Terrible catastrophy hit Serbian people - Hilandar Monastery suffered major destruction by fire. For more information visit http://spc.org.yu, or read the letter below.
Zoran Rakovic
Vox Serbicus
New Zealand
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, 5 March 2004 1:59 p.m.
Subject: [Horska Muzika Srba] Hilandar Monastery fire
Because no one else has posted anything on this yet, here is what I
know (not much more than you can get from the Serbian Patriarchate
website):
Prof. Predrag Matejic (Curator of the Hilandar Collection established
by his father, Proto Majteja Matejic, at the Ohio State University
Library) read some of the Serbian news reports, he thinks that,
according to his calculations, roughly half of the monastery burned:
the administrative wing including guest quarters and offices, all of
which had been recently renovated. While most of what burned had been
built in the 19th cent., one 16th-century portion of the monastery was
destroyed. According to one report, the White Tower and a 17th-
century chapel with significant frescoes, an iconostasis and icons was
largely burned. The bookstore that was part of the administrative
unit was also burned.
It appears that the fire started on the roof and ran along the roof -
which Predrag says is the one way it could spread since the building
is stone. The library is untouched since it is an add-on and lower
than the rest of the structure - a fire spreading along the roofs
wouldn't move find a path to the library roof. No injuries to the monks.
They had to send 5 companies of firefighters from Karyes. The expert
group on preservation and historical restoration has already been sent
there from Serbia to evaluate damage and what needs to be done. The
Patriarch (of Serbia) categorized the extent of the damage as enormous.
Here's a statement that Father Mateja received from people (the
Patriarchate) in Serbia:
"CATASTROPHIC FIRE IN CHILANDAR MONASTERY
(BELGRADE) 4 March 2004 Last night after midnight Chilandar Monastery
on Mount Athos was caught by catastrophic fire, which is still not
completely extinguished. There are no casualties, and the
firefighters, monks and workers in the monastery are keeping the fire
under control. The fire, which spread by rooftop, completely destroyed
a part of the monastery complex from the abbot's cell, through the
hospitality rooms all the way to the Tower of Saint Sava. The Church
of King Milutin, the treasury, archives and monastery library remain
out of the fire's range. Five fire engines from Kareia, the
administrative center of Mount Athos and the Chalkidiki Peninsula,
joined in extinguishing and containing the fire.
The northwest part of the monastery residence, erected in 1821, and
recently completely renovated, was burned. The administrative center
of the monastery, the hospitality room and guest rooms were located in
this section. The northeastern, White Residence, erected in 1598,
which was under general restoration, was also destroyed in the fire."
Zoran Rakovic
Vox Serbicus
New Zealand
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, 5 March 2004 1:59 p.m.
Subject: [Horska Muzika Srba] Hilandar Monastery fire
Because no one else has posted anything on this yet, here is what I
know (not much more than you can get from the Serbian Patriarchate
website):
Prof. Predrag Matejic (Curator of the Hilandar Collection established
by his father, Proto Majteja Matejic, at the Ohio State University
Library) read some of the Serbian news reports, he thinks that,
according to his calculations, roughly half of the monastery burned:
the administrative wing including guest quarters and offices, all of
which had been recently renovated. While most of what burned had been
built in the 19th cent., one 16th-century portion of the monastery was
destroyed. According to one report, the White Tower and a 17th-
century chapel with significant frescoes, an iconostasis and icons was
largely burned. The bookstore that was part of the administrative
unit was also burned.
It appears that the fire started on the roof and ran along the roof -
which Predrag says is the one way it could spread since the building
is stone. The library is untouched since it is an add-on and lower
than the rest of the structure - a fire spreading along the roofs
wouldn't move find a path to the library roof. No injuries to the monks.
They had to send 5 companies of firefighters from Karyes. The expert
group on preservation and historical restoration has already been sent
there from Serbia to evaluate damage and what needs to be done. The
Patriarch (of Serbia) categorized the extent of the damage as enormous.
Here's a statement that Father Mateja received from people (the
Patriarchate) in Serbia:
"CATASTROPHIC FIRE IN CHILANDAR MONASTERY
(BELGRADE) 4 March 2004 Last night after midnight Chilandar Monastery
on Mount Athos was caught by catastrophic fire, which is still not
completely extinguished. There are no casualties, and the
firefighters, monks and workers in the monastery are keeping the fire
under control. The fire, which spread by rooftop, completely destroyed
a part of the monastery complex from the abbot's cell, through the
hospitality rooms all the way to the Tower of Saint Sava. The Church
of King Milutin, the treasury, archives and monastery library remain
out of the fire's range. Five fire engines from Kareia, the
administrative center of Mount Athos and the Chalkidiki Peninsula,
joined in extinguishing and containing the fire.
The northwest part of the monastery residence, erected in 1821, and
recently completely renovated, was burned. The administrative center
of the monastery, the hospitality room and guest rooms were located in
this section. The northeastern, White Residence, erected in 1598,
which was under general restoration, was also destroyed in the fire."
