Following yesterday’s events in the village of Banjska and the conflict surrounding the monastery itself, monastic life is gradually returning to normal. Bishop Teodosije visited the monastery today, and members of the Kosovo Police and EULEX were also present. „Neither the monks nor the pilgrims had any involvement in the tragic events,“ the Diocese of Raska-Prizren emphasized once again.
This afternoon, Bishop Teodosije visited the Banjska Monastery.
The Abbot of Banjska Danilo informed him regarding the events that took place in and around the monastery yesterday and today.
The Diocese said that during the day, EULEX and the Kosovo police arrived at the monastery to conduct an investigation.
“Inside the monastery’s residential buildings and church, which are within the monastery’s walls and were locked during the events, neither EULEX nor the police found anything that could compromise the monastery or its monastic brotherhood.“
However, they added, in two areas of the monastery’s courtyard, firearms, body armor, and pieces of equipment were discovered – discarded by the armed individuals as they retreated from the monastery.
They also underscored that no traces of blood were found in the monastery, and throughout the events, there were no casualties within the monastery walls.
“During the search, Abbot Danilo showed all the premises of the Monastery to EULEX and the police, demonstrating that neither the monks nor the pilgrims had any involvement in the tragic events.“
They confirmed media allegations that forensic teams took prints and interviewed the pilgrims from Novi Sad, who then, escorted by the police and EULEX, crossed the Jarinje boundary pass to return to their homes.
The Diocese said that they published this statement primarily to counter “various speculations and arbitrary news stories circulating in the media.“
“Bishop Teodosije continues to call for calm and peace, maintaining contact with KFOR, EULEX, and the ambassadors of the Quint, to protect our holy sites and faithful people. Our Church remains firmly committed to addressing all issues in Kosovo and Metohija peacefully and through dialogue, condemning all forms of threats and violence,“ they concluded.
Read more:
Warnings about misinformation in the Kosovo media regarding the SOC in Kosovo
North of Kosovo: KP officer shot dead, three attackers wounded, clashes are ongoing
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
