The Italian military of the Joint Regional Detachment Center (JRD-C), operating in Kosovo as part of KFOR, have finalized the donation of building materials to the church of San Nicola, in the municipality of Pristina, for the renovation of the place of worship. The JRD-C is an Italian-led multinational unit of KFOR with the task of establishing and maintaining constant relations with the population, local authorities, religious institutions and international organizations present in its area of responsibility.
In March 2004 the church of San Nicola was burned along with other places of worship during clashes and riots that occurred throughout Kosovo; only the walls and part of the ceiling remained of the sacred place. Six years after the destruction of the place of worship they were restored: the church, the bell tower, the baptistery and the parish house. "Svet Nikolas" written in the Serbian language, is revered by the Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian denominations and is considered the patron saint of travelers, sailors and fishermen. A large number of Orthodox Christians celebrate and remember St. Nicholas also as the patron saint of the family.
KFOR has accepted the request of Father Darko Marinkovic guardian of the church of San Nicola to complete the last infrastructural interventions.
The JRD-C through its own operational "pawns", i Liasion Monitoring Team, in collaboration with the CIMIC cell of the KFOR headquarters, did his utmost to ensure that the building material, purchased with NATO funds, would be delivered by 7 January, the Orthodox Christmas holiday.
This activity is part of the initiatives carried out by KFOR in favor of the local population of each ethnic group, in full impartiality and in the deepest respect for different cultures and religious beliefs.
