Ancient Serbian Hermitage Damaged by Illegal Construction in Kosovo, Church Protests

The Diocese of Raška-Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church has issued a strong condemnation of recent illegal construction activities that have severely damaged the Hermitage of Saint Peter of Koriški, a 13th-century Serbian Orthodox shrine near Prizren.

The diocese reports that unauthorized paving and road construction, carried out by the Municipality of Prizren’s Directorate for Economic Development and Tourism, have endangered the archaeological and historical integrity of the site, which is a legally protected zone. The works, performed by the local company EUROVIA, have undermined the foundations of the medieval complex, risking landslides and the collapse of the hermitage, particularly in the event of heavy rainfall or earthquakes.

The Hermitage of Saint Peter of Koriški is one of 50 specially protected zones under Kosovo law. The diocese notes that the site has been repeatedly desecrated since 1999, including the exhumation of the saint’s tomb, damage to frescoes, and the placement of an Albanian flag above the hermitage.

The diocese argues that the illegal works violate the Kosovo Law on Special Protected Zones, which aims to preserve the historical, cultural, and religious heritage of the Serbian people. They state that the municipality acted without the required consent of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Council for the Implementation of Protected Zones.

The diocese has called for immediate action from international institutions, including the EU mission, EULEX, OSCE, and KFOR, as well as competent Kosovo authorities. They demand that the illegal activities be stopped, those responsible be sanctioned, and the damage be repaired in coordination with the Serbian Orthodox Church.

UNESCO and other international organizations for the protection of cultural heritage have also been informed of the incident. The diocese emphasized that this is part of a pattern of illegal works within protected zones, highlighting the need for stronger institutional mechanisms to protect Serbian Orthodox sites in Kosovo.

The Diocese of Raška-Prizren reiterated the historical and spiritual significance of the hermitage, which dates back to the 13th century and has a rich history of monastic asceticism and prayer. They stated that the desecration of this site deeply affects believers and admirers of Serbian cultural heritage.