Žica Spiritual Assembly “Transfiguration 2022” was officially opened in the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo, on Tuesday, August 16th, 2022, starting at 8 p.m. Ana Gvozdenović, MA, editor for essays and criticism of the publishing activity of the National Library “Stefan Prvovenčani” Kraljevo, greeted the guests and the audience as the master of ceremonies. She emphasized that during the three decades of its existence, the event changed its name and format, and today it is known among the general and professional public of Serbia for its concise and precisely defined content, which in an exemplary way establishes a fruitful connection between contemporary creativity and our cultural heritage. In the further protocol, she invited Predrag Terzić, PhD, the Mayor of Kraljevo, to address the audience.
Terzić referred to the importance of the event itself and its long duration, and expressed the wish that, in addition to lovers of the written word and spirituality, representatives of science would gather within the framework of the Žica Spiritual Assembly. He particularly emphasized the importance of the scientific meeting “Publications in the Development of Society and State II”, which the National Museum Kraljevo is organizing with the support of the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade and the Institute for Political Studies from Belgrade and pointed out that this scientific conference should develop into a longer-term project. After the mayor, Vladimir Pištalo, PhD, director of the National Library of Serbia, addressed the audience.
Since he spent a period of his upbringing in Kraljevo, he conceived part of his presentation as a literary review of his memories related to the city from the second half of the sixties, in which Žiča has a special place. Looking back on the three-decade-long manifestation, he emphasized that it was born out of the need for transformation, and that it was an awareness of life. That unconsciousness cannot be transformation, but conscious continuity can. Vladimir Pištalo, remembering his friend and “Žiča Chrisobull” laurate, Stevan Tontić, officially opened the event. In the further protocol, Bojana Borić Brešković, MA, director of the National Museum of Serbia, addressed the audience.
She officially opened the exhibition “Beneath the Sky of Gold and Blue: Icons of Greek Master Painters from the 15th to the 19th Century of the National Museum of Serbia” by Branka Ivanić, MA, museum advisor. She pointed out that the exhibition includes 147 icons, which, as the embodiment of Christian piety and achievements of fine art, have long been woven into the history of Serbs. They were created in Crete, in Venice and the Adriatic cities and represent top achievements of international importance. She especially pointed out that the exhibition was presented in its entirety in the excellent space of the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo, and that her institution was proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the traditional thirty-first ceremony on the opening day of the manifestation. In the musical part of the program, Ivan Trajković performed accompanied by Vujica Vasiljević and Dušan Dunjić, singers from the choir of the Church of St. Sava in Kraljevo.