ASCENSION DAY– BELGRADE’S SLAVA

Belgrade, 9 June 2005 - HRH Crown Prince Alexander II extended his congratulations to the Mayor of the City of Belgrade Mr. Nenad Bogdanovic, the members of the City Assembly and all its employees, and to all citizens of Belgrade, on the occasion of Belgrade’s Slava – Christ’s Ascension.

“This day reminds us of the Resurrection of Christ and his ascension to heaven, by which his great and redeeming mission on Earth was completed. Ascension Day, which is celebrated by Belgrade and its citizens as their Holiday, represents an expression of faith in the Salvation of all, and faith in the path that has been indicated to us by the Lord as the only one that leads to the victory of life over death and the deification of man”- emphasized the Crown Prince in his letter of congratulation.

The Ascension Day is Belgrade’s Slava since 1403 when Despot Stefan Lazarevic gave Belgrade the status of capital city. The celebration of the City Slava, which symbolically represents ascension from ashes and indestructible hope and faith in the future, was banned in 1947, and renewed in 1992, with a procession in the streets of the town under the patronage of the Most Holy Mother of God, to whom Despot Stefan Lazarevic dedicated Belgrade. Evidence of the great importance of this holiday is that Dusan’s Law (Dusanov zakonik), the greatest historical-legal document of mediaeval Serbia, was proclaimed at the celebration of Ascension Day in 1349, and at the celebration of the Ascension Day in 1939, the City of Belgrade was awarded the highest war decoration - Karađorđe's star with swords of the IV degree.