In memoriam – Dragan Baltovski

 

Dear friends and colleagues,

We wish to share with you that our General Manager, Mr Dragan Baltovski passed away suddenly this morning. Mr Baltovski was an exceptional manager and scholar, who transformed our company in to well-organized, modern funeral company. In addition, Mr Baltovski supported and was intensely involved in ASCE activities and promotion of the funerary heritage of the New Cemetery.  He was our biggest motivator, harshest critic, but also a tremendous support during the hardest of times and will be missed greatly.

Mr Dragan Baltovski was born in Zaječar on November 16,1953. He graduated from the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics in 1977, while acquiring Master of Science in Economics at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics in 2005. He commenced his professional career at the Foreign Trade Institute in 1978 and continued at Serbian Chamber of Commerce Canter for Research, Development and Economic Analyses in 2000. Mr Baltovski was the author of numerous papers on economic development of Serbia, international economic relations and services sector development. Appointed General Manager of PUC „Funeral Services“ by the City of Belgrade on 20.10.2008 and was since elected three more times.

Public Utility Company "Funeral Services"

Belgrade, October 1, 2021

Successful season at the New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia) concluded by another open history class

Evolution of Cremation, Ecology, Ethics and Solidarity – International Conference in Belgrade (Serbia)

2019 European Heritage Days at the New Cemetery of Belgrade (Serbia)

Theatrical Project „Remote Belgrade“ - at the New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia)

This year’s 53rdBelgrade International Theatre Festival was opened by unique theatrical project “Remote Belgrade” by the authors Stefan Kaegi and  Jörg Karrenbauer of the well-known Rimini Protocol Company. After visiting numerous towns all around the world, this project, under the generic name “Remote X”, which is assigned a new name after the town it visits, finally arrived to Belgrade. In the period from 17-25 September 2019 (two times a day – i.e., at 11:00 and 17:00 hrs.), with the starting point from the New Cemetery in Belgrade, Belgradears and their guests will have an opportunity to experience this unique theatrical installation.

Within the theatrical project “Remote Belgrade”, a group of up to 50 people set off into the City of Belgrade. They are guided by a synthetic voice - as they recognize it from GPS navigators. The installation questions artificial intelligence, big data and human predictability. As the project tours from city to city, each new site-specific version builds upon the dramaturgy of the previous city. The project is completely immersive, since the audience do not simply blend into a given dramatic situation but, since there are no performers, they create it, although not singlehandedly. Following the instructions coming through the headphones, the audience walk through Belgrade, from one spot designated by the authors to another. It creates a powerful, sensual experience of being a part of the community, while making it possible for everyone to process it alone. An intuitive text makes the audience ponder if they are familiar with the town they live in, if they feel better in a group or alone, how they feel in the community, if they walk through their lives alone, or are they led by a superior mechanism.  

You may see more details on this unique theatrical project: here (source: Radio Television of Serbia-web site).

President Emmanuel Macron visiting the New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia)

President Emmanuel Macron visiting the New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia)

WDEC 2019 at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, Serbia

Adventures of the Spirit Continued – New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia)

Adventures of the Spirit and Beyond – New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia)

International Tourist Guide Day - New Cemetery in Belgrade

WWI Armistice Centenary Walks through the New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia)

In a view of the WWI Armistice Centenary, two more guided strolls devoted to this important historical event were organized at the New Cemetery of Belgrade on November 4 and November 18, 2018.

Legendary WWI Military Commanders and Heroes Buried at the New Cemetery 

This guided stroll through the New Cemetery was devoted to immense courage, sacrifice and patriotism of the Great War participants. In the course of this inspiring stroll, our guide revived the memories of Legendary Serbian WWI Military Commanders, famous filed marshals, generals and majors, but also all those known and unknown man and women who significantly contributed to the Serbian WWI effort. One of the focuses of this stroll was the Memorial Ossuary of Belgrade Defenders (1914-1918), where the visitors were able to enter the crypt beneath the monument. This informative tour revealed many aspects of the Great War: locations, strategies, battles, and events, in addition to many intimate stories of hopes, fears, anger, pain, suffering, patriotism and love. 

