On Sunday, 3 September 2023, on the occasion of the Dormition of the Mother of God, the slava of the Krupa Monastery, near Obrovac, Dalmatia, the church property in Rossmore near Liverpool hosted a large people’s assembly – the 10th Obrovac-Bukovac Assembly.

A great number of the faithful and guests responded to this large annual and now traditional gathering of Serbs from Krajina, which had started ten years ago, organized by the Obrovac-Bukovac Assembly homeland association from Sydney.

The host of the slava was Zoran Milanko, to be followed by Srećko and Dragana Karna.

The Assembly was then opened by the Secretary Mišo Gnjatović, who spoke about the role and importance of our oldest and westernmost monastery on the other side of the Drina, the Krupa Monastery, throughout its history.

– It was built a little more than seven centuries ago, in 1317 more precisely, during the noble Nemanjić dynasty and the Holy King Milutin. The ancient Krupa, that pearl of Orthodoxy, has been and remains a symbol of Serbian longevity and survival of Serbs in those restless, northern Dalmatian areas and a witness of history in Dalmatia for over seven centuries – said Gnjatović.

He also noted the work of the Homeland Association, established in the honor and glory of the Krupa Monastery, with the aim of restoring our homeland tradition, customs and spirituality, and trying to pass it on to our descendants here in the diaspora, so that they do not forget their roots, origin and thereby lose their national identity.

In addition, the Homeland Association is of a humanitarian character, as it participates in numerous humanitarian actions and donations, both in the homeland and in Australia. The donations received by the Association from the faithful are directed to the reconstruction of destroyed temples, the sick or the printing of publications.

This year, a donation was sent to the St Petka Church in Bjelina near Benkovac and the destroyed St Sava Church in Zemunik near Zadar, and in Australia to the St Luke Church in Liverpool. Total donations so far exceed $66,000.

– For us, coming to the Bukovac Assembly is something not to be missed, because it is a place where guests are greeted with a brotherly welcome, old Bukovac customs, a toast and doors open widely. And all this with a table offering local specialties – this is how the visitors describe the Assembly.

For many years of successful cooperation, selfless help and exceptional contribution to the work of the Association, the organizing committee awarded certificates of appreciation to the Association of 1992-1995 BiH Camp Inmates, Vesti, Srpski glas, MIS TV, Orlovi FC from Sydney and Mr Dragan Paravinja.

After the presentation of certificates of appreciation, the assembly continued with a rich cultural and entertainment program which included performances by the folklore groups: Krug folklore academy, Izvor cultural and artistic society and Karađorđe cultural and artistic society from Liverpool, with Pilipenda Serbian Theater also taking part in this year’s program with actors Sergej Kožul and Boris Erceg.

Message from the Organizing Committee

The organizing committee said that to the joy and satisfaction of all present, they were extremely grateful to everyone who had selflessly invested their energies and efforts to make this year’s jubilee assembly a success, as well as to all friends and guests whose coming was a great honor and pleasure to remember. The organizing committee thanks all of them once again with a cordial salute ‘See you next year’!

Source: VESTI online

Photo: M. Gnjatović