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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Complete reconstruction of Hilandar possible

Belgrade, 12 March 2004

Representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Culture and the Serbian Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments visited the Hilandar monastery from March 6 to 11 to assess the damage caused by a devastating fire on March 3. The officials made an official report, saying that the fire was definitely caused by cracks in the chimney, caused by land subsidence, through which the fire quickly spread to wooden trusses and the roof. After a detailed assessment of the damage, the officials concluded that Hilandar's façade can be restored almost completely.

Complete reconstruction of Hilandar possible

Assistant Minister of Culture for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Jovan Despotovic told a press conference today that the Ministry and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments will be responsible for the monastery's reconstruction. He went on to say that a committee for the reconstruction of Hilandar will soon be formed as part of the Ministry.

Despotovic said that the Serbian government will find additional ways to finance the reconstruction, adding that it is currently drafting a plan to establish how much will be set aside in the Serbian budget to that end.

The Serbian Ministry of Religion is providing assistance to restore regular monastery activities that have also been suspended due to the fire.

Architect Mirko Kovacevic, who has worked on the reconstruction and protection of Hilandar for almost three decades, explained that the southwest part of the monastery complex is situated on sagging soil. That problem has existed for years, and cracks on a number of the monastery's facilities point to the constant subsidence problem, said Kovacevic. He added that the fire started from the chimney, reached the wooden trusses through the chimney cracks, and than quickly spread to the rest of the building.

Kovacevic said that the interior has been destroyed completely, but that the detailed documentation on all monastery's facilities will be of great help for the reconstruction. He went on to say that all facilities have been photographed and measured, adding that there are several thousands of photos of the monastery's facade and its interior, which will all facilitate the drawing up of the repair project.

Institute Director Marko Omcikus, who returned from Hilandar yesterday, also voiced optimism that the monastery will be repaired. The fire was difficult to put out and is still smoldering in certain locations, said Omcikus, adding that firefighters in Greece are still monitoring the area.