The Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo is the third largest religious denomination in Kosovo, after Islam and Roman Catholicism. It has 28,000 followers in Kosovo, predominantly made up of the Kosovo Serbs, who mostly live in the North Kosovo region and in some enclaves in the south (such as Štrpce).

During 1999-2004, 140 Serbian Orthodox churches were destroyed. 30 of those were destroyed in the 2004 unrest in Kosovo, and many were destroyed in the 2008 unrest in Kosovo. In 2021, 46 SOC churches were on the Kosovo Culture Ministry’s temporary protection list.

Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo

In 2021, Metropolitan Porfirije was elected as leader, after the death of Metropolitan Irinej.

Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo

Four buildings - the Patriarchate of Pec, Visoki Decani, Gracanica and the Church of the Virgin of Ljeviska - are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo

In 2022, the government's Security of Religious and Cultural Heritage Buildings department provided 24-hour security to 24 SOC churches; however, disputes are ongoing regarding the Church of Christ the Saviour, Pristina building.

See also

Religion in Kosovo

Christianity in Kosovo

Catholic Church in Kosovo

Kosovo Protestant Evangelical Church

Destruction of Serbian heritage in Kosovo

References

Kosovo Serbs