{"id":28540,"date":"2022-06-08T23:37:56","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T21:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/?p=28540"},"modified":"2022-06-15T07:24:55","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T05:24:55","slug":"belgrades-marble-signposts-of-precani-serbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/belgrades-marble-signposts-of-precani-serbs","title":{"rendered":"Belgrade\u2019s Marble Signposts of Pre\u010dani Serbs"},"content":{"rendered":"

They say that everyone is equal in death \u2013 kings and beggars, philosophers and vagabonds. However, the resting place of some is unknown, while others have mausoleums. Some continue to live in the memory of generations through their magnificent deeds. One of the places that contains so many greats of history and culture that it seems like an open-air museum is the New Cemetery in Belgrade, a unique gathering point in Serbia and a marble testimony to eras and people.<\/p>\n

If you step through the large main entrance in Ruzvelt Street, like through a portal to another time where different laws apply, you will feel the peace and quiet just a few steps away from the city bustle. It is difficult to describe the feeling when you stop by a tombstone of cold marble inscribed with the famous names of immortal mortals. Among those whose achievements left a lasting legacy in the history and consciousness of the Serbian people, and beyond, many are Serbs \u201cfrom across\u201d. \u201cPre\u010dani\u201d, newcomers, our own and yet foreign\u2026 More than many born on Serbian soil, they loved this same Serbia that sometimes wholeheartedly accepted them and sometimes was unjust toward them. Many of them dedicated or even gave their lives for ideas, for art, for freedom, for their people. Today, their bones are scattered throughout the 30 hectares of the New Cemetery \u2013 in the Alley of the Greats, the Alley of Distinguished Citizens, old plots with artists, scientists, warriors\u2026<\/p>\n

The first thing you need to visit the resting places of Serbs originating from today\u2019s Croatia who are buried at the New Cemetery is stamina. As these people were and are present in all areas of society, so we also find them here every few steps. The towns and places that gave us these great names are relatively unknown today, especially to younger generations, and the tombstones show only the dates of birth and death, so you will likely pass by a great person not knowing where they came from. It is, therefore, best to go on this tour accompanied by an expert guide.<\/p>\n

We started our walk from plot number 5 in the old part of the cemetery; the plot is right between the main entrance and the Church of Saint Nicholas. This plot is the resting place of the philanthropists Vladimir<\/strong> and Paulina Matijevi\u0107<\/strong>, the founders of the Serbian Business Association Privrednik in Zagreb. Violeta Obrenovi\u0107<\/strong>, an art historian and expert associate of the public utility company that handles funeral services, starts her tour of great benefactors from their graves. \u201cGreat People with Great Souls\u201d is just one of the themed walks our companion on this journey through history organizes at the New Cemetery. She has guided groups of interested citizens through the history of literature, art, warfare and science many times. The tours include one dedicated to notable Serbian women, titled \u201cWoven from Soul and Mind\u201d; those dedicated to poets and writers: \u201cThere Is No Love in the World, My Friend\u201d and \u201cWhere There Is Darkness, There Is Sunrise\u201d; the tours \u201cThe Fatherland Is Defended with the Heart\u201d, \u201cFollowing the Trail of Great Military Leaders and Heroes of the First World War\u201d, \u201cBards of the Serbian Theater\u201d, \u201cThe Greats of Serbian Science\u201d, \u201cThe Great Loves of Great Serbs\u201d, \u201cBrilliant Minds of Serbia\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n

She revealed to us that she thought about creating a tour dedicated to the Serbs from across the border before we asked her to lead us by notable Serbs from Croatia. There is enough material for several different tours, as we saw for ourselves.<\/p>\n

We stop by an interesting relief on the grave of \u0110urica <\/strong>and Krista \u0110or\u0111evi\u0107<\/strong>. It was made by the renowned artist Sreten Stojanovi\u0107<\/strong>, the author of some of the most authentic works at the New Cemetery, who, like many others, owes his education to this couple. \u0110urica and Krista were imposing figures; he worked at the Faculty of Medicine and was a distinguished doctor, hailing from Grubi\u0161no Polje. During the First World War, he, as a doctor, did what he could to prevent the enlisting of Serbs into the Austro-Hungarian army. After he came to Serbia, he received refugees. Krista was the daughter of Svetislav \u0160umanovi\u0107<\/strong>, a notable lawyer from Zagreb, one of the founders of the Serbian Bank in Zagreb, a member of its first board of directors and the uncle of Sava \u0160umanovi\u0107<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you look at the symbolism of the relief, which is also stated in the text, the sea is a symbol of departure to somewhere else. Krista continued their mission after his death. She established contact with communists then, which represented progressive ideas at the time,\u201d Violeta Obrenovi\u0107 explains Krista\u2019s support for the communist movement of the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe myth remains that she kept the communist party\u2019s gold in her house in Strahinji\u0107a Bana Street and that, after the house was bombed in 1941, she found that gold in a lump, which she returned to Josip Broz Tito. <\/strong>Krista later took over the management of the Red Cross. Among other things, she founded the Society of the Friends of the National Museum, to which she left a rich collection of paintings, including a collection of paintings by Sava \u0160umanovi\u0107. All the artists visited their house, which was covered in reliefs,\u201d our interlocutor explains.<\/p>\n

