The book Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija in the 20th and 21st century by Prof. Dragoslav Ćetković, was presented at Kolarac on October 3rd.

This event brought together many dignitaries, including Bishop Ilarion of Novi Brdo, who expressed his respect for the work and importance of this gathering on behalf of Patriarch Porfirije and Bishop Teodosije of Raška-Prizren diocese. There were too many guests for the small concert hall of the Kolarac endowment to accommodate all the interested in this significant event.

The Karić Brothers Foundation is proud to stand behind this new and updated book edition which represents an important historical and documentary landmark for all future scholars of Serbian history in Kosmet.

Bishop Ilarion stressed in his sermon that he recognizes Kosovo and Metohija as “his cradle literally”, emphasizing the importance of gathering on the occasion of significant cultural events that are in accordance with the biblical worldview where ‘Man is the crown of God’s creation’. He particularly pointed out that the holy land of Kosovo and Metohija is best understood through the people who guarded it for centuries, and he thanked the author Prof. Ćetković for his efforts to leave a mark for future generations with his work.

The book Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija in the 20th and 21st century was published by Obeležja plus Publishing House and the Karić Brothers Foundation with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije. This edition is a continuation of Ćetković’s first book of the same title published in 2018, it contains more than 900 biographies and over 250 photographs that depict Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.

Among the many biographies, there are renowned figures such as Patriarch Porfirije, Bishop Ilarion, members of the Karić family, music director Jasmina Novokmet, composer Blagoje Košanin, vocal soloist of Radio Belgrade Sonja Perišić, actor Milan Vasić, and many other cultural workers and athletes who contributed to marking the life and history of the southern Serbian province.

Academician Slavenko Terzić, the author of the introduction to the book, praised Ćetković’s work, calling it a ‘precious lexicon and contribution to the history of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija’. He pointed out that the contribution of Kosovo Serbs to Serbian science, culture and economy has not been sufficiently researched, and that this work provides significant insight into that topic that we must never forget.

Prof. Milivoje Pavlović underlined that the work on preserving the names and works of people who were not included in these two volumes will be continued, while Prof. Živko Kulić pointed to the verses, photographs and maps that enrich the book and help in better understanding of history, culture and natural beauty of Kosovo and Metohija.

Kulić concluded that this edition is an opportunity to talk about Kosovo in a new way, highlighting its constant struggle between good and evil.

The Karić Brothers Foundation continues to contribute to the preservation of Serbian history and tradition. For more than half a century, the mission of the Karić family lies precisely in the struggle for the preservation of the Christian Orthodox and traditional family in an economically independent and strong Serbia. Projects like this contribute to the development of new ideas and initiatives that can help our people on their centuries-old hearths.

The book promotion was further magnified by the performance of the young and incredibly talented Pavlina Radovanović from Orahovac, who sang ‘Orahovac, garden of paradise’, by Gavrilo Kujundžić, that is considered to be an anthem of the Orahovac region.

The Karić Brothers Foundation thanks the media for the great interest and engagement in the promotion of this capital literary work. The book will also be presented at the end of October at the Belgrade Book Fair, and will be available for purchase at the Karić Brothers Foundation book stand.