26.02.2014.

Promotion of the book of holy warriors in the Central Military Club

The book "Holy Warriors - Lives of military saints – leaders and soldiers" by Colonel Borislav D. Grozdić has been promoted in the Ceremonial Hall of the Central Military Club today. In the book the author has dealt with 182 lives of the holy warriors of different nations: Russians, Greeks, Serbs, Ukrainians, Georgians, Persians, Lithuanians and others. It is for the first time that some hagiographies of the saints of the Romanian holy soldiers are given in the Serbian language.

The book was presented by General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Slavoljub Markovic, Director of Odbrana Media Centre, Dragana Markovic, Head of Publishing Activities of that institution, Bishop of Remezijan Andrej, hieromonk Dositej from the monastery of Hilandar and the author.

General Dikovic pointed out that Colonel Grozdic gave his full contribution "giving us the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his many years of work and gain spiritual wealth, thinking about the warriors with saintly halo".
- It may seem to the reader that the title of "Holy Warriors" contains an internal contradiction. If we know that war brings great harm, can a warrior be a saint? It seems inconsistent, but only seemingly. Justice and injustice are often two sides of the same thing. Conqueror is personification of injustice, and the one who defends his hearth, family, sanctuaries and country from the onslaught of invaders is protagonist of justice, the Chief of General Staff said, adding that participation in war does not deprive the defender and the liberator of a virtue, but it tries them, distinguishes and promotes them.

The idea to publish more detailed Lives of military saints – leaders and soldiers has existed with the author for more than ten years.

- My deepest desire was to use this book to point out the most powerful weapon that can defeat any enemy and that is the power of the spirit and moral force. The weapon is not the only argument of a soldier, but the last and final one in the national defence. "Holy Warriors" is an example of how the word is transferred into action, Colonel Grozdic said and thanked colleagues for their cooperation.

The presentation was attended by State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Zoran Djordjevic, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Serbian Armed Forces, church, friends and many guests.

Participants in the musical programme were Pirg band and Maja Stojanovic from the Faculty of Music.

The book was blessed for publishing by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej.