MONASTERY OF ST. GEORGE ON ROMANIJA - A PLACE OF GATHERING, HARMONY AND UNITY

SOKOLAC, AUGUST 11 /SRNA/ - The Monastery of St. George the Great Martyr on Ravna Romanija is a place of gathering, harmony, and unity, it was said at the spiritual and cultural event "To You, Mountain of Romanija", whose goal is to preserve the tradition of the people of the Sarajevo-Romanija region.

In the presence of a large number of believers on the occasion of the Day of the Monastery of St. George the Great Martyr, a liturgy and a memorial service were held for 4,210 fallen soldiers of the Sarajevo-Romanija region in the Defense-Patriotic War, whose names are inscribed on the walls of this monastery instead of frescoes.

Abbot of the monastery on Ravna Romanija Archimandrite Andrej said that today marks 21 years since the church on Ravna Romanija became a monastery.

He pointed out that on the Day of the Monastery, a large number of believers have been gathering in its courtyard for years, not only from Romanija, but also from surrounding municipalities and cities, as well as believers from Serbia.

"Monasteries are centuries-old bastions around which people gathered, our hearths around which we warmed ourselves both spiritually and nationally, and may God grant that it remains so," emphasized Archimandrite Andrej.

Mayor of East Sarajevo Ljubiša Ćosić stated that the Serb people have been gathering in the courtyard of the monastery on Ravna Romanija for three decades, stating that gathering is in the essence of the people of this region.

"Whenever the people gathered and were united, it was always good for the Serb people. At the time when this gathering was created, the people were completely united and gathered around the idea called Republika Srpska," Ćosić emphasized.

He said that the City Administration is trying to gather people and be a support to all municipalities within the city.

"And when it comes to Romanija and Sokolac, we always provide support to these events, but also to what people expect from us," Ćosić pointed out.

Mayor of Sokolac Municipality Strahinja Bašević said that today's date, that is, the day when the Monastery of St. George the Great Martyr was consecrated in 2005, is significant for the spirituality of the Sarajevo-Romanija region, adding that today everyone should remember those whose names are inscribed on the walls of this sanctuary.

"And if we forget them, may God forget us too," Bašević said.

Bašević added that their sacrifice cannot be measured by anything, and that today it should be shown that Republika Srpska is united around what they gave their lives for.

The organizer of the event "To You, Mountain of Romanija" is the Cultural Institution "Pero Kosorić" from Sokolac, and Acting Director of this institution Suzana Soldar said that this event has been gathering fans of customs, culture, and tradition on Ravna Romanija for almost three decades.

"Today, in addition to a rich cultural and artistic program, we are also presenting domestic products, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, and everything that makes Romanija recognizable," she stated.

Folk gusle player Maksim Vojvodić said that he feels at home in the Romanija area, and that he does not know of a case where the names of fallen soldiers are inscribed inside a temple, emphasizing that there is no more beautiful way to preserve their memory.

"And with the hope of resurrection, that their names are sung to the gusle," Vojvodić stated.

Founder of the Temple of St. George the Great Martyr Milovan Bjelica stated that the sacrifice of those whose names are inscribed on the walls of the Monastery of St. George the Great Martyr on Ravna Romanija is great.

The marking of the Day of the Monastery of St. George the Great Martyr on Ravna Romanija began last night with an evening service and a concert by singer Uroš Živković.

The event "To You, Mountain of Romanija" is held as part of the "Assumption Evenings of Culture".