http://www.realitymacedonia.org.mk/web/news_page.asp?nid=1141

Web posted December 10, 2001

Source: Macedonian Media, MakFax,

Albanian Terrorists Burned Another Monastery

[PHOTO: Saint George killing the Dragon (serpent, evil incarnate) - part of the oldest Christian traditions. Photo by Dnevnik]

On Saturday, the night before a religious holliday, Albanian terrorists in Tetovo burned the church St Gjorgjija.

Just night before the same holliday St. Gjorgjija, the terrorist burned down the small but monastery with big cultural value for Macedonia.

St Gjorgjija, in Golema Rechica, Tetovo area, dated from 14.bc, was a monument of culture protected by the law, but obviously, not from the terrorists law.

NATO, OSCE, and the Macedonian Forces, while conducting an investigation, had to leave the scene, due to sporadic shootings in the same area.

The church of St. Gjorgjija dating back to 14th century in the village of Golema Rechica was destroyed on Saturday in a fire set by unknown persons. The fire burned its walls, frescos, icons, screen and the auxiliary facility sheltering the kitchen. An Albanian from the village of Golema Rechica was the first to report about the fire. When the fire-fighting squad and the OSCE mission arrived at the spot, the church was already burnt to the ground. Golema Rechica is not under Macedonian control. The Macedonian police were allowed to move into the village as late as yesterday together with OSCE and NATO representatives.

According to the Crisis Management Center, another act of vandalism took place a little later in the complex of the church of St. Gjorgjija. Unknown persons set ablaze the inner part of the lodging area in close proximity to the church. As the police were examining the site, shots were heard around the complex. The church of St. Gjorgjija is mentioned in the church records of 13th century. During the Ottoman Empire, it was torn down twice. In 1920 a new church was built that was refurbished in 1965. It was then that ones of the most beautiful lodgings were built. On May 6 and December 9, the patron saint of the church is honored. In the past several months, the church had no priest because of the military crisis.

The Ministry of Culture condemned the act of vandalism over this monument whose fresco paintings date back to 14th century. "This is a serious attack on efforts to restore confidence and implement the Framework Agreement. It sets back all efforts to find a civilized solution to the crisis in Macedonia.

The burning of the monastery complex of St. Gjorgjija on the eve of the day of its patron saint shows that militant groups still exist trying in any possible way to subvert the peace process and inflict irreparable damages primarily to their own people for whose 'greater human rights' they claim to fight," relates the statement issued by the Ministry of Culture. The coordination body for crisis management says this is an act in breach of all international standards and conventions, and all the more so, an act against humanity and civilization in general. Churches in Macedonia are physical evidence of the spiritual values that helped the Macedonian community survive and persevere. The coordination body considers that precautions should be reinforced to protect public law and order and forestall criminal activities, thus securing freedom of movement and protection of physical and spiritual values.

The block of Macedonian parties and associations of Tetovo totally disagree with President Trajkovski that the situation in Macedonia has improved considerably. They consider such statements completely disproportionate prompting understandable revolt particularly among the Macedonians in Tetovo and the surrounding area.