Easter Fair in Lipljan: Let us bring joy to one another

In the churchyard of the churches of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God and Saints Florus and Laurus in Lipljan, an Easter fair titled “Everything is eternal and everything lasts, as long as truth endures” was held today, where students of the “Braca Aksic” Elementary School sold Easter decorations they had made with the help of their teachers.

Teacher Olivera Radakovic emphasized that the “Braca Aksic” Elementary School from Lipljan has been organizing the Easter fair for seven years in a row, with the blessing of the Lipljan parish priest Dragisa Jerinic.

“This year we decided to hold it on Lazarus Saturday, at the suggestion of our parish priest Dragisa Jerinic, who likes to gather us so that the presence of Serbs in Lipljan can be seen, that we are still all together, united, that love prevails among all of us, and that there are still people here with kind hearts who visit Lipljan, with whom we have been cooperating for many years. Various products are being sold, props, chickens, bunnies, baskets, this year we also made soaps, and we used materials such as wood, plaster, and paper,” Radakovic said, noting that part of the collected money will go to humanitarian purposes.

Parish priest Dragisa Jerinic pointed out that today’s holiday was first marked with a liturgy.

“On the occasion of the Feast of the Resurrection of Lazarus, we made an effort to organize many other things, so that we would not only gather for the liturgy, and so that the small number of remaining Serbs who celebrate their patron saint’s day could celebrate together. Our brothers from the organization ‘All for Kosmet’ (Svi za Kosmet) announced that they would visit Lipljan during their pilgrimage, so in agreement with the principal of the ‘Braca Aksic’ Elementary School from Lipljan, I arranged for our children to organize an Easter fair here, so that we could try to bring joy to one another. Now that all this is happening, we can see the joy of both those who have traveled from afar to visit holy sites and the children who made an effort to prepare many things for the Easter bazaar, to show what they can do, to sell something, and in that way continue the tradition and customs of this area that have been respected for many years,” the priest said.

The children made an effort to turn their creativity into various Easter decorations and sell them at symbolic prices.

“We prepared straw and soaps and I am very happy with how they are selling,” Jefimija Vasic said.

“We made the chickens at school all together with the help of our teacher. It was difficult, but we did our best and did what we could,” Helena Cepkenovic said.

“I also made chickens. It was interesting. In two classes we managed to make the decorations,” added Antonina Zdravkovic.

Student Isidora Aksic came to support younger pupils and her teachers.

“I have been a student of this school since kindergarten, I have attended it for nine years. I am very proud of my teachers who are here today with these children and who organized the fair again this year so that we can gather in as large a number as possible. I am very satisfied, I bought many things, they make very nice items. I am proud of both the children and the teachers for continuing to bring us together here in Lipljan and not allowing Lipljan to remain without us,” Aksic said.

Pilgrims from various parts of Serbia attended the Easter fair in Lipljan.

“It is a fantastic feeling when I come here, I feel this energy and that something is still glowing here. It just needs to be rekindled and maintained at this level. Those of us who come should come more often and support these people across the whole of Kosovo and Metohija. The message is for them to stay, and for those of us who live elsewhere to come more often and find ways to help them in any way, not only materially but in every other way, to support them to stay and preserve what is sacred here, because we are not Serbs if we do not have Kosovo and Metohija,” said a visitor from the humanitarian organization “Metohijski Bozur,” who came from Belgrade.

Milanko Pendic said that he comes to Lipljan every year.

“It is phenomenal, we love to come. The church is beautiful,” he said.

“We came to show support and to celebrate today’s great holiday, to visit our people in Kosovo and Metohija and spread love,” said a member of the organization “All for Kosmet.”

A screening of the films “Bozana” and “Custom and Legacy” will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the “Braca Aksic” Elementary School in Lipljan.