The Feast Day of Saint King Milutin
Today, the Patron saint day of the Holy King Milutin was traditionally and ceremoniously observed at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Following the rite of blessing and the breaking of the ritual bread, Ambassador Ravic delivered a brief address, highlighting the enduring significance of the Holy King in deepening cultural cooperation and fostering a sense of unity between the two nations and states. He also recalled key details from the King’s life, which demonstrate that Serbian-Bulgarian cooperation was a significant element of the policy he pursued during his rule over Serbia. Among other points, the Ambassador noted an interesting detail from the King’s biography, confirming that he once visited the Bulgarian capital, Veliko Tarnovo. Given that visits by medieval rulers to another country—and to its sovereign—were extremely rare, the Ambassador suggested that this visit can be viewed as a testament to the extraordinary mutual trust and respect that existed between the two rulers and their respective states at the time. In closing, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to this year’s Patron Day host, Mr. Aleksandar Tesovic, as well as to the Serbian diplomats at the Embassy for their dedicated efforts in organizing the event. He also extended his greetings to all citizens and to the monastic communities residing in the many endowments (foundations) established by King Milutin. Immediately thereafter, numerous guests—including Mile Rosic (representing the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs), the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Crown Prince (Prince of Tarnovo, HRH Boris Saxe-Coburg-Gotha), the Director of the "Ivan Vazov" National Theatre, Vasil Vasilev, members of the Serbian diaspora in Bulgaria, and other distinguished figures from the realms of culture and the arts, as well as the broader Bulgarian public—joined their hosts for a ceremonial Patron Day feast (a "feast of love").
This year’s refreshments were presented as a unique cultural-ethnological installation by Ms. Dijana Zdravkovic-Vasiljevic, which authentically recreated—both visually and gastronomically—the appearance and contents of a medieval banquet table belonging to the Serbian nobility.
Alongside various culinary specialties—staples of the diet during the era of King Milutin that had since faded into oblivion—guests had the opportunity to sample renowned beverages from the Middle Ages, such as mead and wines crafted from ancient grape varieties. These varieties were predominantly cultivated during that period in the coastal regions of the Serbian state under the rule of King Milutin. During the multimedia presentation, guests were able to simultaneously view images of the ancient dishes and drinks they were tasting—depictions found in the frescoes of Serbian medieval churches and monasteries.
