SERBIA - National review, No 50

Prologue

GALLERY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS 

Prologue
ROUND NUMBERS WITH SHARP EDGES
Fifty

Vitrage
NUMBERS, EVENTS, INTERESTING THINGS

Album
”ROD”, UNUSUAL APPLIED ARTS PROJECT
Serbian Mythology

Pilgrimages
FAR AWAY, CORFU STILL REMEMBERS EVENTS FROM A CENTURY AGO
The Epic of Heroism and Suffering
Every generation in Serbia must read this, experience in itself and go there to pay respect. And keep the memory as Christo Yanulis from Agios Matheos does it, whose grandfather shared bread and wine with Serbian martyrs and gave a part of his estate for the cemetery of the Drina Division. Corfu is filled with Serbian traces and monuments. All those heartbreaking stories and songs are still alive. There, in Corfu, we may also measure to what extent we, of this day, are still alive

Text and photographs: Mišo Vujović

Guide
TITEL, EMBRACED BY BEGEJ, TISA AND DANUBE
On a Hill in a Plain
Those who stand on a hill see far. When skies are clear, one can see all the way to Belgrade, Novi Sad and Zrenjanin from Titelski Breg. The Begej flows into the Tisa and the Tisa into the Danube nearby. The forests on the banks are beautiful, the plain resembles an open sea, herds of cows and flocks of sheep graze under Breg. This is the place where Šajkaši and Mileva Marić come from. An old legend states that exactly here, at the bottom of the Tisa, near the largest river island on this river, is the tomb of Attila the Hun. With numerous treasures, of course. If you sail to living water here, you can reach the sea without rowing

Text and photo: Miodrag Grubački

Heights
BORAČKI KRŠ, IN THE MIDDLE OF ŠUMADIJA
Handwriting of Ancient Natural Forces
It is difficult to imagine that a dramatic boiling of nature used to take place in this docile area. Quakes, eruptions, ”liquid flames”. Much later, in the Middle Ages, an important fortification and one of the palaces of Despot Stefan Lazarević was here. This is where he issued the famous decree on the privileges to citizens of Dubrovnik in 1405. Of course, nothing is as it used to be. The rocky massif, with a cliff resembling a crest of some prehistoric animal, is now attractive in a completely different way

Text and photo: Josip Šarić

Wheel
CITY CYCLING IN SERBIAN CAPITAL HAS REACHED THE ”CRITICAL MASS”
Infection of Positivity Spreads around Belgrade
In Amsterdam, almost every resident has a bicycle. In Helsinki, people ride bikes even in the snow. In Copenhagen, the cyclists have their own bridge. In London, they are building a cycling highway. Belgrade is not on this list of cycling cities. Nevertheless, a group of brave and very creative people have been fighting persistently to change this. They are immensely interesting, and their equation is clear: good will be repaid by good

Text and photographs: Dragana Barjaktarević

Philosophy of Wine
A SMALL KRUŠEDOL MANUAL ABOUT RIESLING AND BERMET
A Wine Treat
I can tell you all this, my friend, you can even write it down, but if you don’t feel it within yourself, if you cannot hear wine, you cannot make it good. Good wine is not made, it’s deserved. The winemaker makes wine, but it’s also the other way round. Archimandrite Damaskin left us a discussion about the Riesling called amber. The thing is in the mixture: the less virtue among people, the worse the mixture. Zaharije Orfelin talks about bermet, a beverage only for the noble ones. Listen to his winter and summer recipe

By: Marina Gorski

Traces
IN BELA KRAJINA, WITH A FEW SERBIAN SEEDS ON THE PALM
The Last Sparkle of Old Uskoks
Most of them inhabited the area in the XVI century, to be the protective wall of shaken Europe before the Ottoman invasion. There, between Novo Mesto and Metlika, between the Kupa and Gorjanci, Serbs have been preserving their faith and self-consciousness for centuries. Only after World War II, when they started off to cities, adhering to the imposed ideology, the processes of depersonalization and assimilation began. The remaining Serbs today live in only four villages, and even there things are not going well

