Christianity in Kosovo

Today, 87% of Kosovo's population are from Muslim family backgrounds, most of whom are ethnic Albanians,[2] but also including Slavic speakers (who mostly identify themselves as Gorani or Bosniaks) and Turks.

Early martyrs Florus and Laurus from the 2nd century, who were murdered along with other 300 Christians in Ulpiana, near modern Lipjan, are venerated by the locals.

Between the 7th and 12th centuries a powerful network of cult institutions were revived completely covering the ecclesiastical administration of the entire present-day Albanian-speaking compact area.

[17] The Eastern Orthodox Church has a significant historical presence in Kosovo, with roots dating back to the Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian and Serbian empires.

[20] In 12th century, Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja was the first who had seized the surrounding area along the White Drin from the Byzantine empire to Grand Principality of Serbia.

In 1346 Easter, Emperor of Serbia Stefan Dušan convoked a grand assembly, attended by the Serbian Archbishop Joanikije II and various religious leaders of Mount Athos.

[23] During World War II, the region was annexed in territory of the axis Fascist Italy-ruled Kingdom of Albania during the Invasion of Yugoslavia.

The Serbian Orthodox monasteries was targeted for destruction by Italian fascist blackshirts and Albanian nationalist Balli Kombëtar under the idea of creating a racially pure Greater Albania, the Balli Kombëtar enacted campaigns of massacres, genocide and terrorism against Serb Orthodox christians civilians in Kosovo.

[26][27][28] The Royal Italian Army responded by sending a group of soldiers to help protect the Serbian Orthodox monasteries from attacks.

[34] The Catholic Church has a significant historical presence in Kosovo, with roots dating back to the Roman and Byzantine empires.

The influence of the Catholic Church grew under the Kingdom of Hungary in the 11th century and continued to develop during the subsequent periods of rule by various powers, including the Venetian and Ottoman Empires.

During the Ottoman period, many Albanians converted to Islam, but a significant number remained Catholic, particularly in the western and northern regions of Kosovo.

The church continues to support the spiritual and social needs of its followers, fostering a sense of unity and cultural identity among the Catholic Albanians in Kosovo.

[39] There is also a small number of evangelical Protestants, whose tradition dates back to the Methodist missionaries' work centered in Bitola, in the late 19th century.