Sunday, May 06, 2012

The Chetnik Slava - Djurdjevdan (St. George's Day) - is celebrated by the Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gore, Cleveland Chapter as Serbs begin marking the 100th Anniversary of Serbia's Victories in the Wars from 1912 to 1918

Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic

Aleksandra's Note: I had the honor and privilege of being invited to join the Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gore of Cleveland, Ohio as their special guest on April 29, 2012 for the traditional celebration of the Chetnik Slava, "George's Day" - Djurdjevdan. It was a wonderful day of celebration and reverence and an event I shall never forget.

Special thanks go to the members of The Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gore, Cleveland chapter and their guests, the V. Rev. Zivojin Jakovljevic and the parish and staff of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, the SSS Njegos Choir, the St. Sava Folklore Group "Srbija" and the "Dijamanti" music group. It is with deep gratitude that I acknowledge the donation of the very special banner marking the 100th anniversary of Serbia's Wars from 1912 to 1918, courtesy of the Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gore, Cleveland. This important 100th anniversary, beginning this year with Serbia's victory in the First Balkan War and culminating in Serbia's victory in the First World War, is an anniversary that should be publicly marked by Serbs the world over and was done so beautifully here on this gorgeous day, April 29, 2012. in Parma, Ohio. On this day, true Serb patriots, both young and old, gathered together to celebrate their glorious traditions and heritage in honor of the Holy and Great Martyr, St. George, whose Slava falls on May 6th of each year as nature awakens and gives new hope and new life.

Sincerely,

Aleksandra Rebic



Djurdjevdan (George’s Day) is a feast of spring, of new life, of joy, of renewal in nature, of awakening of new forces and of new life energies. In the Christian understanding, St. George is the knight on a horse, a Christian hero, who is martyred for his faith and for Christ’s truth. He is iconed on a horse as the knight who slays the dragon. The dragon symbolizes the enemies of Christ’s faith, the godless ones against whom he is struggling, and through martyrdom and heroic death he is defeating.

In the national understanding, St. George is God’s beloved saint who is fighting for the captive and the downtrodden, for the freedom of slaves and the freedom of Christ’s faith. Because of that, Djurdjevdan (George’s Day) is our most endeared religious and national feast. Djurdjevdan was looked forward to and celebrated by all of our ancestors in captivity, heroes and leaders, and the Chetniks. “Djurdjevdan – Heroes Gather Together” says a national song. They wanted to start uprisings and insurrections against the tyrants and conquerors. In the spring, in the warmer days, “when the forest is draped in leaves and the dormant grass becomes green again” was their time to do so. Therefore Djurdjevdan throughout the history of our struggle for freedom plays a great role and enters into national tradition, customs, folk songs, and religious traditions as the day of hope, of sunlit joy and awakening of national energies to resist the enemies of the Serbian people.

Djurdjevdan means celebrations. Serbian Chetniks took this celebration Slava (Patron Saint’s Day) as their legacy, for the struggle for freedom. This is our Slava. On this day, our entire organization should celebrate according to the customs and traditions of our church, our people, and our army. Solemn assemblies of the entire group should take place. Entertaining programs and meaningful lectures from our history should celebrate our heritage. The Slava candle is lit and the Slava kolach (bread) is cut to honor St. George. All of this should serve to strengthen our organization and to work for the advancement of Serbdom. With this knowledge, we celebrate with greatest dignity our Slava – DjurdjevdanGeorge’s Day.


The Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gore
of Cleveland, Ohio
April 29, 2012

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
Parma, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic

Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
 Photo by Aleksandra Rebic

 

Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic

Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic
Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic



Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Celebration of the Chetnik Slava - St. George's Day (Djurdjevdan)
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Cleveland, Ohio April 29, 2012
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic


Icon of the Holy and Great Martyr St. George


100th Anniversary of Serbia's Wars 1912-1918


СТОГОДИШЊИЦЕ

РАТОВА СРБИЈЕ 1912 - 1918. ГОД.

*****
If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra,
please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com
*****

No comments:

Post a Comment