Vucic pledges to help in restoring Banjska monastery

BANJSKA - Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic visited Banjska monastery in northern Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) on Thursday and pledged to help renovate the sanctity.

The government will aid the restoration of the monastery, Vucic said, adding that among the reasons for his visiting the monastery was his wish to thank Bishop of Raska and Prizren Teodosije for everything that he has done for the Serbian people in KiM.

Vucic thanked the priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church in KiM for “playing a huge role for the survival of our people in their centuries-old homes.”

“I especially want to thank our Holy Church on being there for our people when times were the most difficult, doing far more than the government in that respect, and I wish to thank the bishop for having been calmer, wiser and smarter than most of us,” said Vucic.

Bishop Teodosije pointed out that Backa is one of the biggest and most important endowments of King Milutin, but unfortunately, was left to be battered by the ravages of time.

Vucic’s visit gives hope that Banjska will be brought back to life the way it should be, and with it our people here, too, Bishop Teodisije said.

Banjska Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery in the Banjska village near the town of Zvecan in northern KiM, built between 1313 and 1317.

It was founded by Serbia’s King Stefan Uros II Milutin, one of the most powerful Balkan rulers of the Nemanjic dynasty and the time he lived in.

Banjska Monastery was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990 and it is under the protection of the Republic of Serbia.

Photo Tanjug Video, camera operator Dejan Simicevic

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