The Serbian Orthodox family's patron saint day – Family Vow, Faith and Identity
The Serbian Orthodox family's patron saint day – Family Vow, Faith and Identity
A panel discussion entitled “The Serbian Orthodox family's patron saint day– Family Vow, Faith and Identity” was held at the Novi Pazar Museum “Ras”, with the active participation of the Citizens’ Association “CENTER”, with the aim of preserving and promoting the intangible cultural heritage and traditional values of the Serbian people in the area of Novi Pazar and the Raska region.
The head of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Novi Pazar, Archpriest-Staurophor Tomislav Milenkovic, emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox family's patron saint day is a prayer custom that is exclusively related to Orthodox Serbs and that it represents the spiritual foundation of the family.
“When we celebrate saints, we pray to them not as gods, but as prayerful protectors before God. They are an example for us of how to live in faith and love,” emphasized Father Tomislav, adding that the folk saying “everything can change, but family's patron saint day can never” speaks of the importance of preserving family identity.
Art historian and museum advisor Svetlana Cekovic pointed out that the family's patron saint day is both a personal and a common custom, and that as a living intangible heritage it connects the past and the present. “The family's patron saint day was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2014. It cannot be displayed in a showcase, but we can and must talk about it, to preserve it through dialogue and memory,” Cekovic emphasized.
The documentary film “The Serbian Orthodox family's patron saint day - the cultural identity of Orthodox Serbs in Novi Pazar” by Zeljko Tiosavljevic, president of the Citizens’ Association “CENTER” was screened as part of the panel discussion. The author emphasized that the goal of the film was to bring the tradition of the family's patron saint day closer to the general public and preserve it from oblivion. “I wanted to leave a lasting mark on the customs that are deeply rooted in the lives of rural families in the Novi Pazar region. The film was the best way to preserve this tradition and make it accessible to everyone,” said Tiosavljevic.
The director of the Ras Museum, Elmir Habibovic, assessed the forum as very important and announced the continuation of programs dedicated to intangible cultural heritage.
"We have been sharing a common space for centuries and it is important to get to know each other. Ignorance of customs is often the cause of misunderstanding, which is why such topics are of great importance," said Habibovic.