Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York Participates in the Celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Serb National Federation and the 250th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States

The celebration brought together hundreds of members of the Serbian-American community from across the United States and Canada, representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, members of the diplomatic corps, the leadership of the Serb National Federation, officials of the City of Pittsburgh, representatives of Serbian organizations, and numerous distinguished guests from public, political, and community life.

Over the course of three days, participants celebrated the remarkable legacy of an organization that for 125 years has stood as one of the strongest pillars of preserving the Serbian national, spiritual, and cultural identity in North America, while also honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States, a nation that has provided opportunity and freedom to generations of Serbian immigrants.

The festivities began on Friday with a memorable three-hour river cruise, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Pittsburgh—the city where the Serb National Federation was founded in 1901. Accompanied by an excellent musical program, traditional Serbian plum brandy (šljivovica), authentic Serbian cuisine, and warm fellowship, participants celebrated both historic anniversaries in an atmosphere of friendship, unity, and pride.

The central celebration took place on Saturday at the Serbian Club, where a formal commemorative academy featured an impressive cultural, musical, and folklore program. In addition to hundreds of members of the Serbian-American community, the event was attended by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the leadership of the Serb National Federation, officials of the City of Pittsburgh, members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished guests from public life, and representatives of Serbian organizations from throughout the United States and Canada.

Addresses were delivered by His Grace the Bishop, Serb National Federation President Brian Pjević, and Dr. Vladimir Božović, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York.

In his keynote address, Consul General Božović stated:

“Today, we celebrate far more than the anniversary of an institution. We celebrate 125 years of faith, unity, perseverance, and devotion to the Serbian name and heritage.”

Reflecting on the first generations of Serbian immigrants in North America, he emphasized that although they arrived with little material wealth, they brought with them their greatest treasures—faith, family, freedom, hard work, and love for their homeland—the very values upon which the Serb National Federation was built.

He stressed that for 125 years the Federation has safeguarded the Serbian identity, language, culture, and Orthodox faith, while reminding the audience that its history has been shaped by remarkable visionaries such as Mihajlo Pupin and Nikola Tesla, whose lives demonstrated that one can remain deeply devoted to one’s heritage while making extraordinary contributions to all humanity.

The Consul General also emphasized that the Serbian-American community represents one of the strongest bridges of friendship between the Republic of Serbia and the United States, reaffirming Serbia’s commitment to supporting its diaspora and preserving the legacy entrusted to future generations.

During the ceremony, Serb National Federation President Brian Pjević expressed his sincere appreciation, on behalf of the Federation’s leadership and membership, to Consul General Dr. Vladimir Božović for his unwavering support of the Serb National Federation since assuming office as Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York.

President Pjević further emphasized that both he personally and the entire Serb National Federation hold the Consul General in the highest esteem and remain deeply grateful for the outstanding work carried out by the Consulate General under his leadership, noting that cooperation between the Consulate General and the Federation has reached an unprecedented level in recent years.

The celebration continued on Sunday with the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroeville, followed by a memorial service honoring all deceased members of the Serb National Federation in tribute to the generations whose dedication preserved this historic institution for more than a century.

Following the Divine Liturgy, His Grace the Bishop expressed his sincere gratitude to Consul General Dr. Vladimir Božović for his presence throughout the anniversary celebration and for his continued support of both the Serb National Federation and the Serbian Orthodox Church. He emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the institutions of the Republic of Serbia, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and organizations that have safeguarded the spiritual, national, and cultural identity of the Serbian people in North America for more than a century.

Following the service, participants gathered for a traditional luncheon and a large Serbian community picnic at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, attended by a large number of members of the Serbian-American community, the Serb National Federation, and guests from several U.S. states and Canada.

During the gathering, Consul General Dr. Vladimir Božović met with numerous members of the Serbian community, representatives of the Serb National Federation, and clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who expressed their appreciation for the presence and continued support of the Republic of Serbia at this landmark anniversary celebration.

Concluding his visit, Consul General Dr. Vladimir Božović expressed his sincere gratitude to the leadership of the Serb National Federation for their invitation, outstanding organization, and warm hospitality, emphasizing that the magnificent celebration of the Federation’s 125th Anniversary once again demonstrated the unity, strength, and vitality of the Serbian community in North America.

He concluded by stating:

“For 125 years, the Serb National Federation has stood as a living symbol of unity, solidarity, faith, and love for our homeland. The Republic of Serbia remains firmly committed to strengthening its ties with the Serbian diaspora, which continues to serve as one of the most important bridges of friendship between Serbia and the United States. Together, we will continue building even stronger bonds between our homeland and our people around the world for the benefit of future generations.”