Ritam grada / Rhythm of the city
has its own advantages. Everything is within easy reach from Repub- lic Square: museums, cafes, restau- rants, galleries. Tašmajdan is one of the city’s most popular parks and boasts an array of cafes and restau- rants. Olimp is located on the pe- riphery of Zvezdara Forest, where you’ll really get the impression that you could touch the stars as you walk along the forest lanes between densely packed trees. Serbian New Year and the Epiphany Serbian New Year provides yet another opportunity for joy, mu- sic and celebration in the city cen- tre, with the beginning of the new year commemorated at midnight between 13th and 14th January. The City of Belgrade also organis- es this great festivity, and is do- ing so this year at two locations: at the traditional site in front of the Serbian National Assembly; but al- so on the Sava Promenade, beside the river, so there will be music to suit all tastes. Rivers and lakes also become real venues for celebration during the marking of the Feast of the Epiphany on 19th January. It is then that many believers brave the icy waters to swim for the Holy Cross. This day memorialises the baptism of Jesus by John the Bap- tist in the Jordan River, announc- ing his manifestation as the Son of God, and in Belgrade people want- ing to swim for the Holy Cross head for Ada Ciganlija’s Lake Sava, the Danube in Zemun or Očaga Lake in Lazarevac. Ada Ciganlija is a story in its own right – just as beautiful as ever under snow, with the calm, slightly undulating waters of the lake. Contributing to the fairy-tale ambience is the Stone City, or Bel- grade's Stonehenge, as locals affec- tionately refer to Ratko Vulanović’s giant sculptures. However, as soon as you cross the Sava main road, you will immediately find yourself in a large shopping centre with in- numerable offers. There’s simply no end to the joys of Belgrade...
bonfires in front of the churches declare loudly: “how many sparks, that much money, happiness, love, harmony...” Christmas liturgy services are performed at all Orthodox churches in Belgrade on Christmas Day morn- ing at 9am. It isn’t difficult for tour- ists to choose the right place, which is why everyone rushes to Vračar and the Temple of St. Sava. Not on- ly because they have an opportuni- ty to feel part of the joy of this great Christian holiday, but also to admire this largest Orthodox church in the Balkans and the fifth largest world- wide. Gold sparkles before the eyes of the observing visitors, symbol- ising divine light. Millions of small cobalt glass tiles form mosaics that spread over 15,000 square metres of the vaulted ceiling, combining to depict the likenesses of saints. The biblical story runs backwards, all the way to the Creation of the world. The most impressive area of the interior is the main altar of four, dedicated to Saint Sava, the found- er of the Serbian Orthodox Church, above whom towers Christ Pantoc- rator, the Almighty, occupying the central spot of the dome and sur- rounded by a blue mosaic repre- senting the sky. The refraction of light from the chandeliers, the tem- ple’s hanging candelabras, creates
the impression that the saints are moving. The scene is both real and surreal... The perfect place to cel- ebrate Christmas or observe oth- ers doing so. Skiing, sledging and skating Let Belgrade’s roads lead you further, all the way to Košutnjak, especially if there has already been abundant snowfall. Countless for- est trails, often with steep descents, provide an exclusive opportunity for off-piste sledging. This area al- so boasts the only ski run in Bel- grade, which has a long tradition. Extending over the northern side of Košutnjak, it includes a 300-me- tre-long slope at an altitude of 274 metres/asl. The ski run is known for providing the most beautiful views of the new Ada Bridge, the neigh- bourhoods of Careva ćuprija and Senjak, as well as a good part of Bel- grade. Of course, the youngest will use this slope to descend on their sledges, which is an unforgettable experience on Košutnjak. Fans of open-air ice skating won’t be left wanting in Belgrade either, as the city has a diverse of- fer – with skating rinks on Repub- lic Square, at Tašmajdan Stadium, within the Olimp-Zvezdara Sports Centre and on Ada Ciganlija. Each
Božićna liturgija služi se po svim beogradskim pravoslavnim crkvama, jutro posle Badnje večeri Christmas liturgy services are performed at all Orthodox churches in Belgrade on Christmas Day morning
Belgrade » Beograd | 65
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator