The „Ulpiana Fest,“ held at the ancient archaeological site of Ulpiana in Gracanica, has sparked controversy following allegations of religious insensitivity. The festival, now in its second year and sponsored by local Kosovo authorities, has been criticized by the Raško-Prizrenska Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church for featuring a performance that included the burning of Christian crosses.
Festival Overview
Ulpiana Fest, which commenced yesterday and runs through today, is designed to merge ancient cultural experiences with modern art. According to the festival’s organizers, the event aims to deepen understanding of historical roots while enhancing connections to cultural heritage.
„Ulpiana Fest brings the experience of the ancient and cultural period, combining it with contemporary art. It is a journey that helps us better understand our roots, offering a new perspective that strengthens our connection to our heritage and cultural identity,“ said the festival organizers when the event was established last year.
Organized by the NGO “ET-G” in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pristina and funded by the Ministry of Culture, the festival claims to be the first of its kind in Kosovo.
The organizers emphasized their goal to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and archaeological sites, blending modern values with ancient traditions through a combination of archaeology, anthropology, ethnography, and art.
„We aim to spark curiosity and raise awareness among citizens about the importance of cultural heritage in general and our archaeological sites in particular. We will strive to understand more about how the inhabitants of ancient Dardania lived through science and art. By blending modern values with the ancient, during the festival evenings, archaeology, anthropology, ethnography, and art will come together to present a spectacle inspired by antiquity,“ they announced in the presentation of the event.
Controversial Performance
This year’s festival featured a performance dedicated to Saints Flora and Lavra, early Christian martyrs who suffered for their faith. The performance, set against the backdrop of the early Christian basilica and baptistery remnants of Justinian’s Ulpiana, included a dramatic scene where Christian crosses were burned.
The Mayor of Pristina, Perparim Rama, expressed great pleasure in attending the opening of the second edition of the festival last night. He described it as a special event that offers visitors a rich program of performances, traditional costumes, authentic food, and ancient games, transporting them back to antiquity. Among the photos he shared was one showing a young man standing next to a large Christian cross that is on fire.
The Raško-Prizrenska Eparchy has condemned this act as a „tasteless and vandalistic“ affront, stressing that it deeply offends Christians and undermines the significance of Justinian’s Ulpiana. They described the burning of crosses, especially near the Monastery of Gracanica, as a „direct threat“ and a „blatant disrespect“ to Christian faith.
„This unprecedented act represents a profound insult to all Christians, especially to our people in the predominantly Serbian municipality of Gračanica,“ the Eparchy said in a statement.
„In a wave of vandalistic attacks by Kosovo Albanian extremists, dozens of churches have been destroyed and burned, with crosses also being set on fire and demolished. Crosses have been broken at many Christian cemeteries as well,“ they added.
They criticized the organizers for what they deemed a gross misrepresentation of Christian symbols and heritage, which they believe echoes historical pagan persecutions of Christians and contemporary systematic destruction of Serbian Orthodox sites in Kosovo, while reminding that the heritage of Ulpiana is continued also by the 700-year-old monastery located in close proximity to the ancient Roman city.
Organizers’ Defense
In response to the backlash, festival organizers defended the burning of crosses as a symbolic gesture within an artistic context. In their written statement to the KoSSev portal, they argued that the act was meant to honor Saints Flora and Lavra, who were persecuted for their Christian beliefs.
„This year, as part of Ulpiana Fest, we dedicated a theatrical performance to the memory and tribute of Saints Flora and Lavra. These first martyrs, as historical records show, were persecuted by the Roman administration due to their Christian faith,“ the organizers explained. They stressed that the burning of the cross was intended to symbolize the triumph of Christianity over persecution, not to offend.
The festival’s organizers pointed out that similar artistic depictions of the saints can be found in the Monastery of Gracanica and the Cathedral of Mother Teresa in Pristina. They described the performance as purely artistic, with no political or religious agenda, and invited both Albanians and Serbs to join in celebrating history and culture.
„We want to emphasize that this performance is purely artistic, with no political or religious agenda. We invite everyone, including the Serbian community, to join us in this celebration of history and culture. After the performance, guests can enjoy domestic wine and rakija together. Many Albanian Catholics attended the performance yesterday, and no one felt offended, as the intent of the event was purely artistic,“ they concluded in their response to our portal.
Eparchy’s Response
The Raško-Prizrenska Eparchy has dismissed these explanations, asserting that Christian tradition does not condone the use of burning crosses to honor saints. In their response to the KoSSev portal, they noted that traditionally, Christian saints are commemorated through prayer, liturgy, and processions, rather than through acts that could be construed as desecration.
„After all, this is how the feast of the two first martyrs was celebrated in these areas yesterday at the Orthodox Church of St. Flora and Lavra in Lipljan,“ they added.
On August 31st, the #Serbian#Orthodox#Church celebrated the memory of the first Christian martyrs of modern-day #Kosovo, Saints Florus and Laurus, who suffered in the city of Ulpiana in the 2nd century. The Holy #Liturgy was officiated by Metropolitan Teodosije at the church… pic.twitter.com/jvJ6FuOFPn
„This kind of public desecration of the most sacred Christian symbol in the name of a perverse form of art only demonstrates the organizers’ ultimate irresponsibility and raises questions about their ability to care for the ancient Christian heritage,“ the Eparchy concluded.
Archaeological Significance
The Ulpiana site has been the focus of significant archaeological research, including a recent project by French-Kosovan archaeologists that uncovered a dedication by Emperor Justinian. Funded by a €1 million European Union project, the excavation is being carried out by the French “École Normale Supérieure” in partnership with the Kosovo Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports and its Archaeological Institute. The project, launched in December 2021, is expected to conclude in December 2024.
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