia, and in many areas where there are no longer any Serbs, monuments are particularly endangered," Vojvodic explains.

Although attacks on Serbian historical monuments have intensified over the past 25 years, he points out that they have been happening for much longer. Referring to the recent damage to the hermitage of Saint Peter of Korisa near Prizren, he describes it as a monument of exceptional significance, with outstanding material and intangible cultural value.

"This is a valuable artistic monument, but also an extremely rare one in terms of its function, the most representative anchorite dwelling of the medieval period. As for its intangible values, they stem from its sacred aura, as it was the residence of one of the earliest Serbian hermits, Saint Peter of Korisa, whose relics rested in the cave church until 1572, when they were moved to the Monastery of Crna Reka due to insecurity," he explains.

Vojvodic emphasizes that the immediate surroundings of any monument are an inseparable part of it and fall under protected zones, making construction work in close proximity unacceptable.

"When a monument is physically endangered as an integral whole, all its aspects are at risk. However, not all aspects are equally restorable. Architecture is less problematic because a destroyed building can be rebuilt if its plans and documentation exist. While it won’t be the original structure, it will still preserve and reproduce many of its original values. But when it comes to wall paintings, that’s not possible. For example, the frescoes in the Church of the Virgin of Ljevisa, which were damaged in 2004, had their artistic value permanently compromised by fire, which altered their colors due to high temperatures. That can never be restored. Only minor damage can be retouched and conserved, while major damage is irreparable," he explains.

Vojvodic acknowledges that sacred heritage is the most valuable but warns that secular heritage is even more endangered and deteriorates with far less attention and concern, both from Serbia and the international community.

Currently, international protection efforts remain focused on three Serbian monasteries and one church in Kosovo. He stresses that Serbia’s task is to ensure that UNESCO keeps them on the World Heritage in Danger list. Beyond these sites, he says the most vulnerable monuments are those from more recent periods, particularly in areas where Serbs no longer live.

"When a monument disappears, it cannot be restored. An economic crisis or political situation can be overcome in the future, but cultural heritage is the foundation of identity, a signpost left by our ancestors. If we lose it, the damage is irreparable," Vojvodic states.

He says that Serbia must develop a strategy with a clear intent to preserve and promote its heritage in all areas where Serbs have lived, especially in Kosovo, where this heritage is the most valuable and significant.

"The heritage in Kosovo and Metohija was created at a time when Serbia was at its peak, when both the church and royal seats were located there," Vojvodic concludes.

The full conversation between Dragan Vojvodic and Dragana Biberovic can be watched in the video feature.