SERBS FROM KRAJIŠTE CELEBRATE THEIR PATRON SAINT'S DAY AMID ALBANIAN PROVOCATIONS

LIPLJAN, JULY 14 /SRNA/ - Displaced Serbs from Krajište near Lipljan, from where they were expelled in 1999, gathered at the desecrated Church of the Holy Healers Cosmas and Damian to mark the church's patron saint's day, but this year's liturgy was also disrupted by Albanian music glorifying former leaders of the terrorist KLA.

Flags bearing the emblem of the terrorist KLA, as well as the flags of Kosovo, Albania and the United States, were displayed along the road near the church, while loud music and songs mentioning Adem Jashari and other figures of the terrorist KLA were played from a nearby Albanian house.

Around 50 displaced Serbs arrived under police escort in an organised convoy of vehicles from Lipljan, Kosovo Online reported.

The liturgy in the desecrated church was celebrated by Lipljan priest Dragiša Jerinić, who said he was encouraged to see the number of gathered Serbs growing year after year.

"It makes me happy to see so many people here, knowing that all Orthodox residents of this village were expelled back in 1999 and have not been allowed to return to their homes. Among those present today are people who passed by their properties, the places where their houses once stood and where they were born," priest Jerinić said.

He stressed that this year's observance of the feast had once again not passed without provocations, but added that this would not prevent the liturgy from being held or the displaced Serbs from gathering.

The priest hopes that the remaining unrepaired part of the church will soon be restored so that next year they can celebrate the Lord and the Holy Healers Cosmas and Damian in all the splendour of the church.

President of the Interim Municipal Authority of Lipljan Milan Joksimović expressed satisfaction that the residents of Krajište continue to regularly return to their village, even 27 years after their expulsion, to mark the church's patron saint's day.

"The conditions remain inappropriate, and the security situation is poor. We can still hear Albanian music in the background today, while we were met on the way by the flags of Albania, Kosovo and other countries, as a reminder of what happened," Joksimović said.