The Ras-Prizren Diocese has filed a new criminal complaint against Nikola Xhufka, who claims to be a priest of the so-called Albanian National Orthodox Church and, more recently, “Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Kosovo.” According to the Diocese, Xhufka has once again broken into the Church of St. Archangel Michael in Rakitnica near Podujevo.
This third complaint was submitted to the Kosovo Prosecutor’s Office in Pristina on June 30 by the Diocese’s legal representative.
“He again broke the padlock of the 14th-century Church of St. Archangel Michael and, for the third time, illegally occupied the church owned by the Ras–Prizren Diocese, which he wants to appropriate for his false organization,” the Diocese stated.
The Diocese reminded the public that Xhufka continuously falsely presents himself as clergy:
“Although he is not [clergy], nor is he recognized as such by any Orthodox Church, he has frequently been criticized in Albanian media for spreading hatred and intolerance.”
Appeal to the International Community
The Diocese once again appealed to the entire international community to pressure Kosovo’s judiciary to show even a minimal degree of effort and will to protect the Serbian Orthodox Church, whose rights are guaranteed like those of any other person or religious organization in Kosovo.
“It is a fact that a person from Albania, who undoubtedly spreads religious hatred, can break into our religious facility, which is also a cultural heritage site, three times without consequences, and appropriate it for his legally non-existent organization. Through social media, he has also targeted SPC members and the SPC as a whole, and for two years Kosovo authorities have not stopped him.”
At the same time, the Diocese emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church is fighting for basic respect of its rights, including the use of religious symbols and the interior organization of its places of worship.
“All of this shows serious and systematic deficiencies in Kosovo’s legal system,” they stressed.
They argued that Kosovo institutions do not show interest in respecting the rights of the SOC, which is why they are appealing to the international community.
“Given that Kosovo’s institutions continuously demonstrate no interest in respecting our rights — including minimal protection from such harassment or the restoration of rights guaranteed to us but since revoked — we call for the legal status of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo to be urgently addressed. It is now clear to everyone that our very survival in these territories depends on resolving this issue and securing special internationally guaranteed rights,” the Diocese said.
Third Break-In
Xhufka first forcibly entered the church on November 28, 2023, accompanied by around twenty other individuals. At that time, he gave the church a new name — “Church of Fan Nolli” — and conducted a “ceremony” using the Albanian national flag, after which the group took photos in front of the building.
He later posted on Facebook stating that he had seized the church and renamed it. In the name of the so-called “Albanian National Orthodox Church,” he addressed the SOC, Patriarch Porfirije, and the “Ras Diocese,” as he called it, warning:
“Do not dare approach Albanian Orthodoxy and the Fan Nolli Church in Rakitnica, Podujevo, or you will face the infernal fire, as has been the case throughout history.”
In response, the Ras-Prizren Diocese consecrated the church again, held a liturgy, and installed a new padlock in the presence of police and representatives of OSCE and EULEX.
They then tried independently, and later with EULEX’s support, to file a complaint with Kosovo Police in Podujevo, but were reportedly rejected by police at the time.
The Prosecutor’s Office, to which they later submitted the complaint, filed an indictment against Xhufka on May 27, 2024, and on October 14 that year, the first hearing was held before the Basic Court in Pristina, where the defendant and his lawyer denied all allegations.
In late 2024, Xhufka even declared himself “Bishop of Kosovo” with the help, according to the Diocese, of “certain schismatics.”
In May this year, he again broke into the Church of St. Archangel Michael in Rakitnica, later posting on Facebook that he had performed the first baptism in the “Monastery of Saint Alban” in the village of Rakitnica.
On that occasion, the Diocese again filed a criminal complaint against him, this time in the presence of EULEX representatives, to the Kosovo Police.
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