Posted on 06/28/2011 10:43:01 AM PDT by Ravnagora
Kosovska Devojka
The Kosovo Maiden
*****
Today, June 28, 2011, marks the anniversary of perhaps the most sacred day in Serbian history. It can be said, too, that it is a sacred day in Christian history.
On this day, in 1389 on Kosovo field, 70,000 Serbian men, the entire Serbian Army, gave its life to defend Christianity against the onslaught of the Ottoman Turks and Islam.
They chose the "Heavenly Kingdom" over the earthly one.
For them, Christianity was worth fighting for.
Sincerely,
Aleksandra Rebic
*****
Ping
http://www.srpska-mreza.com/bookstore/kosovo/kosovo19.htm
Every nation has 1 date in its history which it considers more important than any other. For the Serbs, the most important date in their history is June 15, by the old calendar - June 28, by the new calendar (Vidovdan). On that day, in 1389, 600 years ago, Serbian and Turkish armies clashed on the Kosovo Field. Both the Serbian ruler Prince Lazar and the Turkish Sultan Murad I died as a result of the battle. In addition, a great number of Serbian military leaders, as well as a great number of Serbian warriors, lost their lives. Notwithstanding the fact that according to historical documents neither the Serbs nor the Turks won the battle, Serbia was so exhausted that it was unable to continue resisting the Turks’a few decades later the heirs of Prince Lazar recognized Turkish suzerainty and 5 centuries of domination of the Serbs by the Turks ensued. That long and martyrlike enslavement changed the course of Serbian history and interrupted the cultural progress of the Serbs, which was clearly evident during the rule of the Nemanja dynasty.
It is difficult to assess the importance of the Kosovo Battle for world history. Such is also the case with the battles at the Alamo or Gettysburg, which are so important for American history. However, it is undeniable that the Battle of Kosovo was exceptionally significant not only for Serbia, but also for Europe and European Christian civilization.
thank you and Texas Fossil, for the great reminder of the courage and sacrifice of all those good men.
...if not for them, and others like at the Gates of Vienna,
Islam would have conquered Europe centuries ago.
...and we repaid their memory, by bombing their descendants, and helping the Islamists, in modern Kosovo.
it’s a long long war. Jefferson and Adams understood.
Cossack Ivan Sirko understood even better...
again, thank you both, for the reminder.
Bookmark.
Powerful observation. Thank you.
*****
Serbian Poetry expressed the spiritual meaning of the Battle of Kosovo:
..”From Jerusalem, the holy city,
Flying came a swift grey bird, a falcon,
And he carried in his beak a swallow.
But behold and see! ‘Tis not a falcon,
‘Tis the holy man of God, Elias,
And he does not bear with him a swallow,
But a letter from God’s Holy Mother.
Lo, he bears the letter to Kosovo,
Drops it on the Tsar’s knees from the heavens,
And thus speaks the letter to the monarch:
“Tsar Lazar, thou Prince of noble lineage,
What wilt thou now choose to be thy kingdom?
Say, dost thou desire a Heavenly kingdom,
Or dost thou prefer an earthly kingdom?
If thou should now choose an earthly kingdom,
Knights may girdle swords and saddle horses,
Tighten saddle-girths and ride to battle—
You will charge the Turks and crush their army!
But if thou prefer a Heavenly kingdom,
Build thyself a church upon Kosovo,
Let not the foundations be of marble,
Let them be of silk and of scarlet....
And to all thy warriors and their leaders
Thou shalt give the Sacraments and orders,
For thine army shall most surely perish,
And thou too, shalt perish with thine army.”
When the Tsar had read the holy letter,
Pondered he, and pondered in this manner:
“Mighty God, what now shall this my choice be!
Shall I choose to have a Hevenly kingdom?
Shall I choose to have an earthly kingdom?
If I now should choose an earthly kingdom,
Lo, an earthly kingdom is but fleeting,
But God’s Kingdom shall endure for ever.”
And Lazar chose Heaven.”…
Beautiful. Thank you for posting this, Bokababe.
The Battle of Kosovo can be best compared to The Battle of Hastings 1066 in it's long lasting impact. Hasting changed the course of history for English people, Kosovo changed course of history for Serb people. Two great and prosperous kingdoms were lost. It did change the course of history for Europe.
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