The promotion of monograph by Dragoljub Danilović “Church of the Holy Trinity in Kraljevo” was held in the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo, on Friday, November 15th, 2024, starting at 7 p.m. The monograph was published on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the temple. At the beginning of the program, the young fiddler Bogdan Pantović performed a part from the poem by Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović “Heavenly Liturgy”.
The program was moderated by Ana Gvozdenović, MA, editor for essay and critic of the National Library “Stefan Prvovenčani” Kraljevo, who greeted the audience, introduced the participants of the program, and in her introductory speech emphasized the great historical importance of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Kraljevo and its role in shaping the city itself she played the main character point.
The audience was then addressed by Father Ljubinko Kostić, archpriest stavrofor, who at the beginning pointed out that the monograph is extensive and that it brings a wealth of data into the context of the historical environment in which the church lives. It was built at the dawn of freedom by Prince Miloš Obrenović and has the character of a penitential church. After escorting the Turkish troops to Novi Pazar in 1815, Prince Miloš ordered Lord Vasa Popović to prepare the land for the construction of the church. We find it in 1824 as an already completed building. The church lived and suffered together with the people and was rebuilt again and again. An important legal act for the life and organization of the church was the Nachertanije on spiritual authority, which was passed by Nikifor Maksimović in 1836 and which regulated the relationship between the church and secular authorities. One of the key figures of the 19th century is Bishop Joanikije Nešković Janja, who restored Žiča and took care of the Church of the Holy Trinity. Father Ljubinko then listed all the bishops of Žiča who ruled from the 19th century until today and made decisions related to this church, as well as some prominent priests, such as Savatije Božić and Milan Stanić, who also died in the camps.
The book was then presented by historian Dragan Drašković, museum advisor and long-time director of the National Museum Kraljevo in retirement, who at the beginning thanked Dragoljub Danilović for the book. He pointed out that the Church of the Holy Trinity is the oldest building in Kraljevo and that on this occasion, on the occasion of two centuries of its existence, it finally received a monograph. The book is divided into 12 chapters, which follow the history of the church from its foundation, through different historical epochs during the 19th and 20th as well as the first decades of the 21st century, i.e. from the colours on Karanovac and the liberation of the place to the present day. He then referred to some of the key moments in its history.
At the end of the program, the author, Dragoljub Danilović, PhD, professor at the Gymnasium in Kraljevo, addressed the audience, and pointed out that four years of work on the book, for him personally, represent a valuable research experience. Danilović referred to some of the important figures, especially from the 19th century, such as bishop Joanikije Janja, whom he considers heroes of his time. In order to rebuild Žiča, which was in ruins for a long time after the Turkish destruction, Bishop Janja sold his private house and land and used that money to rebuild the monastery. He recalled the saying that big people used to live in small houses, and that today small people live in big houses. He also apostrophized the German looting of Holy Trinity Church during the occupation in World War I and World War II. In the end, he thanked many collaborators in the process of working on the book, especially Archpriest Miroljub Popadić, who, as the editor of the publication, shared the weight of the work with him to the greatest extent.