History has toyed with many of these famous figures, so they lie next to their ideological opponents. Nevertheless, all their differences were reconciled by their self-sacrifice and devotion to their people, to whom they left priceless values.<\/p>\n

Stevan Bini\u010dki<\/strong>, an army captain who was married to a German countess but never forgot his heritage, left the Austro-Hungarian and joined the Serbian army. Few know that this Lika native was the father of the famous composer Stanislav Bini\u010dki<\/strong>, the author of the \u201cMarch to the Drina\u201d. \u201cBini\u010dki is as brave as a lion but is a little nutty and wants to do as he pleases too much,\u201d King<\/strong> Milan Obrenovi\u0107 <\/strong>wrote about Bini\u010dki, the commander of the \u0160umadija Division in the Serbo-Bulgarian War fought from 1885 to 1886.<\/p>\n

Close by lies the notable Dubrovnik Serb, writer, diplomat and pedagogue Matija Ban<\/strong>, after whom Belgrade\u2019s borough of Banovo Brdo is named. His daughter Poleksija<\/strong> was a painter, as was his son-in-law Stevan Todorovi\u0107<\/strong>. Together they painted the interior of many churches.<\/p>\n

Simeon Roksandi\u0107<\/strong>, the notable sculptor from Majske Poljane, also lies in the New Cemetery. The author of the famous sculpture The Boy with the Broken Jug <\/em>at the \u010cukur drinking fountain and The<\/em> Fisherman <\/em>at the Jezuitski Square in Zagreb and at Kalemegdan in Belgrade is represented by three of his artworks at the New Cemetery.<\/p>\n

Our companion leads us to Sava Kosanovi\u0107<\/strong>\u2019s grave, whose relief was made by Ivan Me\u0161trovi\u0107<\/strong>, which, as she says, was a great honor. Me\u0161trovi\u0107 made only three other pieces at the New Cemetery: the bust of Nikola Pa\u0161i\u0107<\/strong>, Milenko Vesni\u0107 <\/strong>and Milovan Milovanovi\u0107<\/strong>. The most important act of Sava Kosanovi\u0107, a politician, diplomat and publicist born in Pla\u0161ki, was the transfer of the remains and physical legacy of Nikola Tesla<\/strong>, as the pinnacle of his diplomatic mission.<\/p>\n

Academician Nikola Hajdin<\/strong>, the president of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) for many years, is a well-known figure today since he was the contemporary of many. The esteemed engineer and builder of bridges from Vrbovsko wanted to be buried in the old part of the cemetery and not in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens, where he rests today.<\/p>\n

Josif Pan\u010di\u0107<\/strong>, the father of Serbian botany and the first president of the Serbian Royal Academy, today the SANU, was born near Vinodol. In 1951, his remains were transferred by members of the SANU and mountaineers of Serbia from the New Cemetery to a mausoleum on the summit of his beloved Kopaonik, thus honoring the scientist\u2019s wish to be buried there. The name of the summit of this mountain has been Pan\u010di\u0107ev Vrh (Pan\u010di\u0107\u2019s Summit) since then.<\/p>\n

Milutin Milankovi\u0107 <\/strong>was also buried at the New Cemetery, where there is still a burial plot with his name, but he was transferred to his native Dalj in 1956.<\/p>\n

The Alley of the Greats is the resting place of Milan Pribi\u0107evi\u0107<\/strong>, a colonel of the Serbian Army who fought in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. He came from the same prominent family as Svetozar <\/strong>and Adam Pribi\u0107evi\u0107<\/strong>. He is known for his political work on the unification of South Slavs and the overthrow of Austria-Hungary. He was also a publicist, poet and prose writer.<\/p>\n

