The Serbian Orthodox Church on June 28 celebrates the Feast of St. Vitus (in Serbian, Vidovdan), which also commemorates the Battle of Kosovo against the Ottoman Turks, which took place in 1389.
Serbs Commemorate Vidovdan And The 1389 Battle Of Kosovo
Serb nationals hold icons as they take part in a ceremony marking the historic Battle of Kosovo at the Gazimestan monument on the outskirts of Pristina on June 28.
The 1389 Battle of Kosovo, fought on June 28, was a pivotal confrontation between the forces of the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanovic and the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Murad I.
The battle took place on Vidovdan, or St. Vitus's Day. The overlapping of the historical military event and the religious feast has evolved into a national day of remembrance for Serbs, symbolizing religious devotion and national identity, with the Battle of Kosovo at its core.
Serbian communities worldwide commemorate the battle, with the most significant taking place at the Gazimestan monument (pictured), located near Pristina.
A Serb Orthodox nun lays flowers at the memorial.
A Serb man holds a wooden cross during the commemoration.
Over the centuries, the battle, which looms large in the national consciousness, has been commemorated in Serbian poetry and literature.
For many, the battle symbolizes a heroic but doomed struggle against a powerful external invader.
The battle marked a critical point in the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into southeastern Europe, shaping the region's political landscape for centuries.
People take pictures with their phones of the religious leaders who dedicate hymns and chants to St. Vitus and the martyrs of the battle.
Serb Orthodox nuns participate in the memorial service, conducted in honor of the souls of those who died in the battle.
A Serb woman gestures next to a replica of the Gazimestan memorial.