Tree of peace_Centenary of the Death of King Peter I Karađorđević of Serbia

Planting of the 18th Tree of Peace in Veľký Meder, Slovakia

Veľký Meder, Slovakia, August 16, 2021. The 18^th Tree of Peace was planted at the Serbian WW1 Military Cemetery in Veľký Meder as a part of the International Tree of Peace Project. The event called “Centenary of the Death of King Petar I Karađorđević of Serbia” was attended by many rare guests: His Grace Andrej, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Austria and Switzerland; Ambassador to Slovakia His Excellency Momčilo Babić; State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Mr. Martin Klus; Colonel Jozef Paluba, bishop’s vicar of the Military Ordinariate of Slovakia; Mr. Jozef Viskupič, President of the Trnava Self-Governing Region; mayor of Veľký Meder Mr. Gergő Holényi and also by Mr. Marek Sobola, Tree of Peace founder and CEO of Servare et Manere. The planting took place under the Royal Patronage of His Royal Highness Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia and current successor to the Serbian throne. His Royal Highness sent the letter of greeting to all present guests which was read by Marek Sobola at the beginning of the event. Due to the same event in Serbia, Crown Prince Alexander could not personally attend the Slovak memorial service dedicated to King Petar I.

Not only important and rare guests, but also an Honour Guard of the Slovak Armed Forces and also volunteers in historical uniforms of the Serbian Royal Army from the Czechoslovak Legionary Community added dignity and seriousness to the whole event. The author of the Royal portrait on the Memorial pillar is sculptor Michal Janiga. Slovak Post (Slovenská pošta) was issue a Commemorative postmark on the occasion of the planting of the Tree of Peace, which was dedicated to the 100^th Anniversary of the Death of the King Petar I Karađorđević of Serbia (11 July [O.S. 29 June] 1844 – 16 August 1921).

On the occasion of the planting of the Tree of Peace, CEO of Servare et Manere and the founder of the project awarded several important participants in the event for their contribution and merits to international dialogue, ecumenism, friendship and understanding between nations. The Memorial Medal of Tree of Peace was awarded to His Grace Andrej, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Austria and Switzerland and to His Excellency Momčilo Babić, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Slovakia. The Honorary Recognition of Servare et Manere was awarded to Mr. Gergő Holényi, Mayor of Veľký Meder, to Colonel Jozef Paluba, bishop’s vicar of the Military Ordinariate of Slovakia and to Mgr. Kamil Keszegh, assistant to the Mayor of Veľký Meder.

The event was extremely successful and information about it was referred by many institutions and organizations: