SERBIA - National review, No 61
Prologue
Did you know that behind the ”Serbian Rose” of marzipan, one of the famous sweets of Central Europe, there is the fate of a war orphan from the Savić family of St. Andrea? That the mythical Celtic and Serbian mountain near Belgrade was christened this year for the secondtime? That the Serbian capital received its ”herbal archives of the planet” already in the mid-19th century? That the boy who was in service of Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović before World War II today lives near Studenica Monastery, is 93 years old and remembers everything? (...) If you want to learn or be reminded, you are in the right place. <
CONTENTS
Prologue
IN SPRING, LOOKING UP TO THOSE BETTER THAN US
Head
Vitrage
NUMBERS, EVENTS, INTERESTING THINGS
Album
LJUBINKO KOŽUL, THE FIRST SEVENTY YEARS
Disassembled into Primordial Images
Symbols
ON AVALA, BEFORE THE NEWLY BUILT CHURCH OF HOLY DESPOT STEFAN
Rebaptizing the Mythical Mountain
In reckless ecstasy and unreason, King Aleksandar Karađorđević in 1934 demolished the medieval fortified city of Žrnov and the adjacent baptismal chapel of the Serbian Unknown Soldier. This is how the terrain was ”cleared” for Meštrović’s Mausoleum that belongs to someone else’s esoteric tradition and is a replica of the tomb of the Persian Emperor Cyrus. Just a few months later, King was assassinated, and a few years later, the same happened to his country. Eighty-three years later, with the effort of noble and self-aware people, with the blessing of the Serbian Patriarch, the Orthodox cross and the temple were returned to Avala. This mythical mountain that remembers longer than us was re-consecrated
By: Igor Davidović
Across the Border
IN ”SAMOSH MARZIPAN”, FAMOUS HUNGARIAN CAKE SHOP CHAIN
Long Blossoming of the Serbian Rose
This sweet made of marzipan, the Szentendre ”Serbian rose”, is very popular in Hungary and Central Europe. However, only a few know that the history of the Serbian Savić family and the life story of a poor boy from Szentendre stand behind that sweet and that cake shop chain. The story consists of the whirlpools of history, the drama of perfidious assimilation, a great lifelong struggle and a dream, realized but painful
By: Mirko Nađ and NR Press
Gardens
”JEVREMOVAC” BOTANICAL GARDEN IN BELGRADE, NATURAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENT UNIQUE IN SERBIAN LANDS
Herbal Archive of the Planet
After the Botanical Garden was founded in mid-XIX century, Belgrade became one of the important European university centers with ”museums of planetary flora”, ”living textbooks of plants”. It all began with the efforts of famous Serbian botanist Josif Pančić, after whom many generations added their good will. Its herbal fund today contains more than 1.500 species in open air, plus the Herbarium, Greenhouse, Library, Japanese Garden… Setting out on an imaginative journey from there, very Belgrade-like, one can reach very far
By: Branislav Matić
Memory
GRANDFATHER STANIŠA BOGOJEVIĆ ABOUT HIS TWO YEARS IN SERVICE OF BISHOP NIKOLAJ VELIMIROVIĆ
To Live Next to a Saint
While he was still alive, people considered him golden-mouthed and holy, welcomed him on their knees, wiped their cheeks with the rims of his cassock. And he lived an austere monk’s life, ate scarcely and slept little, never missing religious services. He often spent nights traveling, on a pile of hay on wooden planks. But he had abundance of books and knowledge, wisdom before all, and spiritual eyes. People felt this and compared him with Saint Sava for a good reason
By: Mišo Vujović
Palette
VASA POMORIŠAC (1893-1961), BRILLIANT SERBIAN REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROPEAN PAINTING BETWEEN TWO WORLD WARS
Searching for the Eternal
He wanted to scoop from the depths of the source. To reveal the long memory of the race and meaning of passing on heritage, sacral tradition. He was not an ordinary traditionalist; he was a painter of a large aesthetic turn, an upgrade characteristic for masters. He searched for the secret of measure and found it. He joined the East and the West, past and future, experiment and academism. He was one of the best among elite European painting brotherhoods, among representatives of mysterious styles of his époque. Of course, it was least respected in his own environment
By: Dejan Đorić
Old Masters
WRITER MIODRAG BULATOVIĆ (1930–1991) AND HIS UNUSUAL TRACES
The Red Rooster Still Flies
Very few in Serbian literature have researched the demonic in the world and the human in such a licentious and impudent manner. Very few have imprisoned Mephistopheles in grotesque so lucidly. Very few have passed water on the sore flocks, on communist party mice, on untalented, yet overhyped hack writers. When grinning devils begin attacking, he sticks out a mirror in front of them. And they withdraw. He was compared with Boccaccio, Rabelais, Cervantes. They interpreted his mysterious relation with Dostoyevsky and Bulgakov and described his friendship with Dali in Paris. And he let only Andrić be in front of him
By: Nebojša Jevrić
Until
TOMISLAV PETERNEK, FAMOUS SERBIAN PHOTOGRAPHER, APPROACHING HIS 84TH SPRING
Everything is in Pictures
