Serbian church in Gojbulja near Vucitrn desecrated and robbed

Radio Television Serbia, Belgrade, Tuesday, November 14, 2006 17:39

Late Monday night or early Tuesday morning the church of St. Paraskeva in the village of Gojbulja near Vucitrn was desecrated and looted. This church has been the frequent target of vandals who, as a rule, remain unknown. The broken into church was found yesterday by Serbs who came there on the eve of the feast of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians (Sts. Cosmas and Damian) to light candles.

Protopresbyter Bogomir Stevic said that unknown perpetrators broke down the entrance door and destroyed the church interior, stealing the cross, the chalice and several other church artifacts.

Small change was scattered throughout the church. The incident has been reported to the Kosovo Police Service, which failed to provide an escort for priests from Zvecan to Gojbulja with the explanation that such requests for an escort need to be submitted two days in advance, said Stevic.

UNMIK regional spokesman Larry Miller said that a incident involving theft from a church had been reported to the police station in Vucitrn.