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| Nikolla Xhufka (left), representing the self-proclaimed Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church of Kosovo, alongside the national flag of Kosovo (right). Xhufka announced a court ruling that he claims legitimizes the organization amidst ongoing property and heritage disputes with the Serbian Orthodox Church. |
Archbishop Nikolla Xhufka, head of the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church of Kosovo, said that the court case was aimed at defending the legitimacy and legal standing of the Albanian Orthodox community.
According to Xhufka, the court proceedings challenged claims that the Albanian Orthodox Church of Kosovo was not a legitimate religious institution. He stated that the outcome represents a major development for Albanian Orthodox believers who wish to organize their religious life through their own church structure.
“The purpose of this trial was the legitimacy of the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church of Kosovo,” Xhufka said.
He also accused the Serbian Orthodox Church of mixing religious activity with politics and called on Kosovo institutions to respond to statements by Serbian religious leaders that, according to him, contribute to ethnic and political divisions.
New Legal Dispute Over Podujeva Monastery
The legal dispute between the two sides is not limited to recognition issues. Another case concerns a monastery in Podujeva, where the Serbian Orthodox Church claims ownership rights.
Xhufka said that his church is challenging those claims, arguing that historical evidence shows the monastery belongs to Albanian Orthodox heritage rather than the Serbian Orthodox Church.
He added that the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church of Kosovo intends to continue pursuing legal procedures regarding religious sites that it believes have historical links to Albanian Orthodox communities.
Registration of Albanian Orthodox Believers Begins
Following the announced court victory, the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church of Kosovo has started registering Albanian Orthodox believers.
According to Archbishop Xhufka, the registration process will remain open without a fixed deadline and is intended for people who identify themselves as members of the Albanian Orthodox community in Kosovo.
He said that 15 believers from Pristina had registered by Sunday afternoon, while interest is expected to increase in the coming days.
The registration requires believers to provide their name, surname, city of residence, and signature.
“This registration will remain open for everyone who feels they belong to this community, who know that their ancestors were Orthodox, or who wish to join the church,” Xhufka stated.
The dispute over Orthodox religious identity, church property, and historical heritage remains one of the most sensitive religious and cultural issues in Kosovo, where different communities maintain competing historical interpretations.