Serbia celebrates the statehood day: The award ceremony at the Presidency (PHOTO)

Serbia is marking Sretenje - the Statehood day, today and tomorrow, in memory of February 15, 1804, when the First Serbian Uprising began and when the first Serbian Constitution was proclaimed in 1835. Sretenje is a national holiday marking two significant historical dates relevant to the cultural, historical and national identity of the Serbs.

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GOOGLE MARKING SERBIA AND THE STATEHOOD DAY

The homepage of the global Internet browser Google is marking the Statehood day of Serbia.

There is a picture of the Serbian tricolor on the front page.

Printskrin: Google

The ceremony of the Statehood day began with the anthem "Boze Pravde". The president of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic presented decorations to the deserving individuals and institutions.

- On this day 215 years ago, they went to fight for freedom, on a difficult road for freedom and peace, for better and more modern Serbia. In that 1835, we have managed to create a modern and legal state. On this road, Serbia is even today. Central values are the same, freedom, peace, and equality, and above all, love for Serbia. We need Karadjordje's bravery and Milos' wisdom and brave head - said the president in the address before the award ceremony.

Among the laureates is also Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and he was the first one to receive an award.

Foto: Tanjug/Rade Prelić

Borisov thanked and congratulated all citizens of Serbia for the holiday and wished health and happiness, with God's help.

He said that this is a great honor for him, then he welcomed the European path of Serbia and said that Bulgaria would do everything for its neighbor Serbia.

The awards were then given to the National Museum, the Faculty of Agriculture, the Kralj Petar Prvi First Primary School, the Zemun Gymnasium, the National Theater Tosa Jovanovic, the theater Hristo Botev from Dimitrovgrad, the Serbian Singing Society Jedinstvo from Kotor, General Ljubisa Dikovic...

Foto: Tanjug/Zoran Žestić

Sretenje is a national holiday marking two significant historical dates relevant to the cultural, historical and national identity of the Serbs.

On that day in 1804, the Serbian rebels, led by Djordje Petrovic-Karadjordje, decided to launch the First Serbian Uprising at the Assembly in Orasac. 

The rebel meeting, held in Orasac, marks the beginning of the restoration of Serbian statehood after the Ottoman rule of several centuries.

Vožd Karađorđe, rad Vladimira Lukiča Borikovskog. Foto: Wikimedia Commons/Narodni muzej

In the next few years, the rebellious army, led by Karadjordje, defeated the Ottoman forces and liberated almost the whole territory of the Belgrade Pashalik at famous battles with Ivankovac, Deligrad, Misar, Belgrade and other places.

This is what started the Serbian liberation fight against the Ottoman authorities and the process of creating their new-born state.

Also, on February 15, 1835, the Sretenje Constitution, the first constitution of Serbia and one of the most democratic and most liberal of that time, was adopted in Kragujevac.  

The day before the celebration of the Statehood Day, honorary artillery fire was carried out in Belgrade, on the Sava Terrace in Kalemegdan.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)