A major problem in recent years is the fact that all this rich culture is under threat. Many of the conflicts that took place in Kosovo, caused damages to the region’s monuments

Bogorodica Ljeviška

(Balkan in-Site, 27. 1. 2021)

During the Middle Ages, Kosovo was the center of the spiritual development of the Serbian people. With the rise of the Serbian state has been noticed a significant growth in the arts, experts from all over Europe arrived in the region to offer their knowledge, contributing to the further progress of culture. The creations of that period are well known and admirable. Recently, UNESCO added them to the list of World Heritage Sites. Reaching today, Kosovo has become one of the most controversial regions, a  place of disagreements. In recent decades, many different issues have emerged, which have led to violent conflicts. These conflicts are considered to be a threat to the remaining monuments, churches, and monasteries of the region.

The cultural rise of the region began in the 12th century after the Serbs’ occupation. The first leader of the new state was Stefan Nemanja, the first leader of the Nemanja dynasty. Soon Kosovo became a cultural and administrative center, while the weakening of Istanbul, due to the fourth crusade, worked in its favor. During the 14th century, the power of the state reached its peak, with the further expansion of the territories, and King Stefan Dusan became the Emperor of Serbs, Greeks, Bulgarians, and Albanians. For many years the capital of the region was Prizren, one of the dominant trade centers. The cultural and economic development contributed to the rise of orthodox Christianism, which was the official religion from the 9th century. The entire period of Nemanja was marked by the construction of many churches, with significant cultural value, which has been preserved to this day.

At the beginning of the 13th century Serbian church became autocephalous and Stefan’s son, Savva, took the title of Archbishop. Few years after the death of Savva, the Autocephalous’s chair moved from the Zica’s Monastery to Pec, Kosovo. After a few decades after, the Serbian church managed to receive the highest title, by becoming a Patriarchate. Throughout the existence of the medieval Serbian state, new churches and monasteries were constructed, with the kings’ support. Well known for their contributions are King Stefan Milutin, who was associated with the construction of the Gracanica’s Monastery, and his son, Stefan Decani, who completed the monastery of Visoki Decani.

Dečani monastery

The construction of new ecclesiastical buildings led to the blossom of the architectural styles. One of the most prevalent schools of the period is the Raska School, which appeared from the end of the 12th century until the end of the 14th. This school was influenced by Slavic architecture and early Christian church design, while in the churches of this school is observed the combination of stone and wood . An example of a monastery with elements of this school is the monastery of Zica, the first chair of the autocephalous Serbian Church. The second prevailing school is known as Serbian-Byzantine or Vardar School. This style appeared from the end of the 14th century until the end of the 15th century. It has adopted Byzantine’s and Raska’s elements, with the most important characteristics being the rectangular shape and the existence of at least one dome. A typical example of this school is the monastery of Lady of Ljeviš. It is important to mention that the kings, who were involved in the construction of churches and monasteries, paid particular attention to the choice of materials and techniques. That’s why the ecclesiastical buildings of that period remain well preserved to this day. As Gojko Subotic said, “according to our findings, there have been leaders, such as Stefan Milutin, who preferred a more moderate life, spending their fortune on the creation of majestic and carefully built temples”.

Apart from the architecture, attention was also paid to the decoration of the interior space. A characteristic feature of those churches is the decoration of the walls with the fresco technique, which prevented the fading of the colors. This style is mainly found in churches, which have been erected with the architectural style of Vardar School. For their making, the best artists, locals and foreigners, were selected, while the murals consist of bible representations, hagiographies, and kings of the dynasty. Also, the frescoes accompany inscriptions, from which can be drawn information on the persons depicted. In addition to the walls’ paintings, churches’ decoration also consisted of different objects, as gold and silver vases, candlesticks, wooden structures, while in many monasteries were found saints’ relic cases.

Gračanica

A major problem in recent years is the fact that all this rich culture is under threat. Many of the conflicts that took place in Kosovo, caused damages to the region’s monuments. According to Bojan Jokic, a large number of churches, monasteries and monuments have already been destroyed. Data from the International Centre for Transitional Justice indicate that 155 Orthodox monasteries and churches are severely damaged or destroyed. UNESCO added Kosovo’s medieval monuments on the list of World Heritage Sites in danger in 2006, two years after they were included in the list of World Heritage Sites. Concerns about the future of churches remain to this day, even though many years have passed since the period of mass destructions. Bishops, priests and monks of the Serbian church publicly state their fear about the possibility of an attack on temples, and every time tensions break out in the area there is a risk of damage to important cultural buildings.

Relations between Serbs and Albanians have been in a major crisis over the past 30 years, with violent clashes over different issues. One of them is the protection of Orthodox ecclesiastical culture, an issue that is particularly sensitive to the Serbian side. Perhaps, however, this same issue could also be the beginning of the future rapprochement and effective cooperation between the two ethnic groups. Through respect and protection of culture, the framework can be set for a deeper understanding of the most important disagreements, thus achieving the gradual normalization of relations between them.

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Categories: Стање@English

Tags: Kosovo, Lena Fagogeni