Orasac Things to Do Tips by Jeca011

Monument to Karadjordje

---

Who was Karadjordje?

Djordje Petrovic (03.11.1762.-25.07.1817.)

Supreme Leader of Serbia and founder of Karadjordjevic dynasty. The Turks called him Karadjordje - Black George. He has been a shepherd in Sumadija, then a livestock merchant. He has spent his youth resisting the Turkish terror, at first as a haiduk (anti-Turkish rebel), and later as a courageous soldier in the company of volunteers led by captain Radic Petrovic, during the Austrian-Turkish war from 1788 to 1791. After the return of janissaries to Belgrade he became a haiduk again, and with prominent Serbs began to prepare a large-scale resistance. He has managed to escape the slaughter of Serbian knezes, and at the gathering in Orasac in the first half of February 1804, he was elected leader of the Insurrection. He made connections with Austria and Russia and confronted the official Turkish Empire. He led the battle on Misar and fights for liberation of Belgrade. Immediately after the insurrection, in 1813, he went to Austria, and then to Russia. He returned to Serbia in June 1817, but in the morning of July 25, he was killed by the order of Prince Milos Obrenovic in place Radovanjski lug. His head was cut off and sent to the Sultan as a proof of Milos's loyalty. Today his remains are buried together with head in Church of Saint George at Oplenac in Topola.

---

The memorial school

---

Built at the occasion of the130th anniversary of the First Serbian Insurrection, has got an interesting pre-history. In 1912, King Peter I visited the historic place of Orasac. Local farmers asked the king then to raise an educational edifice instead of the monument to Karadjordje and the insurgents. The King promised to do that. King Peter's son, King Alexander I Karadjordjevic fulfilled this promise given by Karadjordje's grandson. According to his order, a Council was established in Orasac for the purpose of building of the memorial school. The whole kingdom participated in building of this beautiful edifice, designed by architect Petar Gacic. In February 15, 1933. school was opened. There are from the right beginning Serbian flag on the roof.

The white marble plaque above the entrance door carries the text that says: "The peoples's school - the memorial on the insurrection raised under Karadjordje's leadership in Orasac. Thankfull Sumadija region raised this home in the memory and glory of great Karadjordje and other unyielding and deserving ancestors who in 1804 raised the insurrection in this holy place and initiated the great endeavour of national liberation and unification."

---

Maricevica Gully

---

There are three arched marble plaques in the intermediate portion of this monument. The middle one carries the text that says: "IT WAS ON THIS SPOT THAT THE FIRST SERBIAN INSURRECTION WAS RAISED ON FEBRUARY 15, 1804."

The left- and right-hand plaques each carry four lines of the well-known epic poem "The Commencement of the Uprising against Turkish rulers".

---

Tower bell

---

Tower bell was built in 1994. in memory of 190 years of First Serbian Insurrection against Turkish rule. It was built by donations of people from Orasac.

---

Directions: in church yard

The memorial drinking fountain

---

Fountain is located in Maricevica jaruga (Maricevica Gully) not far from the church. It was set up in 1954. at the event of celebrating the150th anniversary of the First Serbian Insurrection against Turkish rule. The fountain is a part of a larger compound comprising a buttress made of stone blocks. There are three arched marble plaques in the intermediate portion of this monument.

---

The church

---

The church was raised between 1868 and 1870. The architect who designed the church is not known. It's a small architecturally modest building with simple shapes. The iconostasis of the church is of notable artistic value. It was painted by Steva Todorovic, one of the most renowned Serbian artists in the second half of the 19th century. The iconostasis comprises 24 icons with representations of saints and scenes from the history of the New Testament. The north pilaster contains a memorial plaque made of white marble from the local Mount of Vencac, dedicated to those who died in the Balkan Wars.

---