It’s not an easy life, but it’s wonderful, full to the utmost, all made of events and creativity. A photograph is a document. The truth is the only real weapon of a photographer. He, Toma Peternek, has been exhibiting and publishing for already sixty-two years, and had as many solo exhibitions. His first editor-in-chief was Dića Tadić, brother of actor Ljuba Tadić, then came the remarkable Aca Simić, then… Later he was editor and teacher of many others. He had 740 cover pages only in NIN magazine. He was daring and able. He claims that he still hasn’t created his best work, so even today he always carries a camera with him
By: Miloš Lazić
Champions
ALEKSANDAR ŠOŠTAR, THE LIVING LEGEND OF SERBIAN WATER POLO AND PRESIDENT OF THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA
Approaching Better Times
The system of value is the foundation of a society. If we allowed it to collapse completely, we will collapse with it as a nation. We must relearn that there are limits below which one does not go. I cannot say we are fainthearted. If we were, if we did not have that something I us, after everything that has been happening to us, there would be no us today. Yes, sometimes it is easy to raise and give directions to children, because the total social values overlapped with what one would learn in the family. Temptations now are greater, greater are the possibilities for one to stray, and so the responsibilities are different
By: Dejan Bulajić
Care
NURSING HOME ”SREM” IN RUMA
Health Benefits of a Positive Spirit
In addition to the excellent conditions of accommodation, food, medical care, there is a great emphasis here on culture. On the spirit that recuperates and refines. It is very important not to sink into lethargy, not to give up on life, beauty, creativity. Therefore, people here, in their old days, are singing and dancing, reciting and painting, writing, and falling in in love. ”Love must never find us unprepared.” Here, we are convinced that this is true by Dučić, and Desanka Maksimović, and Mika Antić. ”Life is beautiful, only if one knows how to live it”
By: Mile Vajagić
Examples
STUDENT RESORTS ”BELGRADE” PERSEVERE ON HIGH STANDARDS
Quality as Tradition
The Well-known programs ”The World in Serbia” and ”Serbia for the Serbs in the region” are implemented again this year. There are currently 80 students from 29 countries residing on Avala. Among Serbian students from the Balkan countries, this year there are also those that come from Albania. Serbian students from Serbia, from all state universities, are mostly interested in staying on Zlatibor, in one of the local villas (”Lovćen”, ”Romanija”, ”Srbija”, ”Zlatibor”), furnished with many modern amenities
Standards
STUDENT CENTER ”PRIŠTINA”, WITH TEMPORARY SEAT IN KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, UNFALTERINGLY FULFILLING ITS DESTINY
A Patriot and Parent
Complex of dormitories in Kosovska Mitrovica, refurbished and newly built, is the heart of life for the students of the University of Priština in exile. There are also facilities in Zvečan, Zubin Potok, Leposavić and Blace. In very difficult circumstances, they provide students with safety, good quality accommodation and food, conditions for good studying and life of modern young people filled with content. And thee, all this is nowadays much bigger than anywhere else
By: Aleksa Komet
Knowledge
CENTER FOR CAREER GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING AT BELGRADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
On the Road to Success
Mastering the important additional skills and practical experience, foreign languages, business and management strategies, obtaining adequate information and other licenses – makes it possible to increase the competitiveness in the European labor market. The process takes place in public lectures, courses, workshops, with lecturers and instructors from relevant professional fields. The interest is great
Authors: Dr. Aleksandra Đurić, Tamara Stefanović, Iva Bubanja
Connections
”TELEKOM SRBIJA” THE WINNER OF THE AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY
The Scale of Social Responsibility
”Corporate social responsibility is our strategic orientation and is deeply embedded in our every business decision”, said Predrag Ćulibrk, General Manager of ”Telekom Srbija”, accepting the award. ”Our projects always have a large number of users and they influence many spheres. Designing them, we put the well-being of citizens ahead of our company profits”
Health
”MERKUR” IN VRNJAČKA BANJA, DESIGNED FOR A NEW SEASON
Awakening of Spring in Us
After a long and harsh winter, the body seeks refreshment. Internal restoration for the new annual and life cycle. ”Merkur” provides exactly this, customized to each guest or patient individually. It brings together the natural boons and cutting-edge treatments, medical and relaxation. This spring, there are also special benefits
Reaches
INSTITUTE FOR SPORT AND SPORTS MEDICINE OF SERBIA – THE STRONGHOLD FOR SERBIAN SPORT FOR THE SEVENTH DECADE
Expertise for Best Results
By continuously promoting healthy patterns and life styles, this establishment thoughtfully encourages young people to engage in sports, and also helps top athletes to achieve their best results. It organizes physical and sports activities in indoor facilities and on outdoor courts. It provides full package of preventive and specialist examinations, diagnostics and sports psychology, as well as numerous services of the center for motor research and analysis in sport