Celebration of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia and Opening of the Season of Serbian Culture in Hungary

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandra Đurović, addressing more than 200 guests, emphasized that 15 February 1804 holds deep symbolic significance for the Serbian state, the Serbian people, and the Serbian Orthodox Church, noting that this event marks the beginning of Serbia’s liberation and the first major struggle for national unification in the 19th century.

She underlined that the second historical reason for the gathering is the fact that on 15 February 1835, Serbia adopted its first constitution – the Sretenje Constitution – an exceptional document considered one of the most advanced democratic constitutions of its time, which laid the foundations for the development of the modern Serbian state.

She emphasized that both pivotal events, commemorated in Serbia on 15 and 16 February, are linked to the great religious holiday of Sretenje, which reminds us to take pride in our glorious past and to pay tribute to the heroism and courage of our ancestors – their patriotism, commitment to justice, and unwavering aspiration for freedom.

Ambassador Đurović stressed that, thanks to the excellent relations between Serbia and Hungary – our host country and a good neighbor – this holiday is being celebrated together within the framework of the Serbian – Hungarian Season of Culture.

The audience was also addressed by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, and the Minister of Culture and Innovation of Hungary, Balázs Hankó.

Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, highlighted that the joint Season of Culture of Hungary and Serbia reflects the maturity of bilateral relations and the readiness to place culture at the center of cooperation. He added that it enables artists, institutions, and audiences of both countries to better get to know and understand each other through the most valuable achievements of their cultural creativity. He noted that this will contribute in the best possible way to strengthening the ties between the two nations and their cultures, which already share a strong sense of mutual recognition.

Minister of Culture and Innovation of Hungary, Balázs Hankó, emphasized that the cultural season includes 157 programs and represents cooperation between two patriotic and Christian governments, as well as two Christian nations. He added that the programs are based on cultural events and everyday traditions, encompassing everything experienced through music, gastronomy, and the cultural closeness of the two peoples.

Following the official part of the program, guests visited the exhibition “Serbian Christian Monuments in Danger,” which presents the outstanding value of Serbia’s medieval Christian cultural heritage.

The evening concluded with a concert by the ensemble “Bojana Peković and the Artistic Family Ensemble” which uniquely combined the traditional instrument with a modern musical expression, followed by a formal reception that further enhanced the ceremony.

The event gathered a large number of representatives of the diplomatic corps, military attachés, representatives of Hungarian institutions, and members of the Serbian community in Hungary.