Liberation Day of Novi Sad celebrated
Citizens of Novi Sad marked yesterday 95th anniversary of the triumphal entrance of the Serbian Army in Novi Sad, led by Major Vojislav Bugarski. The Divine Liturgy at the building of the Command of the First Brigade of the Army Garrison Command of Novi Sad.
The celebrations began with the service of Divine Liturgy at the building of the Command of the First Brigade of the Land forces in the Army Garrison Command of Novi Sad and the rite of consecration of the liturgical space, dedicated to Holy Great Martyr Nestor, Christian soldier and spiritual follower of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki. His Grace Bishop Dr Irinej of Backa celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the concelebration of Bishop Dr Porfirije of Jegar and Army and the clergy. A chapel in the Command of the First Brigade is the second liturgical space in the Serbian Armed Forces which was prepared for service. The Divine Liturgy was attended by Mayor of Novi Sad Mr. Milos Vucevic, Minister of Defence Mr. Nebojsa Rodic, as well as Imam of Vojvodina Effendi Muhamed Zilkic. Commanders of all subordinate battalions, representatives of senior soldiers and civilians, as well as representatives of the citizenry participated in the prayerful ceremony. The host of the gathering in the building of the Command of the First Brigade of the Land Forces was Brigade General Stojan Batinic with his associates.
Later that day, within the celebration of the Liberation Day of Novi Sad, at the courtyard of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God the commemoration was held and the flowers were laid at the Memorial Cross for the fallen soldiers in the wars 1912-1918.
In memory of the liberation of Novi Sad from centuries-long Austro-Hungarian rule in the World War I, in front of the Belgrade’s Gate at the Petrovaradin Fortress the ceremony was held yesterday in attendance of Minister of Defence Nebojsa Rodic, Mayor of Novi Sad Milos Vucevic, President of the City Assembly of Novi Sad Sinisa Sevic, Their Graces Bishops Vasilije of Srem, Irinej of Backa and Porfirije of Jegar, commanders of the Serbian Army as well as numerous guests.
His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa reminded that these day symbolically coincides with days of celebration of the Christian saints – Saints Demetrius and Nestor –who were soldiers themselves.
The central part of the celebration was the consecration of the replica of the memorial plaque to Serbian liberators which was installed in 1938 and which the Ustasha occupators three years later removed from the Belgrade’s Gate and yesterday after seven decades was placed again on the same place. The solemn rite of the consecration of the memorial plaque was performed by Bishops Vasilije of Srem, Irinej of Backa and Porfirije of Jegar.
Source: Diocese of Backa
