Sinicë, Korçë County, Albania, September 2, 2026
Unidentified vandals broke into the Church of St. Athanasius in the mountain village of Sinicë, near Korçë, smashing icons, damaging sacred objects, and dumping cement inside the building. Residents believe the attack may be connected to a provocative social media post.
The church sits at roughly 4,300 feet above sea level in a remote area with no proper roads and no water supply. According to residents, the perpetrators first tore open bags of cement that had been set aside for the church’s upkeep, spilling the contents, before going inside and overturning everything they could. Both police and the Holy Metropolis of Korçë have been notified, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
The church has been maintained for years through the volunteer efforts of villagers and other well-wishers who see it as a symbol of local tradition and culture.
Residents suspect the vandalism may be a provocation tied to a post on the page Korça Report, titled “Sinica bent to its knees in Greek dances,” which mocked villagers for dancing Greek dances during a feast. They believe the post’s divisive language may have spurred nationalist extremists to carry out the attack.
Villagers say the damage to the church isn’t just an attack on a historic and religious site, but on the interfaith harmony of the community, since the church is respected and honored by both Christian and Muslim residents of the area. The village’s history includes several instances in which the church was rebuilt and maintained through the joint contributions of residents regardless of their faith.
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