SERBIA - National review, No 53

Prologue

GALLERY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS 

Prologue
ON THE BRIDGE BETWEEN YEARS, WITHOUT LANTERNS
Celebrations

Vitrage
NUMBERS, EVENTS, INTERESTING THINGS

Album
EXHIBITION IN ST. PETERSBURG DEDICATED TO SERBIAN KOSOVO
Under the Wings of an Angel

Paths
PIROT AREA, A STROLL ALONG THE TEMŠTICA RIVER
Diverting Fate and Calendar
After entering the canyon, a passenger thinks of Colorado. Then he is puzzled by red: red leaves, red soil and rocks, red houses covered with red stone plates. There is no radio or TV signal, which helps the story roll downhill. Hence one hears about the dog that gave birth to her pups in a hole full of golden coins. About the sledge driven both in winter and summer. About the Sarakatsani who brought the craft of cheese making. About the shepherd from Topli Do who traded with Alexandria and Constantinople. Later, the passenger will clearly understand why he was brought here and why he will come again

Text and photo: Dragan Bosnić

Pilgrimages
IN VRBNICA, ON ZELENGORA, A TEMPLE HAS SPROUTED LIKE A STONE MUSHROOM
To Appease Ancestors and Descendants
It is beauty, my son. Beauty of eagle and black grouse, wolf and otter. Especially when Zelengora turns green. But, every torrent of new history was breaking against the shoulders of this mountain. Grinding. Many partisans and soldiers from Ravna Gora were killed here. By the hand of enemies, mostly Germans and Croatians, but also in the mindless local fratricide. TO all those martyrs, my son, we have built this Church of St. Pantelejmon. All of them. For them, for the peace of their soul, and as a lecture to the offspring. So that this evil, God forbid, never happens to us again

By: Miloš Lazić
Photo: Saša Savović

Sky
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY IN BELGRADE, ONE OF THE OLDEST IN SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE
Star Catalogue and Heavenly Roads
It was founded back in 1887, modeled upon the one in Greenwich. It had an optic telescope, one of the biggest in the world at the time, and a library full of rarities, from the first publications of Zaharije Orfelin and Ruđer Bošković, to the gift fund of Milutin Milanković. The first Serbian discovery of a planet took place there, in 1936. The Observatory complex is the most important monument of history of science in Serbia. Today, it is used for contemporary astronomical and cosmological research

By: Jovan Vučković
Photo: Dragan Bosnić

Lighthouses
ST. SAVA IN THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL CHRONICLE (1)
A Book in the Foundations of the Empire
It was the most monumental literary endeavor in Europe, not only of the XVI century. The illustrated history of the world from the Genesis to the first Russian Emperor Ivan IV the Mighty. Ten thousand sheets written in calligraphy, nearly twenty thousand illustrations made in aquarelle technique called ”Serbskaya coloring”, unknown number of historians and scriveners, more than forty best painters. A tsar-book, one of the relics of the Slavic empire. Serbian history, especially St. Sava and the Battle of Kosovo have a remarkable place in it. The monograph ”St. Sava in the Russian Imperial Chronicle”, published in Serbian, testifies about it. This and the following two editions of ”National Review” bring the entire introductory essay of the editor

By: Milovan Vitezović

A Centenary
HAD THERE BEEN NO CHRISTMAS ON MOJKOVAC, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO EASTER ON KAIMAKCHALAN
Montenegrin Thermopylae
Everything was on the side of the attackers on that terrible and glorious January 1916. The Austro-Hungarian troops were 150,000, Montenegrin only 43,000. Equipped with machine guns and artillery 7:1. But, the Montenegrins, inspired by the Kosovo vow and heroic cult of Obilić, knew the value of the sanctuary they were defending. Sanctity of the Fatherland and Freedom, sanctity of sacrifice for one’s brother. Behind their backs, toward Albania and the sea, 90,000 soldiers and children were withdrawing from Serbia. Montenegrins were accomplishing miracles of heroism, completing their duty with tragic heroism

