The Third International Competition Nemanjići ended in Kruševac team winning and elementary school pupils from Dvorovi near Bijeljina taking second place. The elementary school teams from Banja Luka and Bijeljina ranked among the top eight. Vukovar schoolchildren were best ranked competitors from the diaspora.

Today, they attended the liturgy in the Temple of Saint Sava, served by Patriarch Porfirije.

In a very demanding competition, among many teams from the region and the diaspora, elementary school pupils from the Republic of Srpska demonstrated enviable knowledge of the Nemanjić dynasty and achieved an excellent ranking. The team of the Dvorovi Elementary School near Bijeljina took second place.

– It was difficult at the beginning before we got used to learning everything and revising, but later, once learnt, it was very easy. It was beautiful here. We visited many Serbian landmarks and met some new friends – said Nevena Stevanović, a pupil of the Dvorovi elementary school from Dvorovi near Bijeljina.

Milanka Stanišić, a teacher at the Dvorovi elementary school, pointed out that they had approached the task responsibly and expected placement at the top.

Satisfaction also prevails with the pupils from Banja Luka and Bijeljina, whose work and knowledge ranked them among the top eight teams.

– We took fourth and seventh place. Naturally, there was trepidation, but one can do better each time, so we hope to achieve better results next year – says Nikša Dević, a pupil of the Ivo Andrić elementary school from Banja Luka.

Jovana Kojović, a pupil of the Knez Ivo od Semberije elementary school from Bijeljina, points out that they were fifth and sixth in the semifinals, and that among the contestants from Bijeljina, Dvorovi advanced.

– Taking second place is a great pride, and I think we are a source of great pride for Bijeljina for achieving this result – she added.

The contestants are satisfied, as well as organizers, who emphasize the importance of preserving Serbian history, cultural and national identity, and connecting the diaspora with the motherland.

– This is the third international trivia quiz competition, this year’s topic was Famous Serbs, and there were about 900 contestants, about 300 teams from 11 countries – said Zdravko Močević from the Mir Božiji (Peace of God) Foundation.

The competition was held with the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church and institutions of Srpska and Serbia.

Source: RTRS

Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church (spc.rs)