Church of St Elias, Bistražin (Đakovica / Gjakova) is entry #25 in the May 2009 archival catalogue of the Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC). According to the original technical site sheet, the site is described as: Small chapel, single aisle and belfry. Built in 1991 on the site of a destroyed church from the early XX c.
Historical and Architectural Significance
According to the archived Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC) dossier #25, the site description reads: Small chapel, single aisle and belfry. Built in 1991 on the site of a destroyed church from the early XX c. (Serbian counterpart: Mala jednobrodna kapela sa zvonikom. Sagrađena 1991. godine na lokaciji srušene crkve koja datira iz ranog XX veka.). Within the RIC documentation, this summary served as the baseline architectural identification of the building structure, materials, and ancillary structures within the complex.
Covered by 2005 tender lot Ref. No. 2 (together with the Church of the Assumption #26 and St Lazarus Chapel in Piskote #27). In 2005, selective debris removal was conducted under archaeological supervision, storing reusable stone on site and consolidating foundation remains.
Destruction and Recorded Damage (March 2004)
Under the heading 2004 — Damage Assessment in the original RIC dossier, the following condition was recorded: Blown up with explosives. Completely destroyed..
Damage assessments in the RIC dossiers derive from the three joint technical assessment missions conducted by the Council of Europe and the European Commission between May and July 2004, involving heritage protection specialists and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Reconstruction and Conservation Works (2005–2009)
The table below presents the chronology of interventions from 2005 to 2009 according to the verified RIC archival dossier and tender registers:
| Year | Completed Works and Interventions | Stage Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Selective removal of debris under the supervision of an archaeologist. Storage of reusable materials within the site. Consolidation of the foundation remains. Reinforcement of the existing fence, new iron entrance gate. | Completed |
| 2006 | No interventions carried out | Completed |
| 2007 | No interventions carried out | Completed |
| 2008 | No interventions carried out | Completed |
| 2009 | No interventions planned | Planned |
Analysis of archival dossier #25 shows the year-by-year progression of works under the mandate of the Reconstruction Implementation Commission. Works carried out in 2005 formed part of Phase I emergency protective interventions (consolidation, roofing, securing openings, clearance, and perimeter fencing) implemented across 30 sites.
When reading the 2009 entry, note that the English original explicitly states 2009 — Further Interventions Programmed, whereas the Serbian heading uses the shorter label 2009 — Dalje intervencije. Listing an activity under 2009 therefore documents a programmed plan as of May 2009, not confirmation of subsequent execution.
Conservation Context and Monument Condition
According to the Commission's May 2009 documentation,
Frequently Asked Questions
How is site #25 titled in the original RIC catalogue?
In the English catalogue it is listed as '25 CHURCH OF ST ELIAS. Bishtrazhin/Bištražin (Gjakovë/Đakovica)', and in the Serbian catalogue as '25 CRKVA SV. ILIJE u Bištražinu, Đakovica'.
What damage was documented in the 2004 assessment?
According to the original RIC dossier: Blown up with explosives. Completely destroyed..
What protective works were recorded in 2005?
For 2005, the dossier records: Selective removal of debris under the supervision of an archaeologist. Storage of reusable materials within the site. Consolidation of the foundation remains. Reinforcement of the existing fence, new iron entrance gate..
What is the chronological cut-off of the data in this dossier?
Primary phase data is bounded by the May and July 2009 archival snapshots of the RIC website. Items listed under 2009 denote 'Further Interventions Programmed' at that date, not proof of subsequent completion.
Sources and Further Reading
- Report Submitted by UNMIK Pursuant to Article 2.2 of the Agreement Between UNMIK and the Council of Europe Related to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (ACFC/SR/II(2009)002) — Council of Europe / UNMIK (31. maj 2010.) · Source document ↗
- RIC Archival Page: The Background / Uvod — Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC) — archival snapshot (17. maj 2009.)
- RIC Archival Site Dossiers (/inc/{eng,srp}/sites/*.html, May–July 2009) — Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC) — archival snapshots (17. maj 2009. / 28. jul 2009.)
- RIC Archival Page: RIC Mechanism / KSO mehanizam — Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC) — archival snapshot (16. maj 2009.)
- RIC Archival Tender Lists 2005–2009 (/inc/{eng,srp}/–, May 2009) — Reconstruction Implementation Commission (RIC) — archival snapshots (16. maj 2009.)
