Friday, June 24, 2022

Offsite Post: ‘Serbia under the Turkish Yoke: What the South Can Learn’

 

It is disheartening to see the ongoing destruction of the monuments erected to honor our Southern forebears.  There is, however, a bright ray of light shining in Serbian history that should give Dixiefolk hope for our future.

The story begins several hundred years ago, with the repose of St Savva, the beloved archbishop and patron saint of Serbia:


After his death in Trnovo, Bulgaria on January 14, 1235 Saint Savva was buried in the Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs. On May 6, 1237 his relics were carried in procession from Trnovo to Mileshevo Monastery in Serbia. When the casket was opened, the relics were found to be incorrupt, and produced an ineffable fragrance. In 1253, the Serbian Orthodox Church glorified the holy hierarch Savva as a Saint.

Because of the intense love of the people of Serbia for their archpastor, he became a source of inspiration for the Serbs after the Muslim Turks conquered their land:


Following the Battle of Kosovo on June 25, 1389, the Serbian nation fell under the Turkish Yoke. During this period the Serbs continued to visit the tomb of Saint Savva, asking him to give them the strength to endure the oppressive persecution they suffered at the hands of the Turks. His icon was placed on their flags, and the faithful turned to the Saint for encouragement, consolation, and healing.

Here the parallels with Southern history begin to come into view, as Southerners, during the dark days of Lincoln’s war and in the aftermath, were often consoled, encouraged, and uplifted by the news or the presence or the recounting of the deeds of the patriarchs they loved ardently, like Lee, Forrest, and Jackson.

In their efforts to quell the resistance of the Serbs, the Turks made the decision to burn the holy relics of St Savva:


Following the Battle of Kosovo on June 25, 1389, the Serbian nation fell under the Turkish Yoke. During this period the Serbs continued to visit the tomb of Saint Savva, asking him to give them the strength to endure the oppressive persecution they suffered at the hands of the Turks. His icon was placed on their flags, and the faithful turned to the Saint for encouragement, consolation, and healing.

Likewise, those who hate the South are attempting to undermine what remains of our yearning for independence by destroying the memorials of our heroes.

Yet the Turks’ burning of St Savva’s relics did not have the desired effect:

 . . .

The rest is at https://www.reckonin.com/walt-garlington/serbia-under-the-turkish-yoke-what-the-south-can-learn.

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Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!

Anathema to the Union!

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