Slavenko Terzić, “What is Old Serbia?”

Publishing house "Orthodox Word" and the Historical Institute in Belgrade, published a monograph by Slavenko Terzic (1949), historian, scientific adviser to the Historical Institute SANU, entitled ..

"Old Serbia (XIX and XX century)."

The term "Old Serbia" is no longer mentioned. What was old Serbia?

- Old Serbia was not only today but also is central historic land of the Serbian people, Regardless of the

circumstances in recent years. We are witnessing a complete distortion of history of this country and the political construction of its new identity. The term has disappeared from the consciousness of the general public, except in the narrow professional circles.

Our world, and otherwise is not only easy to leave Their habitat, but also quickly forgotten historical names of their fields and countries. Old Serbia is the name for the southern and south-western part of historic Serbia, who remained to live under Ottoman rule after liberation Šumadija, and surrounding areas, and the creation of an autonomous Principality of Serbia (New Serbia). For one historian and traveling writer, the country in the seventies of the 19th century called "the Genuine Serbia." Old Serbia is-level administrative term, it is the historical name for the area of the old Serbian government, spiritual and cultural centers.Cvijic viewpoint (which is traveled on foot and landscapes) that covers the area of the old Serbia Raska, Kosovo and Metohija and the upper Vardar valley (Skoplje-Tetovo area).

What is, in cultural terms, and represented a mean old Serbia?

- As is well known in professional circles, on the area of the old Serbia there were famous Serbian medieval castles (Svrčin, peacocks, Nerodimlje, Stimlje, Ribnik near Prizren, and others). State capitals such as Ras, Pristina, Prizren and Skoplje. The seat of the Patriarchate of Pec 1346th and the greatest achievements of the Serbian medieval civilization embodied in Sopocani, Đurđevo pillars Pećkoj Patriarchate High Decani, Gracanica, Virgin Ljeviškoj, Holy Archangel near Prizren and large number of Serbian endowment around Skoplje and Kumanovo, such as Markov Monastery, Andreas, PSAC , Sveti Spas in Kučevište in Skopje, Old Nagoričino, Mateica and others. Only in Kosovo and Metohija, in 1,090 villages (out of 1,445 listed above forty years or more), data were collected for 1,300 monasteries, churches, and other immovable Crkvište Serbian monuments, and to say nothing about the ancient and precious treasures and monastery libraries . In the old Serbia is almost everything that marks the historical identity of the Serbian people.