We come to the grave of Pjer Kri\u017eani\u0107<\/strong>, another notable Banija native. Along with biographical information, dates and life stories placed in the context of the time, Violeta Obrenovi\u0107 always makes her expert tours of the New Cemetery more interesting with various anecdotes and interesting facts not found in textbooks. She tells us a little-known story about the help Pjer received from his ex-wife, a painter who was sadly not very appreciated. Although they were divorced \u2013 Pjer had cheated on her with their housemaid \u2013 he acknowledged how much she helped him with his texts and was supportive of him.<\/p>\n

Milo\u0161 \u0110uri\u0107<\/strong>, a classical philologist, Hellenist, professor, philosopher, translator and member of the SANU, was born in Slavonski Benkovac and today rests in the Alley of People\u2019s Heroes, where some other cultural workers rest as well.<\/p>\n

There is also the actor Petar Kralj<\/strong>, painter Stojan Aralica<\/strong>, writers Jovan Radulovi\u0107 <\/strong>and Slobodan Seleni\u0107<\/strong>, psychiatrist and politician Jovan Ra\u0161kovi\u0107<\/strong>, lawyer Veljko Guberina<\/strong>\u2026 A wondrous journey that spans centuries.<\/p>\n

Milan Ka\u0161anin<\/strong>, the eminent art historian, short story writer and novelist from Beli Manastir, graduated in art history from the Sorbonne in 1923. He was the first Serbian art historian, a novelist, essayist, the director of the Prince Pavle Museum and, after the Second World War, the director of the Gallery of Frescoes.<\/p>\n

The monument to Ljubomir Mici\u0107<\/strong>, located right behind the Monument and Memorial Ossuary to the Defenders of Belgrade, was restored a few years ago. He was an imposing figure at the head of the most important internationally recognized movement in Serbian culture in the avant-garde period. Our companion tells us an anecdote: after the war, someone asked Bulatovi\u0107 <\/strong>where Mici\u0107 was. He answered: \u201cHe\u2019s in emigration.\u201d \u201cWhere in emigration?\u201d \u201cIn Belgrade, in Prote Mateje Street, not answering anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tomb of writer Simo Matavulj <\/strong>stands out among the rest, although in his will he asked for a simple grave and a funeral without speeches. The Dormition of the Mother of God, a rare depiction of the Mother of God in high relief sculpture in the history of Serbian sculpture, is the work of \u0110or\u0111e Jovanovi\u0107<\/strong>. It was probably inspired by Matavulj\u2019s story \u201cThe Mother of God of Three Hands\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalf of Belgrade was at his funeral, and when they were lowering the casket, a man stepped out from the crowd and said: \u2018I loved and respected you very much. I am the last person you spoke to. May you rest in peace. Arsa Mi\u0161i\u0107, waiter from the Grand Hotel.\u2019 And his second wife realized then that such a man cannot be buried in an ordinary grave,\u201d our companion explains why the writer\u2019s last wish was not honored.<\/p>\n

We end our journey on the trail of the greats in front of this imposing sculpture, one of the most beautiful and best-known in the New Cemetery. We will return, for these silent marble monuments say much more than anything outside the walls of this incredible place does. Birdsong and marble bathed in the sunshine of June Belgrade sun, like from a postcard. Senders: people with two addresses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were often greater patriots than those born here because this place often meant freedom for them. And they were never completely accepted. They were always \u2018from somewhere else\u2019,\u201d our kind interlocutor ends her story, regretting that many of them had to pass the test of time to be accepted.<\/p>\n

Still, their bones have taken root, in a country that would not be what it is without them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Translation from Croatian: Jelena \u0160impraga<\/em><\/p>\n

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Many Pre\u010dani Serbs dedicated or even gave their lives for ideas, for art, for freedom, for their people. Today, their bones are scattered throughout the 30 hectares of the New Cemetery \u2013 in the Alley of the Greats, the Alley of Distinguished Citizens, old plots with artists, scientists, warriors\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"224","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,334,330],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iz-zajednice","category-iz-zajednice-en","category-upoznajmo-se-en","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Naslovna-e1654811644323.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Naslovna-e1654811644323.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Olivera Radovi\u0107","author_link":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/author\/olja"},"rbea_author_info":{"display_name":"Olivera Radovi\u0107","author_link":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/author\/olja"},"rbea_excerpt_info":"Many Pre\u010dani Serbs dedicated or even gave their lives for ideas, for art, for freedom, for their people. Today, their bones are scattered throughout the 30 hectares of the New Cemetery \u2013 in the Alley of the Greats, the Alley of Distinguished Citizens, old plots with artists, scientists, warriors\u2026","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28540"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28541,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28540\/revisions\/28541"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}