St. George's Day in Gornje Selo near Prizren: Serbs, despite all the difficulties, continue the tradition

With the first sounds of the church bell, in the church of St. George at the foot of the Shar mountain, in Gornje Selo near Prizren, a liturgy was celebrated today on the occasion of the village celebration of St. George. A large number of locals gathered, who, although they do not live there, always find time to come on this day with the aim of continuing the tradition, celebrating the glory and enjoying the charms of their native land.

One of them is Jevto Vuckovic, who was also the host of the celebration this year.

"I was born here in Gornje Selo, I come every year, I'm currently in Belgrade where I live and work. This year I'm a cake maker, the host of the festival. It's just always nice and interesting to come here, considering that before there were more people here, after Covid it stopped a bit, I think it will improve, this year the situation is a little better, quite a few people came from central Serbia and the surrounding villages, neighbors, friends. I am here with my family, my wife and three children, it is a tradition and we regularly respect it", said Vuckovic.

Stanko Veljkovic, who will host the celebration next year, was very happy and did not hide his pleasure about it.

"I have no comment, I can fly, believe me, what can I say. Homeland, church, tradition is tradition, beautiful", Veljkovic points out.

After the liturgy, the liturgy in which the faithful walk in three circles takes place around the church with icons in their hands and the lunch prepared by the host of the celebration, there follows the auction, which is traditionally in charge of Boro Boric.

"The auction is a kind of tradition, people bring gifts to the church, they sell it and don't look at the price, because everything remains with the church to do something. Here the fence has collapsed and that way we collect money to fix it. I'm glad that there were a lot of children to see all this, so that they would not forget our traditions and customs. Thank God that we were there in such numbers and that we will always remember this day and this date and that, wherever we are, we will always return to our homeland," stated Boric.

Radoslav Veselinovic points out that despite his illness, because of his love for his homeland, he always tries to come to this holiday.

"I am originally from Gornje Selo, Gornja Mahala, the Veselinovic family. Until a few years ago, I came every year, for the past two years I have not been due to health reasons and the corona virus, but this year I came with a stick. Love is stronger than anything. I traveled all day yesterday, I didn't have the conditions to sleep all night and I overslept, but that's why I'm here today," said Veselinovic.

After the auction, the townspeople go to their homes, only to gather again in the second half of the day at the sound of the church bell, to first build a big tower of people - the so-called town.

The man at the top of the tower traditionally gives a toast.
After that, there is a competition in shoulder throwing and long jump.

The church in Gornje Selo, a place in the municipality of Prizren, was built during the 16th century and is one of the cultural monuments of exceptional importance.