Citizens of Strpce on Serbia's Statehood Day: Sretenje teaches us freedom and faith

For the residents of Strpce, the holiday of Sretenje (Meeting of the Lord), the Statehood Day of Serbia, signifies the symbol of freedom, a day that teaches them not to lose faith and to believe in that freedom.

Cedomir Davidovic from Strpce emphasizes the significance of the events that occurred on this day.

"Today is Statehood Day. On this day in 1835, the Sretenje Constitution was adopted, and it marked the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising in 1804. History has taught us about the past, but it also teaches us about life and what needs to change," Davidovic said.

His fellow resident, Slavica Redzic, states that for her, this holiday signifies the freedom of a nation.

"Today is a special day. Sretenje is celebrated by every Orthodox person, and it is also a national holiday. This day symbolizes the freedom of a nation. It teaches us to believe in ourselves and in freedom," she said.

Nenad Redzic says that Serbs have a rich history, but, in his opinion, "it hasn't taught us anything."

"We celebrate Sretenje, first as a religious holiday, and we also celebrate the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising and the adoption of the Sretenje Constitution. Unfortunately, despite such a rich history, history hasn't taught us anything, that is my opinion," Redzic said.

Due to Statehood Day, Thursday and Friday are non-working days for employees in institutions operating under the Serbian system in Kosovo.