Top officials take part in Statehood Day ceremonies

BELGRADE, ORASAC Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Mt. Avala on the occasion of February 15, Serbian Statehood Day. Nikolic signed the memorial book: “In the name of all citizens of Serbia, in the name of children who live in peace, in the name of Serbia that exists, I voiced gratitude for the fact that you sacrificed your life for your Serbia.“ Top officials take part in Statehood Day ceremonies Nikolic also wrote: “It is hard when you are unknown, and a hero, but it is for the pride of Serbia, for which we will fight forever. The known and the unknown. Thank you.“ On Friday, Serbia is marking its Statehood Day in honor of the First Serbian Uprising and the first Serbian Constitution. Later in the day, the Serbian president will deliver an address at a ceremonial session of the Serbian parliament held as part of Statehood Day celebrations. more photos (Tanjug) Statehood Day marked in Orasac The Statehood Day of Serbia and 209 years since the First Serbian Uprising were marked at the Maricevica Jaruga site near Orasac in central Serbia on Friday with a liturgy that was served by Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, and wreath laying ceremony at the memorial to Grand Leader Djordje Petrovic Karadjordje. Laurel wreaths were laid by advisor to the Serbian president Oliver Antic, on behalf of the president, Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, president of the municipality of Arandjelovac Bojan Radojevic, and Darko Pavlovic on behalf of the First Serbian Uprising Fund. The Statehood Day celebrations brought together government officials, a large number of citizens and associations for fostering traditions of the liberation wars. Besides the flags of Serbia, the Ravna Gora Movement, and the Kingdom of Serbia, citizens carried banners reading Kosovo is Serbia's fac"', and during the ceremony, citizens shouted several times "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia", "Long Live the King". Addressing those gathered, Oliver Antic said that “by their great deeds, great people give an example to their spiritual successors“, and that Karadjordje is also needed today as it was yesterday." Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic underlined that Orasac and Oplenac are the symbols of the modern Serbian state and freedom, and that Maricevica Jaruga is one of the most holy sites in the Serbian history. He noted that a great injustice is being remedied these days, as his father, mother, grandmother - King Petar II , Queen Aleksandra and Queen Marija will be buried in the St. George's Church on Oplenac Hill on May 26. Arandjelovac Mayor Bojan Radojevic underscored that a crucial event in the history of the Serbian people took place at Maricevica Jaruga in 1804, when around 300 determined Serbs led by Karadjordje staged an uprising against the occupying Ottoman Turkish forces. Tanjug

Top officials take part in Statehood Day ceremonies

Nikolić also wrote: “It is hard when you are unknown, and a hero, but it is for the pride of Serbia, for which we will fight forever. The known and the unknown. Thank you.“

On Friday, Serbia is marking its Statehood Day in honor of the First Serbian Uprising and the first Serbian Constitution.

Later in the day, the Serbian president will deliver an address at a ceremonial session of the Serbian parliament held as part of Statehood Day celebrations.

more photos

Statehood Day marked in Orašac

The Statehood Day of Serbia and 209 years since the First Serbian Uprising were marked at the Marićevića Jaruga site near Orašac in central Serbia on Friday with a liturgy that was served by Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Bishop Jovan of Šumadija, and wreath laying ceremony at the memorial to Grand Leader Đorđe Petrović Karađorđe.

Laurel wreaths were laid by advisor to the Serbian president Oliver Antić, on behalf of the president, Crown Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević, president of the municipality of Aranđelovac Bojan Radojević, and Darko Pavlović on behalf of the First Serbian Uprising Fund.

The Statehood Day celebrations brought together government officials, a large number of citizens and associations for fostering traditions of the liberation wars.

Besides the flags of Serbia, the Ravna Gora Movement, and the Kingdom of Serbia, citizens carried banners reading Kosovo is Serbia's fac"', and during the ceremony, citizens shouted several times "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia", "Long Live the King".

Addressing those gathered, Oliver Antić said that “by their great deeds, great people give an example to their spiritual successors“, and that Karađorđe is also needed today as it was yesterday."

Crown Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević underlined that Orašac and Oplenac are the symbols of the modern Serbian state and freedom, and that Marićevića Jaruga is one of the most holy sites in the Serbian history.

He noted that a great injustice is being remedied these days, as his father, mother, grandmother - King Petar II , Queen Aleksandra and Queen Marija will be buried in the St. George's Church on Oplenac Hill on May 26.

Aranđelovac Mayor Bojan Radojević underscored that a crucial event in the history of the Serbian people took place at Marićevića Jaruga in 1804, when around 300 determined Serbs led by Karađorđe staged an uprising against the occupying Ottoman Turkish forces.