The administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, visited the Gracanica monastery as part of her tour of Kosovo. „This is a Serbian Orthodox monastery – one of the most beautiful monasteries I have ever visited“, she said on Friday evening. The same night, the Kosovo Minister of Culture shared a video on his Facebook profile with the message – „The Gracanica Monastery is a cultural and religious asset of particular importance in our country.“
Samantha Power came to Kosovo on Thursday, after previously staying in Belgrade.
She announced from the Serbian capital that progress in the process of the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina will help foster a climate that encourages investment and help the economies of both sides, as well as the entire region.
After arriving in Kosovo, Power said that the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities is „an absolutely critical step that must be taken to ensure that normalization can continue.“
She reiterated the same message after meeting with top Pristina officials, the Prime Minister and the President of Kosovo, calling on the parties to strengthen efforts towards the normalization of relations.
During her Kosovo tour, Power also visited the Gracanica monastery.
Today I toured Gračanica Monastery, a beautiful Serbian Orthodox monastery in Kosovo. pic.twitter.com/CzlU7UBQBr
— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) May 12, 2023
“I’m here in Gracanica, Kosovo, at one of the most beautiful monasteries that I have ever visited. This is a Serbian Orthodox monastery,” Power said, reminding that the monastery was added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2006.
“When you walk inside, you can feel the spirituality and the culture and years of tradition that have been passed on,” she underscored in the video published on her Twitter page on Friday evening.
UN Undersecretary for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who is also staying in Kosovo, also visited the Gracanica monastery and the mosque in Pristina yesterday.
He thanked Mufti Trnava and Bishop Teodosije for welcoming him, noting that they are committed to promoting peaceful coexistence.
Lacroix also met with Srpska Lista leaders in North Mitrovica yesterday.
On the same night, Kosovo Minister of Culture, Hajrulla Ceku, published a video about this monastery on his social media, with a voice over in Albanian with Serbian subtitles.
“Gracanica Monastery is a cultural and religious asset of particular importance in our country,” Ceku underlined, adding:
“This architectural masterpiece enjoys legal protection status in Kosovo and is a UNESCO listed asset.”
Unlike the US official who described the monastery as a Serbian Orthodox monastery, Ceku once again defined Gracanica and other religious sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church as “common cultural heritage” while using the words “Orthodox church.”
„The Protection and promotion of our common cultural heritage cultivates interfaith harmony, a distinct value of Kosovar society,“ he said.
This minister added that the Kosovo government remains committed to maintaining and restoring “orthodox churches” in Kosovo, but also to guaranteeing adequate levels of safety for all.
“Through this vision we attract visitors, develop tourism and support our local economy,” he concluded.
Gracanica Monastery is one of the most beautiful and important religious sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church from the early Middle Ages. This endowment of King Milutin, together with Visoki Decani, the Pec Patriarchate, and the Church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevis, was added to the list of world heritage sites in 2004 and the list of world heritage in danger in 2006.
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