Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day

Today is Sretenje – the day Serbia celebrates as its Statehood and Army Day. Sretenje is also a Serbian Orthodox Church holiday, known in English as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day On this day in 1804, Djordje Petrovic Karadjordje led the First Serbian Uprising against Turkish occupation. On the same day in 1835, Serbia, emerging from centuries of Ottoman invasion and occupation, adopted its first modern constitution. Today in the capital of Belgrade, the parliament has held a ceremonial session, at which President Boris Tadic took the presidential oath. More about it in a separate article. The date for the ceremony is laden with symbolism, as Tadic's Feb. 3 re-election made him the first president in Serbia's history as a sovereign and independent nation. Until 1918, Serbia was a principality, kingdom and empire in various stages of its history. From 1918 until 2006, it was a part of half a dozen versions of Yugoslavia, a kingdom and later republic envisaged as the national home for the southern Slavs. The main celebrations of Statehood are taking place in the central Serbian towns of Orasac and Topola, the sites of the First Serbian Uprising against the Turks in the early 19th century. The celebrations started this morning in the Church of Our Lord's Resurrection in historic Orasac, where the liturgy was served by Metropolitan Amfilohije, Bishop Jovan, Bishop Atanasije and priests from the Sumadija eparchy. In the presence of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, cabinet ministers, Prince Aleksandar Katadjordjevic, Princess Katarina and a large number of officials, Metropolitan Amfilohije recalled the importance of one of the 15 biggest Christian holidays, Sretenje. In Belgrade earlier today, Boris Tadic laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on Mt. Avala. The president signed the book and wrote: "For Serbia, which creates its future, keeps its Kosovo and is dedicated to its identity." The president's delegation included Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Serbian Army Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponos. Serbian Army Day will be celebrated with a military exercise in Nis, to be attended by Ponos, dubbed Sretenje 2008. Other top military and state officials will also attend. Serbian Army members will demonstrate some of their capabilities in combating terrorism, engagement in peace-keeping missions and aid to civilians. The army chose Sretenje as its day to mark the military success achieved in the First Serbian Uprising, which led to the rebirth of the Serbian army and state in the 19th century. A VS Guard holds the national flag as President Boris Tadic approaches the Mt. Avala memorial (Tanjug)

Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day

On this day in 1804, Đorđe Petrović Karađorđe led the First Serbian Uprising against Turkish occupation.

On the same day in 1835, Serbia, emerging from centuries of Ottoman invasion and occupation, adopted its first modern constitution.

Today in the capital of Belgrade, the parliament has held a ceremonial session, at which President Boris Tadić took the presidential oath. More about it in a separate article.

The date for the ceremony is laden with symbolism, as Tadić's Feb. 3 re-election made him the first president in Serbia's history as a sovereign and independent nation.

Until 1918, Serbia was a principality, kingdom and empire in various stages of its history. From 1918 until 2006, it was a part of half a dozen versions of Yugoslavia, a kingdom and later republic envisaged as the national home for the southern Slavs.

The main celebrations of Statehood are taking place in the central Serbian towns of Orašac and Topola, the sites of the First Serbian Uprising against the Turks in the early 19th century.

The celebrations started this morning in the Church of Our Lord's Resurrection in historic Orašac, where the liturgy was served by Metropolitan Amfilohije, Bishop Jovan, Bishop Atanasije and priests from the Šumadija eparchy.

In the presence of Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, cabinet ministers, Prince Aleksandar Katađorđević, Princess Katarina and a large number of officials, Metropolitan Amfilohije recalled the importance of one of the 15 biggest Christian holidays, Sretenje.

In Belgrade earlier today, Boris Tadić laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on Mt. Avala.

The president signed the book and wrote: "For Serbia, which creates its future, keeps its Kosovo and is dedicated to its identity."

The president's delegation included Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac and Serbian Army Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš.

Serbian Army Day will be celebrated with a military exercise in Niš, to be attended by Ponoš, dubbed Sretenje 2008.

Other top military and state officials will also attend. Serbian Army members will demonstrate some of their capabilities in combating terrorism, engagement in peace-keeping missions and aid to civilians.

The army chose Sretenje as its day to mark the military success achieved in the First Serbian Uprising, which led to the rebirth of the Serbian army and state in the 19th century.