MEMORIAL TO SERBS KILLED IN LIBERATION WARS UNVEILED AT OBLJE

KALINOVIK, SEPTEMBER 27 /SRNA/ - His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral consecrated a monument at Oblje near Kalinovik dedicated to all Serbs from the Ulog Church Parish who were killed in liberation wars from 1875 to 1995.

The names of 472 victims are inscribed on the monument, including 313 who died during World War II.

Earlier, Metropolitan Dimitrije served the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy at the Church of the Ascension of Christ in Oblje and a memorial service for all those who died.

Metropolitan Dimitrije said God gives people strength to forgive, to live, to remember the departed, and to foster national unity, reconciliation and love.

"We receive everything from God, and whatever does not come from Him, even if we try to replace it with our own strength, will be short-lived," Bishop Dimitrije said, adding that what is blessed endures forever.

The Metropolitan of Zahumlje-Herzegovina stressed that God, through Christ, had forgiven people every sin and erased every stain.

"So we too should forgive one another and be merciful, bow before the wounds of our brothers, kiss them and acknowledge them. Christ our God, grant us unity and blessing, bring us together, increase us in number and wisdom, and help us live in the faith and love of Christ," Bishop Dimitrije said.

After receiving Metropolitan Dimitrije's blessing, faithful Serbs originally from the territory of the former Ulog municipality and now living around the world collected the names of all those from the area who were killed in the liberation wars.

They include victims of the Nevesinje Uprising of 1875, the Ulog Uprising of 1882, World War I from 1914 to 1918, World War II from 1941 to 1945, and the 1992-1995 Defensive-Patriotic War.

Archival documents and written records about these wars were used to compile the information, particularly the archives of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia relating to the census of World War II victims, the archives of the Kalinovik Military-Chetnik Brigade and information provided by families.

A book containing detailed information about the construction of the monument is due to be published early next year, covering the process from the initial proposal and the bishop's blessing to the collection of information on those who died, including precise details of their deaths, the statement said.