Tirana, Albania, December 18, 2023
Photo: libertas.mk
Nearly two dozen Orthodox icons stolen from churches and monasteries of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric were returned to North Macedonia during a meeting of the Macedonian and Albanian Ministers of Culture in Tirana.
The Macedonian Ministry of Culture stated: “For the first time in the history of our country, a successful restitution of cultural heritage is being made, thanks to the good cooperation between the governments and the Ministries of Culture of North Macedonia and Albania,” reports sitel.com.mk.
The icons will first be taken to the Museum of Macedonia. There why will undergo any necessary restoration and then exhibited before being returned to the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
Photo: libertas.mk
From 2009 to 2013, there was a strong wave of break-ins at churches and monastery, especially in Western and Southwestern Macedonia, with hundreds of icons being stolen.
Macedonian art experts accidentally noticed the icons in a 2013 television program with Albanian Prime Minister in 2013. From there began the long process of securing their return to North Macedonia.
“It took much time to determine the authenticity of these claims, check the registers of artifacts of North Macedonia, officially proclaim them as part of its national treasure and to work on sending all the necessary documents to Albania fort their return,” reports Balkan Insight.
Another 37 icons have been identified as belonging to the Macedonian Church and are in the process of being returned.
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