The Patriarchate of Peć (Pećka Patrijaršija) - Attack on the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church

The Patriarchate of Peć (Pećka Patrijaršija), seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church and one of the most significant monuments of Serbian medieval culture, became a target of attack during the March pogroms.

The Patriarchate of Peć (Pećka Patrijaršija) - significance

History:

• Founded: 13th century (1234-1346)
• Architect: Archbishop Arsenije I
• Significance: Seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church 1346-1766
• UNESCO: On the World Heritage List (since 2006, though recognized even earlier)
• Compound: 4 churches + living quarters + museum

• Church of the Holy Apostles (1230) - the oldest
• Church of Saint Demetrius (1321)
• Church of the Virgin Hodegetria (1330)
• Church of Saint Nicholas (1337)

• Some of the finest examples of Byzantine painting
• Unique in style and color
• Priceless cultural value

Before the attack - 18 March 2004

In the Patriarchate:

• Bishop Artemije - Bishop of Raška-Prizren
• 5 monks
• 2 maintenance workers
• KFOR patrol (Italian) - 10 soldiers permanently present

18 March 2004 - The day of the attack

13:00 - The crowd begins to gather

Peć - central square:

• A crowd of 2,000-3,000 Albanians
• Brought in by buses from surrounding villages
• Chanting: "Doli manastir!" (Down with the monastery)
• Moving toward the Patriarchate (2 km from the center)

13:30 - KFOR notification

Italian KFOR base (500 soldiers in Peć):

• Received notification about the crowd
• Sent an additional 20 soldiers toward the Patriarchate
• TOTAL: 30 soldiers in front of the Patriarchate

14:00 - The crowd arrives

In front of the Patriarchate gate:

• KFOR soldiers set up a barricade
• A crowd of 3,000 people facing 30 soldiers
• Chanting, threats
• Throwing stones at KFOR

• Holds the line
• Did not use weapons (order: do not open fire)
• Tear gas - minimal effect

14:30 - The breakthrough

The crowd BREAKS THROUGH the KFOR line:

• Simply OVERRAN them by numbers
• 30 soldiers cannot hold back 3,000 people
• Some KFOR soldiers wounded (stones)

• Smashed the windows of the living quarters
• Set fire to part of the residential building
• Tried to enter the Church of the Holy Apostles
• KFOR stopped them at the last moment

15:00 - Reinforcements arrive

KFOR reinforcements (200 soldiers, armored vehicles):

• Arrived from Peć
• Broke up the crowd with tear gas and shots fired into the air
• The crowd withdrew

• Living quarters (residential building) - partially burned
• Library - smoke damage
• Museum - broken windows, some icons stolen
• Churches - PRESERVED (KFOR arrived in time)

Why did KFOR not prevent the attack?

Italian commander (General Giorgio Battisti): "We had 30 soldiers against 3,000 attackers. We were physically powerless. We requested reinforcements, but they arrived after 30 minutes. In those 30 minutes, the attackers did damage." Criticisms:

• Why only 30 soldiers? - They knew violence was being prepared, they should have deployed more immediately
• Why were there no reinforcements immediately? - 500 soldiers in Peć, 2 km away
• Why did they not open fire? - Order: do not shoot except in self-defense

Cultural damage

Living quarters and library:

• Partially burned
• Library with rare manuscripts - part damaged by smoke
• Museum - some exhibits stolen or destroyed

• PRESERVED - but only because KFOR arrived IN TIME
• Without KFOR reinforcements - the frescoes would have been destroyed

After the attack

Protection

KFOR:

• Established a PERMANENT BASE with 50 soldiers in the compound
• Armored vehicles permanently present
• Concrete barricades around the compound

• KFOR still guards the Patriarchate
• Visits are possible only with a KFOR escort
• The monks live under constant protection

Restoration

2004-2006:

• Living quarters restored (with the help of UNESCO and the EU)
• Library restored
• Museum restored

Justice - none

Arrested: 18 persons Convicted: 0 (zero) Reason: "Lack of evidence" How is there no evidence?

• 3,000 people present
• KFOR soldiers were witnesses
• Video footage
• BUT - no one identified, no one punished

Symbolism

The attack on the Patriarchate of Peć was:

• An attack on the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church - symbolically important
• An attempt to destroy the most significant monument of Serbian culture in Kosovo
• A message: "Not even your holiest place is safe"
• A test of KFOR - what it would allow

"The attack on the Patriarchate of Peć was an attack on the very heart of Serbian spiritual heritage. Had it not been for KFOR, it would have been as if they had burned the Vatican for Catholics. Inconceivable." - Bishop Artemije, 2004.