Text and photo: Dea Josifovski

Letter
OLD SERBIAN REGALIA ARE STILL KEPT IN FAR AWAY HAWAII
Medal for a Friendship
Two small kingdoms, at the two ends of the world, bravely fought to preserve their independence and freedom in the global turmoil of the last fourth of the nineteenth century. They understood and respected each other, purely and honorably. Both of them have ceased to exist long time ago, but the good spirit that brought them together more than one hundred and thirty years ago is still there. As a reminder of it, three Orders of the Cross of Takovo and Order of St. Sava, are still kept in Iolani Palace, in the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu

By: Milomir Ognjanović
Photographs: Royal Palace Iolani Museum and M. Ognjanović

Heritage
BLIND JECA, A UNIQUE VOICE AMONG VUK’S SINGERS
The Symbolism of Prijezda’s Darling
Her real name was Jelisaveta Jovanović. She died nine days after childbirth, mad from pain because of the death of her newborn son Sava. Her poems are shorter compared to the older versions, more reduced and condensed, built only of crucial moments. ”Death of Duke Prijezda” is the best Serbian poem about defending a city. A higher degree from Prijezda’s choice is the decision of his wife Jelica, with whom the poet, not by accident, identified even with her name

By: Dragan Lakićević

Opus
NEBOJŠA SAVOVIĆ NES, SCULPTOR, WITH HIS TEAM, CARVING ORNAMENTS IN MARBLE OF THE ST. SAVA TEMPLE FOR ELEVEN YEARS
Filigree Embroidery in Stone
It is not a task for only one generation, let alone one human being. It’s not a matter of speed, but service, memory of the future. It is similar to an alchemical process and road of metamorphosis. A bridge connecting generations. This artist from Gornji Milanovac and his associates (Bojana Joksimović, Ivan Jeremić, Milorad Panić) continue what Nestorović, Deroko, Grassi began, and some new artists will continue the work of the present ones. It is true: we are building the temple, the temple is building us

By: Miloš Lazić

Fairytale
HOW A GIRL TAMED A MONSTER WITH A HAIRPIN
The Fall of the Ugly Master of Spiders
You mustn’t be afraid. Even if you are, don’t let it show. Fear is a bad companion. It is a rope they might tie you with. Little Ikonija, a girl resembling a dandelion, knew the secret of conquering fear. She overpowered the master of the dark island with soap bubbles. She saved the imprisoned children and the entire village. The last thing the dark master realized was that he was only a soap bubble himself

By: Nebojša Jevrić

The Winner
NEMANJA BJELICA, THE MOST USEFUL BASKETBALL PLAYER OF EUROLEAGUE AND A NEW NBA STAR, EXCLUSIVELY FOR ”NATIONAL REVIEW”
The Real Fruits of Complete Dedication
Many unusual life stories sometimes comprise a sports one. Or vice versa. Nemanja Bjelica, until recently a player of ”Fenerbahçe” from Istanbul, is currently the most striking basketball personality in Europe, which is confirmed by the recognition for the most useful player of the Euroleague. Starting from the next season, he will be the star of American ”Minnesota”. It is a true satisfaction after everything he has experienced in his career

By: Dejan Bulajić

Bridges
A NEW GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IN SERBIA
Getting to Know One Another, in the Best Way
They are fellows of the government of Serbia. Here they first learn the language, and then they will study at one of the faculties of Belgrade University. They did not just come to another continent, to another country and culture, but in to different world. They brought a pure heart, without negative prejudices, and will have something to carry out in it once they go back to their countries, with a degree

