The 34th Žiča Spiritual Assembly “Transfiguration 2025” was officially opened at the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo on Saturday, August 16th, 2025, starting at 8 p.m. The program was hosted by Nemanja Trifunović, curator at the National Museum Kraljevo. He reminded the audience of the history of the event, initiated in 1992 by the Kraljevo Literary Club, with the aim of preserving and promoting national culture. Symbolically, the Žiča Monastery and the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord were chosen, along with the establishment of the “Žiča Chrysobull” award for poetry of spiritual inspiration, whose first laureate was Dobrica Erić. Over time, the Assembly became a tradition, and since 2008, it has received support from the local government, enriching the program further. Trifunović also recalled one of the most significant moments in Kraljevo’s history—the visit of Prince Milan Obrenović IV on April 19th, 1882, when a celebration was held in the town center to mark the proclamation of the Kingdom of Serbia and the renaming of the city.
Milan Obrenović, one of Serbia’s most controversial rulers, was a modernizer who expanded and strengthened the state’s borders yet was also the subject of fierce criticism. His reign and life continue to spark public interest and scholarly debate.
He emphasized that the exhibition “Journey to the East of King Milan Obrenović: Pilgrimage and Oriental Culture at the Serbian Court”, organized by the Museum in Smederevo, reveals lesser-known aspects of the king’s life after his abdication in 1889. He then gave the floor to the exhibition’s authors: Snežana Cvetković, PhD, art historian and museum advisor at the Museum in Smederevo, and Dejan Vukelić, M.A. in art history and expert advisor at the Mathematical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
In her address, Snežana Cvetković, PhD, highlighted that King Milan’s journey, undertaken less than a month after abdicating in favor of his underage son Alexander, lasted about four months. It
offers valuable insight into lesser-known facets of his personality, such as a spiritual transformation at Christ’s tomb, a passion for collecting, and his deep knowledge of antiquities and art. The exhibition blends literature, history, and art, and is based on the book by the king’s adjutant Mihailo Rašić, who was honored to accompany him. Published in two volumes in 1891 and 1892, the book includes illustrative additions but remained largely unnoticed by scholars. The exhibition panels feature retold or quoted passages from Rašić’s book, enriched with photographs taken during the journey, now housed in the National Library of Serbia and the Historical Museum.
She also noted that visitors will see a model of the “Rašić Pattern” displayed on a kilim from the Ethnological Collection of the National Museum Kraljevo. The pattern was brought from Dagestan by Colonel Rašić, who gave it to Pirot weavers to replicate. She described visits to bazaars in Istanbul, Damascus, and Beirut, where King Milan demonstrated his collector’s eye, acquiring items for his Arab Salon in the Belgrade court—photographs of which are included in the exhibition.
She thanked numerous collaborators and sponsors who helped bring this two-year project to life and then gave the floor to co-author Dejan Vukelić.
Dejan Vukelić spoke about the allure of the Orient, which became more accessible after the invention of the steam engine and new modes of transportation. He referenced notable journeys by Pavle Riđički to Egypt and Božidar Karađorđević to India. He emphasized the significance of King Milan’s journey for two reasons: his pilgrimage and his active collecting. Milan became a seeker of God and revealed a new side of his complex personality. Vukelić explained the difference between major and minor pilgrimages, noting that Patriarch Nikodim I of Jerusalem warmly welcomed Milan and awarded him two Orders of the Holy Sepulchre, one of which was intended for his son Alexander, who was chrismated in Žiča that same year.
The rich collection gathered during this journey was used to furnish the Obrenović court’s salon, which was destroyed after the May Coup, with many items sold at auction in Vienna in 1905. They were purchased by Count Ján Bálfi, the era’s greatest collector, and some of these treasures can still be seen in Bojnice Castle in present-day Slovakia.
Curator Nemanja Trifunović noted that the National Museum Kraljevo is celebrating three major anniversaries this year: 75 years of existence, 50 years of the “Children’s May Art Salon”, and 30 years since the passing of Director Milorad Mihailović. In honor of this esteemed cultural figure and one of the museum’s most prominent curators, the exhibition “The Quiet Hero of Heritage: Milorad Miki Mihailović, Art Historian and Director of the National Museum Kraljevo” was organized by his colleagues Tatjana Mihailović, PhD, museum advisor, and Dragan Drašković, retired museum advisor and long-time director of the institution.
Tatjana Mihailović, PhD, thanked the Mihailović family for their generous cooperation and for lending numerous items used in the exhibition. Milorad Miki Mihailović was the first art historian, curator of the Art Collection, and director of the museum from 1979 to 1995, when he passed away unexpectedly. September 2025 marks 30 years since his passing, one of the reasons for organizing this tribute to a man who successfully led the museum for sixteen years.
He initially worked at the National Museum in Kruševac, where he was known for his enthusiasm. From 1973, he worked at the National Museum Kraljevo as curator of the Art Collection. He initiated numerous projects, exhibitions, and publications, and helped form art associations. He also launched the “Children’s May Art Salon”, which continues to this day. He introduced the museum to the joint publication of the journal “Naša prošlost” (Our Past) and was one of the editors of the first five issues of its new series. As director, he strengthened the institution’s staff and secured a new museum building, solving one of its greatest challenges. 1995 marked the peak of his efforts – the first phase of adaptation was completed, and the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo was officially opened. The museum entered a new era with two international conferences and four exhibitions, while a fifth was in preparation.
Tatjana Mihailović, PhD, then described the circumstances of his sudden death at age 48, and the shock, disbelief, and uncertainty that gripped the museum staff. The personality of Milorad Miki Mihailović, a quiet guardian of heritage, permanently shaped the museum’s direction. This exhibition and its catalog offer a small window into his world and attempt to “museumize” him alongside his collections—thus completing the circle.
Dragan Drašković, retired museum advisor and long-time director, said that from Mihailović’s first day at the museum on February 15th, 1973, the institution underwent a transformation that brought success and growth. He emphasized Miki’s dedication and work ethic. The art sales exhibition from the Belgrade Sales Gallery, which he led from 1976 to 1990, became a unique cultural event. Through effort and sacrifice, he fulfilled the dream of his colleagues, and on the first day of spring 1995, the most beautiful gallery space in the adapted ground floor of the old school building was opened – giving Kraljevo a true temple of culture. Mihailović also encouraged the museum’s active participation in the Žiča Spiritual Assembly “Transfiguration.”
He concluded with an anecdote about the successful completion of the scientific conference “Saint Sava in Serbian History and Tradition,” which Mihailović organized. After returning from Mileševa, he saw off the conference participants with arms outstretched, shouting with joy in the middle of the road – “he flew,” facing Kraljevo.
The evening ended with a spontaneous and emotional speech by Professor Miodrag Srbljak, Mihailović’s friend of 20 years, who shared a more intimate perspective on his values and struggles.
Finally, Mila Mihailović, Milorad’s wife, briefly thanked the exhibition’s authors for the honor.
Curator Nemanja Trifunović then presented the upcoming program and officially declared the 34th Žiča Spiritual Assembly “Transfiguration 2025” open.