Lazo Dobric and his wife Nikoleta

Writing for Kosovo Online: Dragisa Mijacic

The Armistice Day in World War I is celebrated today, in which about 1.1 million Serbs perished. Among the fallen is Lazo Dobric, a volunteer of the Serbian Army from Brnjak, whose monument is located on Krnje, near the Brnjak Monastery. Glory to the immortal heroes.

In the early morning of that August day, down the Brnjak stream and towards Sastavci, the brisk footsteps of Lazo Dobric and his neighbor Gligorije from Zapiraca could be heard. The two young men were in a hurry to go to war; the Germans had crossed the Drina and attacked Macva, and their honor did not allow them to sit by the hearth while the youth of Serbia was perishing. The King had called for help, and when he calls, everything else is set aside; it must be done.

Nikoleta, Lazo's wife, also went with them, to accompany her husband to the Ibar and steal a few more moments with her beloved. It's difficult for her, but she hides her tears; she doesn't want Lazo to remember her like this while he's fighting the Germans. In the cradle, she left behind a tearful Jordana, who held onto her father with her little hands for a long time; she didn't want him to leave. He didn't want to let her go either, but he had to; it was war.

Nikoleta knows that she can't dissuade Lazo from his intention to obey the King and go to war, but she wants to spend a little more time with him; it will mean a lot to her in the difficult days to come. She knows that it will be difficult for Lazo in the war, but she also knows the pain of life without her husband with a baby in a large family. She understands that the army needs Lazo, but she also needs him, especially Jordana. Nikoleta knows that if, God forbid, Lazo dies, his family will take Jordana away from her and return her to her own. Oh Lord, forgive me, a sinful woman, for having dark thoughts as I send my husband off to war, Nikoleta thought and rushed toward the two young men who had moved further toward the Ibar.

They stopped at Krnje to pray to the Lord on the remains of the old church of Saint Serbian Queen Helen of Anjou, where kings and heroes had always prayed, and now two poor peasants were praying, and Nikoleta. Oh Lord, save us and shield us from the misfortune that looms over us and drive away the blackbirds, the evil messengers of death, far from us and our family. Holy Great Martyr George, to you we break bread and mention your name in our prayers, give us the strength to defeat the Germans as you killed the dragon. Help us, Lord, not to dishonor the honor of our ancestors, the famous Brnjak people, renowned for their courage and heroism. Holy Queen Helena, save and shield us sinful ones, so that we may carry your wisdom in glory. Lord, have mercy on us.

"Let's go", Lazar thundered. "We need to travel; Cer is far away". They set off briskly towards Sastavci, with Gligorije following closely. Nikoleta trotted after the two future warriors, trying to slow them down with conversation. Nikoleta asked them, "Where is this Cer? What do these Germans look like... and why have they come down on us so fiercely? May God smite them before they smite us". They remained silent, not responding, in a hurry to go to war; it had to be done. "Will you come back when you drive them across the Drina?"

The last question lingered along Brnjak’s stream as it flowed through the centuries-old beech forest over Sastavci down to the Ibar. The elders said that it was at this very place that the Holy Queen Helena had her courts, where she educated her female servants. Did the Holy Gueen teach them how to bid farewell to their husbands going to war without shedding tears, Nikoleta wondered? Did the brave women of Brnjak also watch their husbands cross the Ibar as they went off to the bloody battle? Did they also part from their loved ones at Sastavci, or did they reunite there?

In Sastavci, by the Ibar, they parted ways, almost without a farewell; it's easier that way. Nikoleta had to go back because Jordana remained at home crying. She hugged Lazo and thought, "Come back to me!" She couldn't say it, for fear of bad luck. She didn't cry either, for fear of bad luck. She cried when she saw that Lazo had crossed the Ibar and continued over the Rogozna towards Serbia and distant Macva.

Halfway across the Ibar, Gligorije turned to Nikoleta and said to Lazo, "Your wife is beautiful. If you die, I will marry her". Lazo remained silent and crossed the Ibar, without looking back. It was hard for him, but it was war, the King was calling, and the youth of Serbia was perishing; it had to be done.

He didn't come back!