16.08.2010.
89th anniversary of King Petar I Karadjordjevic's death
In the St. George Church on Oplenac in Topola 89th anniversary of the death of King Petar I the Liberator was marked yesterday.
In the north pew of the church, the representatives of MoD, SAF, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Topola municipality, the representatives of Karadjordjevic family, the students of “Kralj Petar I Karadjordjevic” secondary school as well as the reps of NGOs dedicated to cherishing the traditions of Serbian liberation wars laid the commemorative wreaths near the sarcophagus of the king.
Yesterday morning, a mass was served by the Bishop Jovan of Sumadija in the Oplenac Church of St.George. Because of his warm and cordial manner he was called Uncle Pera in the people.
King Petar I Oslobodilac (the Liberator) was one of the most renowned Serbian rulers who came to the throne after the May Coup d Etat when King Aleksandar I and Queen Draga were killed in 1903. The reign of King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic was marked by the Annex ion Crisis, the so called, customs war with the Austro-Hungarian Empire as well as by the Balkan and WWI with Serbia as the winning side after great victories in Kumanovo, Bregalnica, Cer, the Kolubara River and the Thessalonica Front. He died on 16 august in Belgrade, and his remains were laid to rest in the Church of St. George at Oplenac in Topola on 22 August. The church was built as his legacy to the people of Serbia. When the church was finished in 1930, his son King Aleksandar moved his remain to the main nave in the church.
