National World War II Victims Remembrance Day

The National World War II Victims Remembrance Day was marked with the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at the plateau in front of the church of Holy New Martyrs of Kragujevac in Šumarice. Here on this place on October 21, 1941 thousands of the citizens of Šumadia were killed.

His Grace Jovan, Bishop of Šumadia celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the moleben for the New Martyrs with the concelebration of the clergy of the Diocese of Šumadia. Wreaths were laid at the monument to the shot victims by pupils of the Kragujevac’s First Grammar School, Mr. Tomislav Nikolić – the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Veroljub Stevanović – the Mayor of Kragujevac, Mr. Saša Milenić – the President of the City Assembly, Mr. Konstantin Arsenović – Vice President of the Assembly, Mr. Žarko Obradović – Minister of Education, Mrs. Zorana Mihailović – Minister of Energy, Mr. Bratislav Petković – Minister of Culture, delegations of the Assembly of Serbia, the Ministry of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors of Palestine, Germany, Slovakia and Belarus, as well as delegations of sister cities.

The Great School Lesson was held at Šumarice Memorial Park, a unique anti-war event that has been held since 1944. It was for the first time this year that October 21 was celebrated as the National holiday, the National World War II Victims Remembrance Day. Since 1971 it has been transformed into a cultural event.

Source: Diocese of Šumadia