Top officials mark St. Sava Day

The traditional celebration dedicated to the first Serbian Archbishop St. Sava was held in the presence of top government and Church officials. They were joined by students and professors, as St. Sava is considered patron saint of schools and education in Serbia. Top officials mark St. Sava Day President Boris Tadic, Patriarch Irinej, Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic all attended the ceremony, which was organized by the Ministry of Education. Education Minister Zarko Obradovic wished teachers a happy St. Sava Day and noted that education was the state interest. “Even today our interest is to be an equal part of the world without denying our own identity and St. Sava’s heritage in the process, and without letting anyone rearrange our historical memory,” the minister said. He pointed out that there were not many small nations that could take pride in so many great minds, and stressed that Serbia has no inferiority complex before other countries and nations. “We are all responsible for the future of Serbia, the entire state, society and every individual,” Obradovic said, and added that the most was expected from Serbia’s education system “for a reason”. “We see knowledge and greater investments in knowledge as a key condition for survival and progress, and only an educated Serbia can win and keep its place in modern Europe,” he said and pointed out that there will not be “a European Serbia without education based on European standards”. The minister also stressed that the vision of a European Serbia was that of a modern, socially just and safe country and added that such a vision was achievable “if we joined forces in development and if there was awareness that we were working to achieve a great deed”. “We should leave for our descendants a better, more humane and more just society,” he said, pointing out that Serbia was capable of achieving this, and noting that “just like in the time of St. Sava much depended on ourselves, on our harmony and efforts to turn our position into an advantage and use it”. Serbia’s Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic and Princess Katarina, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hocevar, representatives of other traditional churches and religious communities, rectors, students and winners of the 2009 St. Sava Award also attended the ceremony. Mirko Cvetkovic, Boris Tadic, Zarko Obradovic, Patriarch Irinej attend the ceremony (Beta)

Top officials mark St. Sava Day

President Boris Tadić, Patriarch Irinej, Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović, and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković all attended the ceremony, which was organized by the Ministry of Education.

Education Minister Žarko Obradović wished teachers a happy St. Sava Day and noted that education was the state interest.

“Even today our interest is to be an equal part of the world without denying our own identity and St. Sava’s heritage in the process, and without letting anyone rearrange our historical memory,” the minister said.

He pointed out that there were not many small nations that could take pride in so many great minds, and stressed that Serbia has no inferiority complex before other countries and nations.

“We are all responsible for the future of Serbia, the entire state, society and every individual,” Obradović said, and added that the most was expected from Serbia’s education system “for a reason”.

“We see knowledge and greater investments in knowledge as a key condition for survival and progress, and only an educated Serbia can win and keep its place in modern Europe,” he said and pointed out that there will not be “a European Serbia without education based on European standards”.

The minister also stressed that the vision of a European Serbia was that of a modern, socially just and safe country and added that such a vision was achievable “if we joined forces in development and if there was awareness that we were working to achieve a great deed”.

“We should leave for our descendants a better, more humane and more just society,” he said, pointing out that Serbia was capable of achieving this, and noting that “just like in the time of St. Sava much depended on ourselves, on our harmony and efforts to turn our position into an advantage and use it”.

Serbia’s Crown Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević and Princess Katarina, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hočevar, representatives of other traditional churches and religious communities, rectors, students and winners of the 2009 St. Sava Award also attended the ceremony.