Serbian Orthodox Church

Serbian monastery installs memorial plaque to Nicholas II

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: plaque to Emperor Nicholas II and an icon of the Holy Royal Martyrs was unveiled and consecrated on the grounds of the Rukumija Monastery

On 12th November, a simple wooden plaque to Emperor Nicholas II and an icon of the Holy Royal Martyrs was unveiled and consecrated on the grounds of the Rukumija Monastery, near the town of Pozharevac in Serbia. The installation of the plaque is in gratitude for the Russian Emperor’s efforts to come to the aid of Serbia during the First World War.

The ceremony began with the singing of the Russian and Serbian national anthems, then the choir performed the “Song to the Holy Tsar Nicholas“. This was followed by the consecration ceremony performed by the rector of the monastery Heiromonk Simeon, in the presence of parishioners and distinguished guests from the Russian Embassy in Belgrade (Vladlen Zelenin), the Russian House in Belgrade (Georgy Engelgart) and the Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples (Natalya Kotseva).

Zelenin thanked the Serbian people for honouring the memory of Tsar Nicholas II. In turn, Engelhardt noted that the gratitude and love of the Serbian people for the last Russian Tsar could serve as an example for the Russian people themselves.

PHOTO: the Rukumija Monastery, near the town of Pozharevac in Serbia

For Serbians, Emperor Nicholas II is revered both as a saint and as a statesman. For many Serbs, the image of the Russian Tsar is a symbol of loyalty, honesty and devotion to one’s word. The Serbian people remember that it was for the sake of saving Serbia that Nicholas II entered the First World War.

For more information on Serbia’s reverance for Emperor Nicholas II, please refer to the following articles, researched from Russian and Serbian sources by Paul Gilbert:

Nicholas II through Serbian eyes, published on 13th October 2020

“For us Serbs, Nicholas II will be the greatest and most revered of all saints”, published on 11th August 2022

“I consider Nicholas II a great reformer” – Serbian Ambassador to Russia, published on 13th May 2019

New outdoor portrait of Nicholas II appear’s in Serbia’s capital, published on 2nd January 2020

Icon of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II from Serbia arrives in St. Petersburg, published on 14th May 2021

The Russian House of Emperor Nicholas II in Belgrade, Serbia, published on 12th October 2022

New outdoor portrait of Nicholas II appears in Serbia’s capital

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Paul Gilbert

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Another monumental portrait image of Tsar Nicholas II has appeared in the Serbian capital of Belgrade

With the blessing of Archpriest Vladimir Levichanin, the image of Nicholas II has been painted on the wall of the parish house of the Church of St. George the Great Martyr, located on Voyvodzhanskaya Street in New Belgrade.

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The tradition of historical murals and street art is popular in the Serbian capital, but this is the first such case that an image of such a high artistic style has appeared on a building belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

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The creator of the portrait is the famous Belgrade artist Milan Milosavljevich, who wanted to donate his work to the church, in which he could portray Emperor Nicholas II, who is especially revered in Serbia. One of the initiators of the project is the Serbian book publisher Nikola Drobnyakovich.

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Currently, there is Tsar Nicholas II Street in Belgrade, and in the very center of the city there is a majestic monument to the last Russian emperor and patron of the Serbian people.

Church in Montenegro Marks Centenary of Romanovs’ Deaths

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Paul Gilbert

Memorial to the Holy Royal Martyrs in the Monastery of Dajbabe in Montenegro

NOTE: All of the articles pertaining to Nicholas II and his family which were originally published in my Royal Russia News blog, have been moved to this Nicholas II blog. This article was originally posted on 25 May 2018 in my Royal Russia News blog – PG

The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro and devotees of Romanov dynasty have marked the anniversary of the murder of Nicholas II and Russia’s imperial family.

The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro has commemorated the centenary of the killing of the Russian imperial family at Ekaterinburg with numerous events held under the slogan “The Romanov Family – 100 years of Holiness”.

