(Hysni Recica)
A
little girl reciting: Everybody
celebrates; everybody is welcomed. Janjevo is fulfilled with happiness and joy
Hello and welcome to UNMIK on air with Martin Redi and Eranda Bobaj.
The Croats of Kosovo recently celebrated their 700th anniversary here.
People from many nationalities and religions celebrated together in the little
town of Janjevo... it looked like the
world in miniature.
The biggest Croat community in Kosovo is now living in Janjevo, but it is
the smallest ethnic community with not more than 360. They moved here from
Dubrovnik in 1303, says the local parish
priest Mate Palic.
Mate Palic: They
were craftsmen, mine workers, qualified masters. They took the mine and later
they came under Mletacku Republika but they survived and they have done their
job up to now. It runs in our genes. Our people in Janjevo and outside work in
the same activities and jobs. 700 years is a long tradition and with God's help
Janjevo people saved their identity, religion and belonging to Croat nation.
When you are in Janjevo, a small town in Lipjan municipality, you get the
impression you are no longer in Kosovo. It seems a unique place at the foot of
a hill with old houses and winding cobble stoned streets. A sunny spring day
made the event even more splendid.
Janjevo was originally a village of miners but at the end of 17
century when the mines were exhausted,
Janjevo’s inhabitants turned to metalworking and the marketing of their
products, above all gold jewelry.
St. Nikola is believed to be the
savior of Croats throughout the worst periods of their history. The Church in
Janjevo bearing his name was built in 1856. Though a big imposing building, its
front yard was not large enough for all the guests.
Song: Janjevo shines, Ready to warmly receive all the visitors
Oh God
give them peace and harmony
Surrounded
by astonishing hills, covered by wonderful blue sky,
Janjevo
celebrates a big anniversary
The whole Janjevo finds a pleasure in it.
Most of Kosovo’s Croats
left before the war including several thousands from Janjevo.
Mark Sopi, Catholic Bishop in
Kosovo, says it is not only Croats who had to leave their homes, and urges them
to come back.
Mark Sopi: Comeback in Janjevo. Every return in Janjevo will
make us happy. Kosovo is free today. Kosovo wants to create a multiethnic
society and is opened to all. Anybody
who wants to come back to Janjevo will be warmly received and will have our
complete support. And you who said goodbye to Janjevo, come here and visit your
homeland. Come more often and drop by this precious holy place of St. Nikola.
Officials from other churches were
invited to attend the mass: orthodox priests, imams, and Catholic officials
from the region.
Cardinal Vinko Pulic: In the
name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit; Amen.
Cardinal Vinko Pulic: Last night I said that I came here
to learn, I came to find out more about Janjevo. There is a lot to be heard. I
was so happy with all these good things.
In the name of the Catholic Church
in Kosovo, Mark Sopi greeted the participants. Unfortunately he said, it is not
just people from Janjevo that had to leave their homes.
Mark Sopi: As you
know there are also many of our people who for one reason or another had to
leave; before the war as a consequence of violence, and after to support
themselves and their families.
During this long
period there have been much turbulence, both political and economical. Wars,
and other disasters brought destruction and poverty to Janjevo. Yet the people
managed to survive, says Mate Palic.
Mate Palic: Each
time they found themselves at the bottom they managed to rise up from the ashes
and start again, and found ways to survive, and today we are the smallest
minority in Kosovo. There are 350 Croats in Janjevo; we are surviving thanks to
harmony, God’s help, and other neighboring people with whom we live in peace
and tolerance.
Mate Palic – whose
multi-ethnic parish includes many Albanian Catholics as well as Croats. That’s
all for today.