By: Aleksa Komet

Party
EXCITING MONTHS IN THE CAPITAL OF SERBIA ARE AHEAD
The Magic of Summer in Belgrade
From classical music on the Fortress, through crazy and exciting entertainment on the banks, to the mega event on Ušće and promenade on waters, this summer again Belgrade will have superb offer. It will be intoxicating and magnetic, filled with songs and witty, irresistible and its own. It still makes it unique in this part of the world, and beyond, much beyond. You are invited, come and see for yourself

Holiday
MUNICIPALITY RUMA CELEBRATED THE DAY OF ITS PATRON SAINT
Saint Day for Celebration
High-ranking delegation of the government, led by the prime minister, attended the celebrations. A new factory was opened, providing jobs for 325 people. By the end of the year there will be around one thousand newly employed people in Ruma. Sewing skill is sought for again

Foci
EVENT ”MUSEUMS OF SERBIA TEN DAYS FROM 10 TO 10” IN THE MUSEUM OF SREM
Lovely Little Cultural Rebellion
In the farce surrounding us, culture still has something to say. And not for only one night. (Why night?) This May, the Museum of Srem in Sremska Mitrovica has shown this in a very striking, even touching way. With almost no budget, only with knowledge, creativity and good will. The audience responded, in numbers and in spirit, and quality of participation. From the youngest to the oldest

By: Danica Dragičević Đukić

Reminder
ON THE OCCASION OF OPENING OF THE MUSEUM OF SPA TREATMENT IN VRNJAČKA BANJA
Journey through Five Periods
Testimonies go back to the ancient times. Traces in the middle of the road. The spa treatment in modern sense has been developing here since the 19th century. Miloš Obrenović, then Baron Herder, Dr. Emerih Lindenmajer, Jevtimije Popović, bishop Joanikije Nešković, Dr. Josif Pančić... Many have contributed, from the pioneer era until today. We are reminded of all this, in a documented and legible manner, and the new museum exhibition, which is the result of efforts of the Museum of Science and Technology from Belgrade, Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja and the Ministry of Culture of Serbia

By: Jelena Jovanović Simić

Examples
”MERKUR”, BEYOND A HEALTH INSTITUTION
A medicinal Philosophy
It is enjoyable to be healthy, it is healthy to enjoy. Being calm and achieving inner balance are a blessing, but today, in this stressful and hectic time, they are not easy to preserve. Massage, this ancient art, should be understood as an investment in yourself, preparing the body for the challenges, re-establishing of the harmony. In ”Merkur”, they know how and why

Links
”RED STAR” ONE TEAM ”TELEKOM SRBIJA”
True Attraction of Knowledge
Only ignorance is boring. And oppressive. And knowledge may be acquired in very creative and interesting ways. The goal of the action ”We Learn By Playing – Learning2play” was to draw attention to the literacy of young people in an entertaining way. The initiator is basketball club ”Red Star Telekom”, and partners are ”Telekom Srbija” and Special Olympics of Serbia. Famous basketball players also participated, and the action included schools in Pančevo, Umka, Zrenjanin, Pirot and Čačak

Consequences
FURTHER REMEDY OF ”KOLUBARA’S” MINES AFTER THE LAST YEAR’S FLOODS, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MINING PROFESSION
Drying of Tamnava Lake
Pumping of water from the open pit mine ”Tamnava – Western Field” is a major undertaking, essential for Serbian electric power system. In the year before the flood, this mine produced 14.6 million tons of coal, which was 47 percent of total production of ”Kolubara”. If it is known that coal from this basin produces about 80 percent of electricity in Serbia, then the huge significance of this enterprise becomes quite clear

By: Zrinka Badnjević

Care
TENT AMONG THE LAUREATES OD THE ”28. APRIL” CHARTER FOR 2014
For Safety and Health of Employees
The award was granted for many years of exemplary results in this area. Through continuous implementation of measures and modernization of the system, the number of workplace injuries in TENT has significantly reduced. This proves that a good quality system of occupational safety and health management has been established. Activities in this direction will be continued and raised onto a higher level

By: Ljilјana Jovičić