15.09.2024.
Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag celebrated
A ceremony marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag was held tonight at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Miloš Vučević - representative of the President of the Republic Aleksandar Vučić, President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, presidents of assemblies, prime ministers and government ministers of Serbia and Srpska, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Mile Jelić, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff Gen. Milan Mojsilović and members of the Defence Minister’s and the Chief of the General Staff’s respective collegiums.At the beginning of his speech, Prime Minister Vučević recalled the heroic Battle of Kaymakchalan and the fight for freedom, but also the courage of the Serbian soldier.
- The symbol of that victory and resurrection was the Serbian flag, just as the cross is a symbol of the crucifixion and resurrection. The eyes of thousands of soldiers were fixed on that sacred piece of cloth. It was a symbol of the state and freedom. Our indomitable will and the sacred tricolour were the driving force behind the actions of one of our nation’s most glorious generations - stressed Prime Minister Vučević, adding that “today’s struggles and challenges are no less dangerous than the times in which our ancestors lived”.Today, more than ever, he said, the Serbian people strive for unity and express this publicly.
- No matter where they are, no matter where they live, in Chicago, Paris, Vienna or as far as Sydney, the Serbian people will display our national flags with pride today. Based on this unity and philanthropy, we can preserve our culture and tradition and continue to perform great deeds for future generations. A long time ago, Jovan Đorđević, the founder and director of this theatre after whom it is named, wrote the lyrics of our national anthem, including the following verse - Harmony will be a defeat against the devil. May this verse forever remind us of the importance of unity in complex times - said the Prime Minister, congratulating everyone on the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag.President of Republika Srpska Dodik said that “the Serbian people have the right to their identity, unity, script and language”.
- Our people have the right to be proud of all our ancestors, the great scientists - Tesla, Milanković and Pupin, numerous writers who have made us famous, not only throughout the region but throughout the world. We have the right to celebrate all our successes and to always see what our ancestors saw – our national flag. Whenever one of our people achieves success, the Serbian flag, the tricolour, is the first thing at hand. Success never seems complete if the flag is not there, because it is the fastest way to connect with the entire nation - said Dodik, emphasizing the importance of freedom and the fight for freedom.According to His Holiness Porfirije, a holiday that is being celebrated today, is a relatively new one, but its content and the message it conveys are ancient. The very name of the holiday includes three key things that our nation rests upon and that represent our identity and our core values.
- In this time of terrible wars and battles on various fronts, we need to show wisdom and responsibility towards our country, towards ourselves and towards our neighbours, by trying to maintain harmony, unity and peace in our own house and by not allowing anyone, whether from outside or inside, to undermine the foundation of our house. May we, through our efforts, and with God’s help and blessing, forever preserve the unity of our people in the Republic of Serbia, Republika Srpska and wherever they live – said Patriarch Porfirije.
The ceremony included the performance of "Stanislav Binički", the Artistic Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence.The Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag was first celebrated in 2021, to mark the day when the breach of the Thessaloniki front started in 1918, based on the decision by the governments of the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska to observe this holiday jointly.
The ceremony was co-organized by the committees of the governments of the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska for nurturing the traditions of liberation wars.
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