item
Serbian Church in Communism
- Lemma
- Srpska crkva u komunizmu
- Serbian
- Stevanovic, Aleksandra
- Mutual dependence
- 29-01-2019
- Serbian Church in Communism
- Serbian Church in Communism : and Post-communism (1945–2000) - Belgrade: Vecernje novosti, 2018.
- Communism
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The book examines the connections between the Serbs and Serbian Orthodox Church between 1945 and 2000, in other words, at the time when communism was in rule in Serbia. In the times of communism, a social climate that was created was completely different from the spiritual and cultural environment that the Serbs, preserving the original spirituality, had created centuries before. Religious life was impoverished, church property was nationalized and the reputation of the church ruined. Signs with Orthodox and Serbian national symbols were supressed, sanctuaries were destroyed. Ideology was in clash with faith. The atmosphere that was created supposed that national and spiritual being was trampled on.
The author of the book however tells about the “scientists of the firm faith” and puts special emphasis on Mihajlo Pupin. The author points out that Serbian Orthodox Church may be proud of excellent scholars who, as faithful people, raised its reputation and role in the country and worldwide. The best examples are the world's greatest scientists, Milutin Milankovic, Mihajlo Pupin, Nikola Tesla. That is why the Church's literature often pointed at the great significance of these scholars. For the Church, Mihajlo Pupin's efforts to organize Serbian Church in America were highly significant. In his time, at the beginning of the 20th century, their first eparchy in the North American continent was organized.
In addition, the author emphasizes that education in Serbia first expanded under the Serbian Church and spread from Orthodox monasteries: Hilandar, Zica, Studenica, Pec, Decani, Ravanica, Manasija.
The book is a significant contribution to the comprehension of the role of Serbian Orthodox Church for building national identity and its efforts to enhance educational and scientific environment which it never found as its opponent, but a necessary ally in spiritual upbringing.
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