ANNIVERSARY OF KING ALEXANDER THE FIRST’S DEATH COMMEMORATED

Oplenac, 9 October 2005 – The Holy Liturgy and church memorial service were served in the Church of Saint George in Oplenac by the clergy of the Sumadija Bishopric and “Oplenac” church choir to commemorate the 71st anniversary of King Alexander I’s assassination.

Later on, the admirers of HM King Alexander the Unifier laid wreaths and flowers at the King’s grave.

On behalf of TRH Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine and Princes Petar, Philip and Alexander, Mr. Miroslav Gasic, member of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown, laid a wreath and paid respect to the late King accompanied by the guard of honour and the national anthem. Afterwards, other admirers of the person and deed of the Chivalrous King Alexander I laid their wreaths: the Ministry of Work, Employment and Social Policy, Municipality of Topola, Municipality of Arandjelovac, Municipality of Varavarin, Association for the Preserving Tradition of Liberation Wars 1912-1918, King’s Guard from Velika Plana, local residents of the village Obrez, and many citizens.

King Alexander was assassinated in Marseille 71 years ago, during his state visit to France to try to strengthen the defence alliance against Nazi Germany at the time. The French Foreign Minister was also killed alongside the King. King Alexander was buried with the highest state honours at the Endowment of King Peter I in Oplenac. The National Assembly and Council of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia had given him the name: Chivalrous King Alexander I the Unifier.