Vidovdan, that sacred cornerstone of Serbian identity, was marked this year in Kosovo and Metohija under heavy pressure and repression from Priština’s authorities. While Petar Petković, director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, emphasizes that Vidovdan is the essence of Serbian national identity and moral backbone, Priština continues with anti-civilizational decisions banning visits and the display of Serbian symbols. For two years now, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have been unable to freely celebrate this important holiday, and this year the court in Priština even banned the display of Serbian flags during Vidovdan.
The central celebration began with a liturgy at the Gračanica monastery, attended by believers from all over Serbia and the region, including Metropolitan Joanikije and other bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Despite the ban, Serbian flags waved on the monastery grounds as a symbol of resistance and perseverance. After the liturgy, the “Mother of Nine Jugović” awards were presented, followed by a memorial service at Gazimestan for the Kosovo heroes.
But that’s not all. Priština institutions have expelled 11 Serbs in recent days, mostly employees of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, on charges of participating in protests. These repressive measures come despite guarantees from the EU, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. that there would be no sanctions against protest participants. In previous years, Kosovo police arrested Serbs carrying national symbols at Gazimestan, and this year the pressure is even greater.
Petar Petković states that the Serbian state and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija remain an unwavering support for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, who are going through tough trials. Vidovdan, he says, unites Serbs around enduring national values that are more important than daily politics and attempts to dismantle the state.
This holiday is not just a day of remembrance but a symbol of resistance and survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. And while Priština continues its anti-civilizational decisions, Serbs do not give up their identity and the right to freely celebrate their sacred traditions.
If you think this is just another political story, think again. Can peaceful and dignified celebration turn into a fight for basic rights? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or just crack a good joke about all this — because, let’s face it, sometimes laughter is the best medicine for a bitter reality.