Serbian She-Soldiers and Volunteer Nurses in the Great War 

Our visitors who showed up in significant number, disregarding the cold weather and the first snow, were able to hear emotional stories on the women in Great War.  The stories were related to the courageous she-soldiers who defended their country and were widely admired by the international community and press, but also the women who interrupted their successful careers or studies abroad to act as volunteer nurses or humanitarian workers, tending to the wounded at the battle fields or tirelessly travelling through the world, gathering aid in order to help their compatriots in these times of temptation.

We would like to share a story about a local lady, almost forgotten today, who played a significant role during the first days of the Great War in Belgrade. In spite of being a middle-class home maker, Vuka Popadic was considered one of the bravest citizens of Belgrade at the time. Upon first siege of Belgrade in the Great War, she started to gather around the hungry and frightened citizens of Belgrade. At her flat in down-town Belgrade, which was the center of military action, she organized an improvised field hospital, providing the first aid to the wounded soldiers and civilians and helping them to survive to the nearest hospitals. She even managed to capture a group of fifteen Austro-Hungarian soldiers, whom she later surrendered to the Serbian Army, but only after sheltered them in the safety of her home and treating them with fruit preserve (loc.: “slatko”) and fresh water in accordance with the local customs. 

Remembrance Day – WWI Armistice Centenary (New Cemetery in Belgrade, Serbia)

Since the New Cemetery of Belgrade is one of the rare, urban civillian cemeteries comprising five WWI Military Cemeteries, each November is marked with the series of commemorations devoted to all victims of the Great War.

On the occasion of the Italian Armed Forces Day and WWI Armistice Centenary, on November 2, 2018, the commemoration was held at the Italian Military Cemetery within the New Cemetery of Belgrade, for the purpose of remembering the Italian soldiers killed in the Great War, as well as all the casualties of the Great War, other armed conflicts and peace-keeping missions.

Another   commemoration devoted to the victims of the Great War was held on November 10, 2018, at the Austro-Hungarian Military Cemetery. The ceremony of laying wreaths and paying respects was attended by high ranking state and church officials from Austria, Hungary and Serbia, representatives of the embassies and defense attaché offices accredited in Belgrade. 

This series of commemorations was finalized by the Central State Ceremony, at the very day of the WWI Armistice Centenary, November 11, 2018 at 10:00 hrs. The Central Ceremony commenced at the Commonwealth War Cemetery, followed by the central event in front of the Memorial Ossuary of Belgrade Defenders. The ceremony continued by laying wreaths at the WWI Russian Ossuary, whereas the finale was marked by commemoration at the WWI French Military Cemetery. 

The Remembrance Day is commemorated each year on November 11, as a token of remembrance of the WWI armistice signed in the railway wagon in Compiegne (France) and the hostilities formally ended on November 11, 1918 - "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, each country was obligated to maintain the war cemeteries at their territories, disregarding the fate or nationality. Based on the decision of the SHS Kingdom from 1919, the Municipality of Belgrade secured the area for French, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian military cemeteries. The cemeteries were constructed by their respective countries in the period between 1928 and 1934. From their establishing until this day, the foreign military cemeteries are treated as separate, ex-territorial units, within the New Cemetery of Belgrade.

Like the Remembrance Poppy – in Serbia the same symbolism is assigned to the Natealie’s Ramonda (lat. “Ramonda nathaliae”) – an endemic flower species, growing in Eastern parts of Serbia and Macedonia. The flower is considered a symbol of the Serbian Army's struggle during WWI, due to its sturdiness (i.e. it can survive temperatures well below zero degrees Celsius) and potential to recuperate after the most severe weather conditions. The plant was first described in 1884 by the local scientists and named after the Queen Natalija Obrenović of Serbia. 

Remembrance Day at Commonwealth War Cemetery

Impressions and Emotions - Belgrade High School Students Visiting the New Cemetery (Belgrade, Serbia)

On October 24 and 25, 2018, two groups of  of high school students visited the New Cemetery of Belgrade.

