[ALBSA-Info] POLITIKA: Albanians to restore the monastery of Zociste

[Iris Pilika]

Politika (Belgrade)
February 21, 2001

EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT IN ZOCISTE IN ORAHOVAC
Albanians to restore the monastery of Zociste

   Four Albanian young men who participated in the destruction
   of the ancient church became psychologically ill, one of them
   died seven months later

Kosovska Mitrovica, February 20

    The Albanian population of Zociste in Orahovac municipality, reports
Archpriest Milenko Dragicevic from the neighboring village of Velika
Hoca, has founded an committee for the restoration of the monastery of
Zociste in their village. This monastery, whose Church of the Holy
Healers Cosmas and Damian is mentioned as a Christian holy site dating
back to the 8th century, was first burnt down and then blown up by the
Albanians of Zociste on June 17, 1999.
    In the fall of 1999, four Albanian young men who participated in the
destruction of this holy site became psychologically ill. One of them
died seven months later and the number of Albanian destroyers from
Zociste and neighboring Opterusa who became ill increased to 12, the
Albanians in the committee to restore the monastery recently told Father
Milenko. The locals are convinced that the Albanian people have fallen
under a curse.
    Historians claim that the Church of the Holy Healers Cosmas and
Damian was built at the beginning of the 8th century and restored
several times. The most recent renovation with a semi-round vault and a
wide narthex was built on the foundations of the old church. The donors
(13th century) were senior church officials as this monastery was the
seat of the diocese at that time.
     During the past ten centuries, this monastery has been the
sanctuary of the ill who came worship before the holy relics. After the
arrival of the Turks in the Balkans and the Islamization of the
Albanians, the locals of Zociste and all of Metohija honored the
tradition of protecting this monastery. The monastery brotherhood, in
accordance with the wishes of the Muslim faithful, permitted Albanians
who were ailing to sleep on the lounge before the chest containing the
holy relics and prayed for their recovery.
    The last time reporters of Politika visited the monastery in
September 1998 they were witness to an Albanian pilgrimage to the Church
of the Holy Healers when the prior at that time, Jovan, prayed for the
recovery of an Albanian woman.
     However, then days later, Albanian terrorists kidnapped Prior Jovan
and seven monks. They were released four days later by the kidnappers
following the intervention of OSCE and the International Red Cross. At
that time the monastery was not physically damaged; however, the church
was desecrated and all valuables were looted from the residence hall and
the church treasury.
    After release from a private jail for Serbs which the terrorists had
set up in Malisevo, the brotherhood spent the night in Gracanica and,
without a moment's hesitation, again returned to Zociste. Prior Jovan
was soon appointed as head of the monastery of Celije while Father
Romilo was appointed to the position of prior.
    After the burning down and destruction of the monastery of Zociste,
the monks were temporarily sent to Crna Reka where they and other
monasteries of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren heard word of the intent
to restore the church which made them happy and filled them with hope of
returning to the holy site which was spiritually active for 14
centuries.

M. Laketic
__________
Translated by S. Lazovic (Feb. 21, 2001)


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