Displaced Serbs mark patron Saint’s Day in Krajiste as Albanian music from nearby house disrupts liturgy

Displaced Serbs from the village of Krajiste, near Lipljan, from where they were expelled in 1999, gathered at the desecrated Church of the Holy Unmercenary Healers Cosmas and Damian to mark the church’s patron saint’s day. As in previous years, the liturgy was disrupted by Albanian music praising former KLA leaders, played from a nearby house.

Around 50 displaced Serbs travelled to Krajiste in an organized convoy from Lipljan under police escort.

Along the road near the church, flags bearing the KLA emblem, as well as the flags of Kosovo, Albania and the United States, were displayed. Loud music and songs referring to Adem Jashari and other former KLA figures were played from a nearby Albanian house.

The liturgy in the desecrated church was officiated by Fr. Dragisa Jerinic, the parish priest of Lipljan, who said he was encouraged to see the number of participants growing every year.

“Thanks be to God for bringing us together once again at this holy place, before this sacred church, which we strive to repair and maintain each year, as much as we can and as much as the Lord allows, so that we may gather here to celebrate the feast of this church, dedicated to the Holy Unmercenary Healers Cosmas and Damian. It gladdens me to see so many people here, knowing that all the Orthodox inhabitants of this village were expelled back in 1999 and have not been allowed to return to their homes. Among those present today are people who have passed by the sites of their former homes, where they were born and raised, and directly across from the church lie the properties of our faithful. They come here to pray in this holy church, to see their land, hoping that the day will come when they will return to their homes, because every bird returns to its nest when the time comes,” Fr. Jerinic said.

He added that this year’s commemoration, like previous ones, was marked by provocations, but stressed that they would not prevent the faithful from holding the liturgy and gathering in the church.

“This year again, although under somewhat different circumstances, as you yourselves noticed on our way here, our neighbours welcomed us with new flags. And once again, our cheerful neighbour is entertaining us with his music. Whenever he is not prevented from doing so, he always makes an effort to greet us in this way. It has not bothered us, nor will it. We come here to glorify the name of God and honour our saints, and we will continue to do so. I hope that we will soon restore the remaining part of this holy church that has yet to be renovated, so that next year we may celebrate the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as well as the Holy Unmercenary Healers Cosmas and Damian, to whom this church is dedicated, in its full splendour. We also pray that all our parishioners and faithful may return to their homes as soon as possible, so that they may once again live here and welcome us in this holy church,” Fr. Jerinic said.

Jelica Jovanovic, originally from Krajiste, said that returning to her native village was emotionally difficult and that she was unable even to approach the graves of her loved ones because they had been desecrated and overgrown with weeds.

“It is very difficult for me. I lived here; I grew up here. Everything has changed; it is no longer the same village. I could barely recognize the place where my house once stood. I had not been here for 20 years. I cannot even get close to the graves,” Jovanovic said.

Novica Cvejic, who now lives in Belgrade, likewise said that he could barely recognize either Krajiste or Lipljan.

“I had not been here for a long time. I recognized Lipljan only because of the church, and here everything has changed. Nothing that belonged to me remains, except this church and the graves where my grandmother and mother are buried,” Cvejic said.

Tomislav Dimic said he was overjoyed to see his former neighbours once again.

“This is the one day when we can all gather. We are scattered in different places now, so it means a great deal to see each other again. My heart is full when I see my people,” said Dimic, who this year served as the host of the patron saint’s day celebration in his village.

Jovica Miric said that the gathered Serbs no longer pay attention to such provocations.

“We have become accustomed to it. Just as it is normal for us to come here, it has become normal to hear that kind of music. Last year there were neither flags nor music, but this year they put them up again and played the music. We simply do not pay attention to it,” Miric said.

He noted that he was born in Krajiste 62 years ago and was pleased to host the church feast in his native village.

“I am happy to come here every year for this feast, first to clean the churchyard and then to spend time with my fellow villagers from Krajiste, who now live far away,” Miric added.

The President of the Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Lipljan, Milan Joksimovic, expressed satisfaction that the former residents of Krajiste continue to return to their village to celebrate the church’s patron saint’s day, even 27 years after their displacement.

“Although the conditions remain inadequate and the security situation is poor, today once again we hear Albanian music in the background, while on our way here we were greeted by the flags of Albania, Kosovo and other countries, serving as a reminder of what happened. Nevertheless, the people of Krajiste are here once again this year. I hope this tradition will continue, and, God willing, that we will restore this church and continue gathering here every year,” Joksimovic said.

Before the 1999 conflict, Krajiste was home to a large number of Serbian families.