The Saint Sava Academy was held in Skopje last evening on the occasion of Saint Sava Day – the national holiday of North Macedonian Serbs.

The President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, said he was glad to be in Skopje, where a large number of Serbs from the region had gathered on the occasion of the great holiday of Saint Sava, which united the Serbian people.

– I am sitting here with friends in North Macedonia. I am glad to be in Skopje, where I feel welcome and where the Saint Sava Academy is being held this evening, traditionally bringing together numerous Serbs from the region and friends – Dodik said.

In addressing the gathering, the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, stated that if it had not been for Saint Sava, the Serbian people would have had lost their identity long ago.

He said he would do everything to ensure the relations with North Macedonia to continue to be at a high level in the future, as they had been thus far.

Dodik stated that he had discussed cooperation improvement at the meeting with the North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister, Ivan Stoilković.

– We are committed to improving relations between Srpska and North Macedonia – Dodik said.

The Republic of Serbia’s presidential envoy and Minister of Defense, Bratislav Gašić, expressed his satisfaction over spending Saint Sava Day with our people in the capital of a friendly neighboring country and stated that Saint Sava was the first Serbian archbishop and educator, and this year the celebration marked the 850th anniversary of his birth.

In honor of Saint Sava Day, Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković was awarded the Saint Sava Charter and said that he was honored by the recognition and that it was an honor for him to address the large gathering noting that Saint Sava had laid the foundation for Serbian spiritual asceticism and given meaning and measure to every Serbian feat.

On this occasion, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije said that Saint Sava Day was a great blessing for all.

North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-Community Relations Ivan Stoilković, the Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament Andrija Mandić also addressed the gathering, and actor Slobodan Ćustić delivered the Hilandar Sermon.

The ceremony also featured a performance by the Stanislav Binički Artistic Ensemble of the Ministry of Defense and the First Belgrade Singing Society.

Source: ATV – SRNA – Government of the Republic of Serbia

Photo: Government of the Republic of Serbia