On October 24 and 25, 2018, we were privileged to receive the visit from two groups of high school students: students from „Tehno-Art“ High School for Technologies and Crafts and students from High School Student Dorms Association of Belgrade. Exploring the history of the New Cemetery in Belgrade, since its beginnings to the present day, the students were introduced to the burial culture and by extension the importance of establishing the first architecturally planned cemetery in Serbia.

Strolling through the cemetery Allies, the students got acquainted with the architecture of the New Cemetery in Belgrade, including headstones they viewed as the works of art, in addition to the sculptural works that attracted their attention. In a view of the upcoming commemoration of the WWI Armistice Centenary and their history curriculum, the students visited the WWI Serbian Ossuary. The idea of visiting the crypt, which commenced with some degree of fear, ended in exuberance and the wish to find out more and extend the walk. 

The students transformed their impressions into the inspiring texts and drawings you may see within our post.

 

Impressions: New Cemetery in Belgrade – Open Air Museum 

When we heard that we are going to visit the New Cemetery, we were really surprised, since we are used to go to the cemetery on different occasions. First, we were extremely surprised by sheer size of the cemetery.... The Alley of the Greats is the last resting place of the most prominent WWI Serbian Field Marshal Živojin Mišić ... At his grave there is an impressive sculpture of a beautiful lady with a palm branch... We also visited WWI Serbian Ossuary, where the remains more than 4000 identified and unidentified soldiers, who died during the Great War were buried... Through intriguing stories of our guide, we traveled to a different era, when the history of our Country and our Capital was  being made...by Vida Gojković – Medical High School and Aleksandra Ranković – High School of Economy 

Guided Strolls through the New Cemetery of Belgrade Continued...

Portraits of Serbian Politicians and Diplomats and Tales of Old Belgrade and its Citizens – featured at the New Cemetery of Belgrade, Serbia

To our great satisfaction and much to visitor’s delight, the New Cemetery in Belgrade continued honoring 2018 European Heritage Days in a form of two additional them guided strolls held on September 30 and October 21, 2018.

Portraits of Serbian Diplomats and Statesmen

The significant number of visitors who attended the event, were able to hear the intriguing stories about people who chose politics and diplomacy as their careers, in addition to those who entered into this merciless arena from other professions. 

For the first time, the visitors heard the tales about diplomatic service of the significant authors and poets, representatives of so-called „Golden Age of Serbian Diplomacy" (between the two World Wars), including the tales on decisive moments in history, love and deception, intrigues and scandals.  

Tales of Old Belgrade and its Citizens 

This most intriguing of all the guided through the New Cemetery in Belgrade was highly anticipated by our visitors. Our inspiring colleague, who guided this themed stroll shared numerous interesting stories and led the visitors to an unforgettable journey through time. The visitors heard the stories on the eccentric Law professor who hated draught and was an accomplished card player, genius mathematician who was also the professional river fisherman, beautiful actresses who caused duels, industrialist with the soft spot for soccer and may others.

2018 European Heritage Days at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, Serbia

Guided stroll through the New Cemetery -  2018 European Heritage Days.

Tour "Extraordinary Women" on New Cemetery in Belgrade

New Cemetery in Belgrade Hosted Participants of “Share Your Knowledge” and “Creative Mentorship” Programs

Visitors Invited to Participate at Series of Events to Mark WDEC 2018 at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, Serbia

#EuropeForCulture A  month of exciting events leading up to the WDEC 2018 in Belgrade (the New Cemetery), Serbia

Beautiful Minds – Beautiful Souls

Another Successful Themed Walk at the New Cemetery in Belgrade

They Created by Pen and Soul & Fatherland is Defended by Heart

Sunday, 25 February 11:00 am - 1:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm the New Cemetery, Belgrade, Serbia. 

The New Cemetery in Belgrade Attracted a Record Number of Visitors

Walking tour at the New Cemetery in Belgrade in November hit the record in number of visitors