The Serbian Royal Couple attend Ceremony marking Serbia's Statehood Day and 209th Anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising / February 15, 2013

www.royalfamily.org
February 15, 2013

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, accompanied by Mr. Dusan Babac, member of the Privy Council, and Mr. Djurdje Ninkovic, member of the Crown Cabinet, today attended the ceremony in Orasac marking "Serbian Statehood Day", which also marks the 209th anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Oliver Antic, the special envoy of H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, President of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Velimir Ilic, Minister of Construction and Urbanism, Mr. Vladimir Bozovic, state secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, and Mr. Nenad Banovic, chief of the border police.

The ceremony started with a Holy Liturgy served by His Grace the Bishop of Sumadija Jovan and the clergy of the Sumadija Diocese.

Following the Liturgy, a memorial service was held in Maricevica Gully after which HRH Crown Prince Alexander, Prof. Dr. Oliver Antic, Mr. Bojan Radovic, President of Arandjelovac Municipality, and Mr. Darko Pavlovic from the First Serbian Uprising Fund laid laurel wreaths on the monument of Karadjordje ["Black George"]. As part of the ceremony speeches were delivered by HRH Crown Prince Alexander, Prof. Dr. Oliver Antic, and Mr. Bojan Radovic.

In his speech the Crown Prince emphasized:

“On this holy day, at one of the holiest places of Serbian freedom, I greet you as a host and as Karadjordje’s descendent. Orasac and Oplenac are the symbols of the modern Serbian state and our fight for freedom. These days we are rectifying one huge historical and personal injustice. My late father, King Peter II, my mother Queen Alexandra, and my grandmother Queen Maria will finally find their peace resting in the Royal Mausoleum of St. George Church in Oplenac, and the official state funeral will be held on May 26, 2013. That will be an opportunity for Serbia to pay respect to their King and their Queens and to escort them to their eternal resting place with peace and honour. I am certain that in this way our people and our state are fulfilling the great oath left by King Peter I the Liberator, King Alexander I the Unifier, and our supreme leader Karadjordje. Long live the Serbian people! Long live Serbia!”

In his address, Prof. Dr. Oliver Antic said:

“On behalf of the President of Serbia, Mr Tomislav Nikolic, I congratulate you on this exceptionally important holiday. At this sacred place, our thoughts are devoted to the ashes of the father of Serbia, Karadjordje ["Black George"], who lit a fire of freedom on this date in 1804 that was never to be extinguished again. That torch has illuminated a path of salvation first for Serbs, and then for other peoples of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The chains of slavery were exchanged for chains of honour, made of holy crosses and freedom, with the most glittering ring representing the great achievement and sacrifice of our Karadjordje Petrovic“, emphasized Professor Antic, concluding “I wish you a very happy holiday and hope that you and your children will be led by the spirit of the honourable Karadjordje, as well as Saint Sava, because it is the safest course to the port of peace and freedom.”

Their Royal Highnesses attended a memorial service officiated by His Grace the Bishop of Sumadija, Jovan, in the Church of Saint George at Oplenac. After the ceremony, laurel wreaths were placed on the tomb of the Supreme Leader Karadjordje by HRH Crown Prince Alexander and Prof. Dr. Oliver Antic. The ceremony in Oplenac was also attended by Mr. Miroslav Tasic, state secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine will attend a special session of the Parliament of Serbia in the afternoon.