Citizens in the Gracanica Monastery courtyard: Vidovdan is a major holiday for all Serbs, it is important to preserve the tradition

Hundreds of people are attending the Vidovdan commemoration in the courtyard of the Gracanica Monastery. Citizens our team spoke with emphasized the importance of preserving tradition but also expressed regret that the memorial service for Serbian heroes will not be held at Gazimestan.

Dragan Bozic from Sremska Mitrovica highlights that he has been coming to Gracanica to commemorate Vidovdan for over a decade.

"I come on this day of suffering and resurrection of the Serbian people because all the epics begin with Vidovdan, which still holds us today, and that epic instinct within us, it's the DNA of the Serbian people that gives us the strength to come back and remember the time when sacrifices were made to defend Christian Europe. We preserved our soul, our Orthodox faith, and the source where we have come today to be refreshed and nourished," Bozic stated.

Ivan Stojanovic from Belgrade mentioned that it is his first time attending the Vidovdan commemoration in Gracanica.

"This is my first time here, and I will come whenever I can. I will tell other people how beautiful it is here; it's an incredible feeling to be here today," Stojanovic said.

Local resident Ljubomir Maksimovic from Gracanica stated that Vidovdan is a major holiday for all Serbs.

"If it weren't for the Battle of Kosovo, there would be no Vidovdan. This is a significant Serbian holiday celebrated worldwide. It is necessary to celebrate and remember those who fought against the mighty Ottoman Empire. The people are unsettled due to the escalation of events in the past month, and I hope that the state of Serbia will take action and bring calmness. I can also say that the Albanian side celebrates Kurban Bayram today; it coincides with the same day. They need to become aware of Vidovdan as well, that we are a peaceful and composed nation," Maksimovic expressed, adding that it is saddening that he cannot visit Gazimestan.

The liturgy in the courtyard of the Gracanica Monastery was conducted by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije.

The event is being secured by the Kosovo Police, and members of the Carabinieri and EULEX are present.