BELGRADE -- Today is Sretenje – the day Serbia celebrates as its Statehood and Army Day.
Source: B92, Beta, Tanjug
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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.
Happy Statehood Day, my dear Serbs!
I'm sure that the spirit of the revolution is still alive in your hearts and you must know that there are a lot of people in the world, who despite the filthy anti-Serbian propaganda, love and admire you!
(Despoina, 16 February 2008 02:56)
Do you want God to discriminate against non Serbs in Vojvodina? This is funny. Blessing only for Serbs? How selfish.
You seems to indicate that Serbs are God's chosen people
in the Balkans. I think the next 20-30 years will show that those are the Albanians.
(Joe, 16 February 2008 01:41)
Go out of the block ince the world is changing mate while you are in the block still with your myths. Albanian state was created in 1912 as you well know and it was not a pricnipate of any Southern Slav alliances as Serbia was until 2006.
Anthony, you know very well your history and dilemas that are within your history so Iwould like to leave you with them.
But mate, dont undemine yourself with posting like that.
I believe you meant 'Illyria' and i think that everyone except state sponsored academics of the Hoxa era accept that the loose confederation of tribes in the pre Roman Balkan world have little to do with Albanians in 2008. All peoples in peoples in the within the former Yugoslavia borders have 'Illyrian' blood. Albanians are not special in this. It is certainly a laughable basis to found an independent Kosovo and Metohija.
I'd also be interested to hear when a unified Albania 'as it use to be in history' existed. There was no Albanian national identity in the 19th and 20th century until the communists cobbled some sort of common identity together? And lest we forget the true feelings of ghegs and tosks towards each other.
Truly truly pathetic and for B92 to allow a post advocating Greater Albania is highly irresponsible.
(Anthony Shelmerdine UK, 15 February 2008 16:36)
Dear Albanians, Happy Indipendence day, and soon, very soon, Indipendence of Ilirida and together let make united albania as it use to be in history.
(uli, 15 February 2008 15:24)
Dear Serbs happy statehood day to all of us! Let’s be proud on who we are and what we are! Let’s love our country by all heart!
(bmrusila, 15 February 2008 13:10)
Dear Serbs happy statehood day to all of us! Let’s be proud on who we are and what we are! Let’s love our country by all heart!
(bmrusila, 15 February 2008 13:10)
I believe you meant 'Illyria' and i think that everyone except state sponsored academics of the Hoxa era accept that the loose confederation of tribes in the pre Roman Balkan world have little to do with Albanians in 2008. All peoples in peoples in the within the former Yugoslavia borders have 'Illyrian' blood. Albanians are not special in this. It is certainly a laughable basis to found an independent Kosovo and Metohija.
I'd also be interested to hear when a unified Albania 'as it use to be in history' existed. There was no Albanian national identity in the 19th and 20th century until the communists cobbled some sort of common identity together? And lest we forget the true feelings of ghegs and tosks towards each other.
Truly truly pathetic and for B92 to allow a post advocating Greater Albania is highly irresponsible.
(Anthony Shelmerdine UK, 15 February 2008 16:36)
Dear Albanians, Happy Indipendence day, and soon, very soon, Indipendence of Ilirida and together let make united albania as it use to be in history.
(uli, 15 February 2008 15:24)
Happy Statehood Day, my dear Serbs!
I'm sure that the spirit of the revolution is still alive in your hearts and you must know that there are a lot of people in the world, who despite the filthy anti-Serbian propaganda, love and admire you!
(Despoina, 16 February 2008 02:56)
Go out of the block ince the world is changing mate while you are in the block still with your myths. Albanian state was created in 1912 as you well know and it was not a pricnipate of any Southern Slav alliances as Serbia was until 2006.
Anthony, you know very well your history and dilemas that are within your history so Iwould like to leave you with them.
But mate, dont undemine yourself with posting like that.
Do you want God to discriminate against non Serbs in Vojvodina? This is funny. Blessing only for Serbs? How selfish.
You seems to indicate that Serbs are God's chosen people
in the Balkans. I think the next 20-30 years will show that those are the Albanians.
(Joe, 16 February 2008 01:41)
Dear Albanians, Happy Indipendence day, and soon, very soon, Indipendence of Ilirida and together let make united albania as it use to be in history.
(uli, 15 February 2008 15:24)
Go out of the block ince the world is changing mate while you are in the block still with your myths. Albanian state was created in 1912 as you well know and it was not a pricnipate of any Southern Slav alliances as Serbia was until 2006.
Anthony, you know very well your history and dilemas that are within your history so Iwould like to leave you with them.
But mate, dont undemine yourself with posting like that.
Do you want God to discriminate against non Serbs in Vojvodina? This is funny. Blessing only for Serbs? How selfish.
You seems to indicate that Serbs are God's chosen people
in the Balkans. I think the next 20-30 years will show that those are the Albanians.
(Joe, 16 February 2008 01:41)
Happy Statehood Day, my dear Serbs!
I'm sure that the spirit of the revolution is still alive in your hearts and you must know that there are a lot of people in the world, who despite the filthy anti-Serbian propaganda, love and admire you!
(Despoina, 16 February 2008 02:56)
I believe you meant 'Illyria' and i think that everyone except state sponsored academics of the Hoxa era accept that the loose confederation of tribes in the pre Roman Balkan world have little to do with Albanians in 2008. All peoples in peoples in the within the former Yugoslavia borders have 'Illyrian' blood. Albanians are not special in this. It is certainly a laughable basis to found an independent Kosovo and Metohija.
I'd also be interested to hear when a unified Albania 'as it use to be in history' existed. There was no Albanian national identity in the 19th and 20th century until the communists cobbled some sort of common identity together? And lest we forget the true feelings of ghegs and tosks towards each other.
Truly truly pathetic and for B92 to allow a post advocating Greater Albania is highly irresponsible.
(Anthony Shelmerdine UK, 15 February 2008 16:36)
Dear Serbs happy statehood day to all of us! Let’s be proud on who we are and what we are! Let’s love our country by all heart!
(bmrusila, 15 February 2008 13:10)