THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES VISITED GOLUBAC

Crown Prince and Princess visit Monastery Tumane on Palm Sunday

Belgrade, 24 April 2005 – HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine visited Majailovac and Golubac today.

In the village Majilovac Their Royal Highnesses were warmly greeted by Mr.Trifunovic, prominent master of the house and monarchist, who expressed the great happiness to live to see the day when Their Royal Highnesses will be his guest, and the guests of this place. The Crown Prince and Princess spent time in conversation with the host and members of his family and witnessed the tradition of this family and it’s feelings about The Royal Family.

During this visit local residents were present from thevillage Majilovac, as well as the president of the Municipality, Mr. Zivoslav Lazic. Afterwards Their Royal Highnesses continued their trip to Golubac, where they stayed for a while in Branicevo and on that occasion they greeted the citizens who organized a magnificent welcome.

During their visit to Golubac the Crown Prince and Princess visited place Slavoluk, where once upon a time the citizens welcomed His Majesty King Peter I (great grandfather of the Crown Prince) during his first visit to this town.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine visited the Municipality Golubac www.pozarevac.co.yu/okrug/GOLUBAC/ where they were warmly greeted by Mr. Zoran Pajkic with his closest associates and prominent people from this town and surrounding. In his address Mr. Pajkic introduced the dear guests with the history of this town, as well as with the future development plans.

Thanking for the warmhearted welcome they organized for Princess and him, the Crown Prince pointed out that during this visit he had the opportunity to be introduced with the history of this town, its local citizens, but also with the plans for the future development of the town and surrounding.

“This year is the year of great decisions, serious temptations and dramatic responsibility for all the citizens of Serbia, regardless of their nationality, religion or social and economic status.

We have to go into the future, but we can not repudiate the past. We have to adjust to the conditions that are set for us for joining the European institutions, but we must not repudiate ourselves and our particularities. We have to bring ourselves closer to others, but also bring others closer to us. We have to make sacrifice, but we must not sacrifice anyone. We have to learn to take advantage out of what we must do, and not to destroy what must not be destroyed. At last, we have to be wise and gentle, strong and adjustable, aware of our weaknesses and limitations, and powerful in our beliefs and visions. To be able to realize this, we need unity, solemnity and responsibility.

Esteemed hosts, citizens of Golubac,

Just like your town fortress wall, like the strength and old age of the Danube, you survive in the circumstances that would break down and discourage the most. But there is faith and dedication to your soil in you, and that faith and dedication ought to be preserved through all the temptations. You can do it, I deeply believe in that, and that is why I am here with you today, but will also be for ever and ever.

I wish you happy Palm Sunday and the forthcoming Easter” – said The Crown Prince in his speech.

Their Royal Highnesses visited Monastery Tumane afterwards, the Monastery that celebrated 80 years from the reconstruction helped by His Majesty King Alexander I. In the churchyard of the Monastery Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by the thundering applause of a great number of gathered citizens. Accompanied by mother superior Serafine, The Crown Prince and Princess visited the church and lit candles in remembrance to His Majesty King Alexander I.

In his address HRH Crown Prince Alexander II emphasized how happy he is that today, on Pam Sunday, Princess and he have the opportunity to visit the Monastery Tumane.

“On Palm Sunday, Jesus had walked into Jerusalem and started his walk towards the torments that will save human kind. On this day the Second Serbian Uprising was raised, and it brought us closer to freedom and independence. On Palm Sunday, each year, we have the opportunity to start our own walk to salvation from evil and towards the life that was assigned for us as humans, but also towards freedom and happiness that were given to us, to constantly jeopardize it, loose it and suffer for it again and again in order to have it.

80 years ago this Monastery was reconstructed, and it rose from the ruins, nothingness and oblivion.

That is how we did rise two centuries ago in Orasac, as a people and a state, not forgetting who we are and what are our duties, and we are still shaking off the dust of oblivion and search for the path that Saint Sava pointed us to, searching for the self-identity and dreaming of the times without suffering, betrays, destruction and humiliation.

That path has not been forgotten and those times are not unattainable. But one can get there only by honesty, responsibility, faith and persistence and conscience work. These are not a gift, these are rewards!

We are in Tumane for the first time today, and it is like we have never left, we are recognizing ours, and we know that we belong here. That means that we are home, that we are one, and that means that there are no barriers between us. And that, brothers and sisters is Palm Sunday” –emphasized The Crown Prince in his speech and wished a happy holiday Palm Sunday to all the present.

Afterwards, The Crown Prince and Princess went to see the exhibition dedicated to the colorful part of the country in the building of the Association of the citizens. Their Royal Highnesses walked the city streets and spent time in short conversations with the local citizens. In the hotel “Golubacki grad” Their Royal Highnesses attended a fashion show and a cultural-artistic program, followed by a visit the city fortress from XVI century.

This was the end of the visit of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine to Golubac, which is situated in the northeastern part of Serbia and represents an important part of Branicevo district. Golubac borders on the Municipalities Veliko Gradiste on the west and Kucevo on the south, which belongs to this district and the Municipality of Majdanpek on the east, in Bor district. The northern border 52 kilometers long represents the river Danube, along which extends the border with Romania.