Kosovo, Europe´s Hidden Catholics - 26' 12''
“Crypto-Catholicism manifested itself in more or less an outward formula, not of the essence, but just to allay the pressures of sectarian levies, disturbances, violence, etc. Those who switched to Crypto-Catholicism, they still subscribed to Church stipulations, they attended liturgy, but out of sight. They couldn’t show it publicly.”
Prof. Jahja Drancoli, Pristina University, Kosovo
The majority of people from the mountainous parts of Kosovo belong to an underground community known as Crypto-Catholics. The Kosovan Albanians call them “ljaramani” or chameleonic. This phenomenon in the Balkans dates back to the 15th century, when this area fell to the Ottoman Empire. Unable to resist the pressure and terror imposed by the Turks, the majority of Kosovan Albanians publicly converted to Islam. However, some of them in the remote mountain villages, in the privacy of their homes, continued to practice the Catholic faith. They never lost hope that one day they would be able to once again publicly cross the Church threshold without fear of reprisals. This is their story.
Date of Production: 2014
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This CRTN production was financed by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.
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