A long journey from Katerini –Hellas through the valleys of Serbia,
we finally reached Smederevo.
Smiling people, huge hugs were waiting for us. Uncountable, huge variety of hues and yellowscale. It is fall and everything around reminds me of the season. The trees, the vines, huge wooden piles for the winter. I can’t wait to visit the fortress of Smederevo but first we had to visit the museum. (https://www.mus.org.rs)
Friendly and committed to his job Mr MIROSLAV LAZIC. His tour and references to the historical events and museum exhibits were wonderful. It's great to meet people who are dedicated to their work. We were transferred to another era and the Katakuzins, the Brankovics, the Ottomans came to life before us. We felt that we were wearing the rare jewels and that we were in the courtyard of the fortress.
Thus, when we found ourselves inside it, we felt as if the courtiers,
the Despot, Mohammed II, the Hungarians would jump out from somewhere.
Byzantium came to life in our eyes,
we attended the engagement of Maras Branković of the Katakuzin family to Murat.
It was she who, after the Fall of Constantinople, in 1453,
collected the gifts of Jesus (myrrh, frankincense, gold),
to protect them from the fury of the Muslims,
and took them to the Monastery of Saint Paul, on Mount Athos,
where they are kept until and today.
(https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9C%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B1_%CE%9C%CF%80%CF%81%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%B2%CE%B9%CF%84%CF%82).
The birds were flying in the alcoves of the fortress
and it was as if they were bringing messages from its old inhabitants to this day,
to us who stepped where they stepped.
Our steps on the wooden stairs creaked and made me shudder.
What were they feeling?
What were they talking about on their walks?
What anxieties before the battles?
What are the prayers and litanies in their temple?
Next to the fortress the eternal Danube stands as an eyewitness of the battles and the good times of Smederevo.
The fog made the scene even more metaphysical.
The photos prove it, as I hope the short videos do also.
Serbians dance, enjoy every moment, their food, their friends, their people!
They smile and are proud decent, welcoming.
Good with good people, as they say.
They make you feel at home and this is characteristic of the Greeks as well.
They shake your hand and
this means they are real friends and honest.
I didn't know Smederevo.
Nor its history which stretches back into the depths of the centuries
and proves once again the relationship between the peoples of today's Balkans
and the need to co-exist with mutual respect and unity.
Our opponents were always elsewhere
and our fate was common.
Nostalgic, romantic, Danube-side Smederevo,
thank you for reminding me,
thank you for our shared history!
Friends forever, brothers forever.
Mina Papanikolaou (poet, writer)
Katerini, Pieria
Greece