By: Mišo Vujović

Style
ALEKSANDAR JOKSIMOVIĆ AND FASHION OF THE SIXTIES
Serbian Response to Fashion Revolution
He was the first fashion designer in the world, who gave a name to his collection. He gave a modern expression to national heritage, different from everything coming from the West. He embedded the experience of Serbian medieval painting, folklore and literature into fashion. His collections ”Simonida” and ”Damn Jerina” provoked great excitement in the world of European haute couture. He showed everyone that provincial imitation is a meaningless path for losers. We can be interesting to others only if we are our authentic selves

By: Dragana Barjaktarević

Life, Novels
POET DRAGAN JOVANOVIĆ DANILOV AND HIS INNER CITY
The Art of Taming Volcanoes
He survived all the eruptions of youth and learnt to saddle a tiger. He reached the point where poetry gilds the world. Where it becomes a form of love, a ritual, a salutary deviation. Preparation for departure. He wrote sixteen collections of poems, four novels, one book of auto-poetic essays. He was translated into eight European languages. Winner of more than fifteen Serbian and international awards. Still, he repeatedly continues checking the key for Slavic and Mediterranean codes he carries within

By: Branislav Matić

Fairytale
MANDREL IN THE LAND OF THE DOG-HEADED
Dangerous Paths of the Brave Dwarf
Everything is there again, the Black Princess, the obstacles, the bogeys, but no repetition. Everyone must pass the road alone, in their own, unrepeatable way. As in the quest for the Grail, as up the mountain of consecration. Both in fairytales and in life. It’s your choice whether you’ll save yourself from the dungeon by falling asleep or by waking up

By: Nebojša Jevrić
Illustrations: Mihail Kulačić

Winner
VELIMIR STJEPANOVIĆ, OUR BEST SWIMMER
Serbian ”X Factor”
Successes are a result of persistent faith, great effort and self-discipline. Fair play and sports dignity are implied. The role of the family is exceptionally important, as well as the supportive energy in your own nation, which often speaks through you. Perhaps it’s the genes, our talent and fighting spirit, the history that made us stronger with its temptations. We also mustn’t forget defiance. Most Westerners don’t understand it. They consider it a powerful non-calculable factor in our game

By: Dejan Bulajić

Lens
THE MAGIC OF WINTER IN VRNJAČKA BANJA
They Will Speak for Themselves

Health
NEW SPIRIT OF THE REFURBISHED WELLNESS CENTER IN ”MERKUR”
Philosophy Medicinal Enjoyment
This space in Vrnjačka Banja is now more comfortable, stylishly designed and lit, with a system of glass walls that open up a new perspective on things. The center is more functional and positive effects for users are more complete

Connections
AWARDS FOR THE MOST SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS AT THE MTS ANDROID COMPETITION WERE HANDED OUT
Stimulation for Knowledge and Creativity
As well as twenty teams from highs schools from around Serbia participated, with as many applications. High quality was demonstrated. ”Telekom Srbija” will continue to support education, innovation and entrepreneurship of young people

Studies
STRATEGIC COMMITMENTS OF BELGRADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
Establishing the Culture of Quality
”We have accepted the fact that learning is a life-long process in the struggle against change. And the most difficult task is to teach people how to learn.” (Peter Drucker)

By: prof. Zorana Antić, PhD

Protection
COMPLETED THREE STRUCTURES FOR PROTECTING THE TAMNAVA MINES FROM FLOODS
Safer than Ever
Permanent plug has been made in the mines. Riverbeds of Vraničina and Kladnica have been regulated, as well as that of the Skobaljski Creek. Embankments have been erected, new roads built. All this is an additional protection of open mines from tidal waters, floods and torrential deposits. So that what happens in 2014 would not happen again

By: Natalija Živković
Photo: Archive of ”Kolubara”

Care
TENT, BRANCH OF THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY OF SERBIA, CONTINUOUSLY SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Third Decade of Friendship
It is not a routine but tradition. Ever since 1994, the Daycare for Children and Youth with Disabilities from Obrenovac has had continuous support from this electricity giant. Every year, TENT also organizes sales exhibition of children’s handicrafts and the proceeds are used to purchase equipment and increase the quality in the Day Care

By: Ljilјana Jovičić