On this day, 14 years ago, in Kosovo and Metohija, erupted
the largest ethnic-motivated conflicts since the arrival of international
forces in this Serbian province.
In just two days, Albanians destroyed a large number of
Christian temples (some of them 800 years old) of priceless value. This crime
has not been punished. On the contrary, most western countries rewarded them
for the destruction of Christian heritage four years later by recognizing
Kosovo's independence.
Two days of conflict in Kosovo broke out on March 17, 2004,
after UNMIK police found bodies of two Albanian boys in the Ibar River in
northern Kosovo and Metohija. Mass demonstrations by Albanians, who unjustly
accused Serbs of the accident, first arose in the southern part of Kosovska
Mitrovica, and during the day they expanded to other parts of Kosovo and
Metohija.
Even an international
police investigation has confirmed that the Serbs have nothing to do with the
drowning of Albanian boys. However, in this tragic event, the Albanians saw an
opportunity to expel as many Serbs as possible from Kosovo and Metohija.
In two days of incomprehensible criminal violence, Albanian
extremists killed 28 people and more than 900 people were injured, including
members of the international police. About 900 houses, Serbian cultural and
historical monuments, about 35 Orthodox churches and monasteries were destroyed
or damaged. Several thousand Serbs left their homes.
It is estimated that more than 4,000 Serbs were expelled
from their homes in Kosovo and Metohija.
This pogrom led to the mass persecution of Serbs, the most
massive since NATO-led aggression against Serbia in 1999.
Several documentary films were recorded on these
events.
On March 21, 2004, Serbia declared a day of mourning for
victims during the unrest.
Thousands of people protested in the cities of Serbia
because of an attack on Serbian enclaves.
Except public condemnation from all international actors, most
of the participants have remained unpunished till today, and the incalculable
damage has not been remedied.
RUINED AND BURNED SERBIAN CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES AND
MONASTERIES ON 17, 18 AND 19 MARCH:
Monastery Devič, Srbica, 1434th year
Monastery of the Holy Archangels, Prizren, XIV century
The Cathedral of St. George, Prizren, 1887
Church of Vavedenja, Belo Polje, Pec, XVI, XIX century
Church of St. Nicholas, Prishtina, XIX century
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, Djakovica, XVI, XIX
century
Church of the Holy King Uros, Urosevac, 1933
Church of the Holy Virgin of Ljeviska, Prizren, 1306/1307.
year
Church of St. Nicholas (Tutic), Prizren, 1331/1332. г.
Church of St. Savior, Prizren, 1330
Church of the Presentation - Holy Sunday (Markova), Prizren,
XIV century
Church of St. George (Runovića), Prizren, XVI century
Church of St. Sava, Kosovska Mitrovica, 1896.
St. Andrew's Church Prvozvanog, Podujevo, 1930
Church of St. Nicholas, Kosovo Polje, 1940
Church of the Holy Archangel Michael, Shtimlje, 1922
Church of St. Panteleimon, Prizren, XIV, XX century
Church of St. Vrach, Prizren, XIV, XIX century
Church of the Holy Sunday, Živinjane, XVI, XIX century
Church of St. Nedelj, Brnjača, Orahovac, 1852
Church of St. Lazarus, Piskot, Djakovica, 1991/1994.
Church of St. Elijah, Bistražin, Đakovica, XIV century /
1930. year
Church of St John Preteče, Peć
Church of St John Preteče, Pećka Banja, 1997
Church of St. Elijah, Nekodim, Urosevac, 1975
Church of St. Peter and Paul, Talinovac, 1840
Church of the Birth of the Virgin, Softović, first half of
the 20th century
Church of Saint Panteleimon, Donja Šipašnica, Kosovska
Kamenica
Church of St. Catherine, Bresje, Kosovo Polje
Church of St. Elijah, Vucitrn, 1834
Church of the Birth of the Virgin, Obilić, XX century
Church of St. Peter and Paul, Istok, 1929
Church of St. Petka, Vitina
The building of the Bogoslovija, Prizren, 1872
Building of Vladičinski dvor, Prizren, XX century
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