In Memory of the Holy New Martyrs of Kragujevac

Almost eight decades ago Kragujevac and its surroundings were a  place of one of the bloodiest crimes in the Second World War.

In retaliation, fascist’s soldiers in a few days shot more than a thousand of innocent civilians including quite a number of school children. The reason for the shooting were German losses in the fight with partisan units on the road Kragujevac – Gornji Milanovac on 16 October 1941.

On this occasion, an anniversary Hierarchal Liturgy was officiated at the plateau in front of the church of Holy New Martyrs of Kragujevac in the Sumarice district. After the Holy Liturgy, a prayer rite in honour of the New Martyrs was served in front of the monument to the shot pupils and teachers by His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija with the concelebration of the clergy of the Diocese of Sumadija.

Pupils of the First Grammar School of Kragujevac and representatives of authorities and institutions of the City of Kragujevac and of the Republic of Serbia, as well as ambassadors of Germany, Belarus, Palestine and other dignitaries laid wreaths at the monument of V3.

Following the prayer rite, a solemn cultural program was organized.

The so-called Great school class in front of the monument to the shot pupils and teachers was held for the first time in 1957. with a total participation of more than 50.000 persons. Since 21 October 2012 this day has been marked as a National holiday – the Day of Remembrance of all Serbian Victims during the Second World War.