Serbian government meets in Krusevac: Serbs celebrate Vidovdan and mark 635th anniversary of Battle of Kosovo

A formal session of the Government of Serbia, held on the occasion of the celebration of the national and Orthodox Christian religious holiday Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day) and the 635th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo was held today in the Town Hall in Krusevac.

In addition to Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, the session was attended by all ministers in the Government of Serbia, the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Army, General Milan Mojsilovic, and the mayor of Krusevac, Ivan Manjolovic.

The prime minister, accompanied by Minister of Labor, Employment, Social Affair and Veterans' Affairs Nemanja Starovic, laid wreaths at the Memorial to the Heroes of Kosovo in Krusevac. This was followed by the sounding of Serbia's national anthem, Boze Pravde ("God of Justice") and then the director of the BIA agency, Bratislav Gasic and Army chief Mojsilovic also laid wreaths.

Before this ceremony, Vucevic presided over the meeting of the cabinet which was attended by all ministers as well as Mojsilovic and Mayor Manjolovic.

"Today we are rightfully in the imperial city, Krusevac, celebrating one of the most important days in the history of Serbia and the Serb nation, Vidovdan. We have been marking this day for 635 years. And of course the question arises as to why that is so, or how it is possible that one holiday, one date, one nation marks it for more than six centuries. Vidovdan is a day when the past, present and future intertwine," said Vucevic.

He stressed that the fateful June 28 is not just a date in the calendar for Serbs, but a moment that symbolizes resilience, self-sacrifice and all that is good in us.

"Vidovdan is a public confession of collective memory that warns and awakens, encourages and gives strength to go on, teaches. Vidovdan is also there for us to remember the day when we won, rather than lost. On this day, we remember the many martyrs who fell for the fatherland, family and faith, before (Battle of) Kosovo, in Kosovo, and after Kosovo."

This morning, Prime Minister Vucevic attended a commemoration dedicated to Saint Prince Lazar and the Heroes of Kosovo in the Ravanica Monastery, which marked the beginning of the Day of Remembrance of the Rule of Prince Lazar - June 28.

Prime Minister Vucevic and other guests bowed before the tomb of the medieval Serbian ruler, and lit candles for his soul.

After that, they attended memorial liturgy served by Bishop Ignjatije of Branicevo and other members of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In Serbia a series of events are organized today to mark major national holiday Vidovdan, which is also the anniversary, the 635th this year, of the Battle of Kosovo fought against the invading Turks in 1389. The central event is held in the town of Krusevac.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)