Spiritual Serbia
Candlemass is a spiritual occasion for Serbs - not only is it a religious festival but it also marks Serbian Statehood Day, commemorating the first uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1804 led by ‘Black George’, as well as the first Serbian Constitution in 1835. Appropriately, the Serbian Orthodox Church sang both National Anthems after which Ambassador Dejan Popovic gave his National Day message. This year marks 175 years of diplomatic ties with Britain, and while relations reached a low point during the past decade, the Ambassador said “better days” lay ahead with Serbia’s aspirations to join the EU. He added: “The only threat to our relations is Jokovic beating Murray in the tennis!”

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS

The Ambassador of Macedonia Mrs Marija Efremova and the Ambassador
of Bosnia Herzegovina Mrs Jadranka Negodic

Father Milun of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Lady Maitland

Chelsea footballer Branislav Ivanovic