Belgrade’s Viva Vox choir, performing a capella – without instruments, ushered the New 2013 Year with a concert in United Nations General Assembly in New York, on January 14, the first day of the New Year according to the Julian calendar.

Serbia Ushers Orthodox New Year in United Nations

An arrangement of traditional Serbian songs, mixed with world pop/rock and classical music was greeted with standing ovations. Among the best received was the famous Serbian First World War March to Drina.

The glorious March was composed by Stanislav Binički in 1914, in honor of the bravery of the Serbian Army, after winning a triumphal Battle of Cer, the first victory for the Allied forces in WWI.

In the midst of ceremonies marking 95-year anniversary of the Battle of Cer [pronounced Tser], the first Allied victory in WWI, archpriest of Serbian Šabac Diocese announced building of a church dedicated to the heroes fallen in the First World War and to the glorious Serb-Russian saint, St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.

“620 years since the fateful Battle of Kosovo, we have gathered here to honor our glorious ancestors who have laid down their lives so we can live in Kosovo and Metohija today. They knew why the Kosovo Battle was fought, they knew what were they defending and whom were they defending.

Today is Vidovdan! What good news, what Gospel is announced to us on today’s great, holy and terrible Day? Behold, before all else, it brings us the magnificent God’s saint, the Holy Czar Lazar. He carries a platter with his head upon it. Wherefore Holy King? To the Kingdom of Heaven.

Serbia has dedicated year 2009 to Pavle “Paja” Jovanović (1859-1957), nation’s greatest academic realist painter alongside Uroš Predić. On the occasion of 150 years since his birth, an exhibition of Pavle Jovanović’s paintings, drawings and sketches is being held from June 16 to July 16, in the town of Vršac (84 km northeast of Belgrade), the great master’s birthplace.

Born on 4 June 1859, Pavle Jovanović was a son of professional photographer Stevan Jovanović, a gifted artist in his own right.
His extravagant talent became apparent in the early childhood, when attending liturgical services with his parents before the iconostasis painted by Pavle Đurković and Arsa Teodorović left a permanent imprint on Jovanović’s aesthetic sensibility, sparking passion for monumental epic compositions that will follow prodigal painter throughout his life and on his many journeys.

Serbian Orthodox Church to her spiritual children at Pascha, 2009

P A V L E

By the grace of God

Orthodox Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, with the all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church – to all the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyous Paschal greeting:

Christ is Risen!
Indeed He is Risen!

“Let us call ‘Brothers’ even those who hate us
and forgive all by the Resurrection.”

Eastern Orthodox Paschal hymn

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Just like in the 1990s, during the civil war in the territory of former Yugoslavia, in recent years too German media supported the decision of their government both when it came to recognizing the mafia state on Serbian territory — its Kosovo and Metohija province — and when it was decided Germany should be the first country in the world to raise their office in Priština to the level of embassy.

Only one political party, the Left (Die Linke), led by two prominent politicians Oskar Lafontaine (former German finance minister and ex chairman of the leading Social Democratic Party) and Gregor Gizi, distanced itself from those decisions. Last year was the first time Die Linke received a significant number of votes also on the territory of the former West Germany, in addition to its popularity in the former East Germany. But although Die Linke represents the opinion of many Germans, the mainstream media in Germany noted their opposition to imposed redrawing of Serbian borders only at the very bottom of newspapers, as a side note. Much greater attention was given to the information that “Lusatian Serbs oppose the secession of Kosovo province from Serbia.”

On March 27 2009 Serbian Army’s legendary 250th Air Defence Missile Brigade celebrated the 10th anniversary of downing the pride of USAF, F-117A stealth bomber, designed to be invisible to the radars. The celebration was attended by Serbia’s top political and military leaders.

Serbian Orthodox Church and all Serbian schools today celebrate St. Sava’s Day, a day of the founder of Serbian Church, state and school. Prince by birth, the youngest son of the Serbian King Stefan Nemanja and Anna — daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes — baptized Rastko, was the first Serbian archbishop and Patriarch, saint and educator.

Europe’s best floral designer is a Serb, born and raised in Belgrade

Djordje (George) Varda, last year awarded the title of the best floral designer in Europe, was miserable when he was told his father was appointed a post in Paris and the family will be moving to France. He was 18 years old and had just finished high school.

- The hardest thing for me in life was to leave Belgrade, – he told RTS reporter Mira Adanja Polak.

- But you came to Paris, it’s not like you went who knows where… – she said.

- Well, when you are 17-plus, someone may offer you a Moon or Mars, but still — Belgrade is Belgrade! – Varda responded.

Some twenty years later, Varda’s little floral boutique at the posh Rue Montorgueil has become one of the must-see locations for Paris visitors, Djordje has been appointed an exclusive floral decorator and supplier of Paris Ritz, a hotel that is beyond the known category system, list of his clients includes the biggest names in the world of high fashion such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Feraud, Krizia, modelling agency Next and Chez Pierre, and he has been called to enliven and decorate even the most decorous places on earth, such as the Paris’ Civic Opera House or the Versailles Palace.

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