Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Unacceptable and worrying attack on the church of St. John

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija condemned the attack on the church of St. John, which belongs to the monastery of Visoki Decani, stressing that the attack disturbed the remaining Serbs living in the Serbian enclave of Velika Hoca, the monks of the monastery, and shows that the perpetrators have no respect for Serbian holy places and holidays of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In the announcement of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, it is emphasized that the attack on the lodge of the church of St. John, which belongs to the monastery of Visoki Decani, is unacceptable and worrisome, and indicates that on the night between Friday and Saturday, the lodge of the church, which is located at the entrance to Velika Hoca, was ransacked and the thieves ransacked the inventory and cut the electrical wiring.

"The attack disturbed both the remaining Serbs living in that Serbian enclave and the monks of the monastery. It is especially worrying that the attack took place on the eve of the great Orthodox holiday of Lazarus Saturday and shows that the perpetrators have no respect for Serbian holy places and the holidays of the Serbian Orthodox Church" it is stressed.

It is added that the authorities in Pristina show their disrespect and hatred towards the holy places of the Serbian Orthodox Church with their expressed anti-Serb attitudes, which encourage such attacks.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija demands that the perpetrators be found and adequately sanctioned, so that such worrying events do not happen again.

They especially expect that the attention of international security forces and missions in Kosovo and Metohija will increase when it comes to the security of Serbian holy places before Easter.

"Experience teaches us that they are under attack by extremists and hooligans on the eve of major Orthodox holidays," the announcement states.