Ending on Wednesday, the church held four days of masses for the Romanov family across the country, organized roundtables, exhibitions and book promotions while hosting the Russian Church and state officials.

In the monastery of Dajbabe, near the capital, Podgorica, the Serbian Church also erected a memorial (see photo above) to the Russian imperial family who were murdered by the Bolsheviks one year after the revolution that ended 300 years of Romanov rule.

Russia’s last tsar and his family were shot on the night of 16/17 July 1918. Besides Nicholas II, they killed the Empress Alexandra and all their children, Alexei, Olga, Tatyana, Maria and Anastasia.

The Russian Church canonized the imperial family in 2000 and their remnants are now held in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. The Serbian Church also considers the martyred Romanovs as “saints“.

The Serbian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday that people in Montenegro should never forget their gratitude to the Tsars.

“Without the help of Russia, there would have been no liberation of our people from Ottoman slavery… We are aware of this, and with the great gratitude we remember the great love of the Russian people and the Russian tsar for Montenegro,” Joanikije, the Bishop of Budimlike-Niksic, said.

The masses and other events were attended by delegates of the Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodore, Moscow Patriarch Kiril, representatives of the Orthodox Palestinian Society, Russian scholars, academics and former state officials from Moscow.

The Serbian Orthodox Church’s senior bishop in Montenegro, Amfilohije, said that the murder of the imperial family had been a great crime.

“They killed the emperor and the empress, and even though the emperor had given up power to save his people, they killed their children … You can imagine what a crime that was,” Amfilohije said.

The Russian and Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro cherish close relations dating back to the 19th century, during the rule of the Montenegrin prince-bishop, Njegos.

Serbs celebrate Royal Martyrs with Liturgy and procession in Belgrade

Posted on December 7, 2019 by Paul Gilbert

Tsar Nicholas II was “one of the greatest rulers and tsars of Russia in his moral and spiritual qualities,” the Serbian patriarch said.

While 100,000 Orthodox faithful gathered in Ekaterinburg on the night of 16/17 July 2018 to honor the 100th anniversary of the Royal Martyrs, they were honored with another Divine Liturgy and procession in Belgrade the following morning.

During the events, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia praised Tsar Nicholas as one of the greatest Russian rulers, of high moral and spiritual character.

The day began with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the courtyard of the Russian Church of the Holy Trinity in Belgrade, after which a festive procession passed through the capital city’s central streets.

The procession was announced in all Belgrade churches last Sunday, and according to police estimates, the procession gathered about 10,000 faithful, including clergy, representatives of Russian-Serbian friendship organizations, and citizens of Serbia and Russia participated in the march. As the procession moved past the Serbian Parliament building, the choir sang “God Save the Tsar.”

Serbs gather in Belgrade to honour Nicholas II

The procession came to an end at Belgrade’s monument to the slain Russian Tsar, where Pat. Irinej celebrated a festive moleben and addressed the gathered faithful, in which he referred to the Tsar-Martyr’s Orthodox character.

“All his life, he was accompanied by distrust, slander, and underestimation of his personality. And this happened, if we look at the time when tsarist Russia had numerous enemies, as it does now,” the Serbian primate said. In his words, the entire Romanov family behaved in a “deeply Christian manner” to the very end.

“No one knows what would have happened with Serbia and the Serbian people if he had not entered into the First World War,” the patriarch also added.

Then wreaths were laid at the monument to Tsar Nicholas II, with the participation of representations from the Russian embassy, Serbian politicians, priests, and public figures.

Monument to Emperor Nicholas II in Belgrade

The monument to Tsar Nicholas was unveiled in November 2014 by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and former President Tomislav Nikolic. On the pedestal is quoted in Russian and Serbian Tsar Nicholas’ telegram to King Alexander of Serbia, saying, “All my efforts will be directed towards maintaining the dignity of Serbia… In any case, Russia will not remain indifferent to Serbia’s fate.”