The Public Relations Office
of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR HIS MAJESTY KING ALEXANDER I
Belgrade, 9 October 2008 – A Divine Liturgy and a
Memorial Service was held today for His Majesty King Alexander I at the
Saint George Church at Oplenac, the endowment of the Karadjordjevic family.
The Holy Liturgy and Memorial Service for His Majesty
King Alexander I was officiated by His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija and
the clergy of Sumadija parish, followed with the recital of the church choir
“Oplenac”.
Following the completion of service, in the name of Their
Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, Mr.
Vladan Zivulovic member of the Crown Cabinet, laid the wreath and flowers on
the grave of King Alexander I.
The wreaths will be laid with the highest state honours,
in the name of the Serbian Government, by representatives of Ministry for
Employment and Welfare as well as representatives of Serbian Armed Forces,
the municipalities of Topola and Arandjelovac, Endowment of King Peter I,
and organizations which foster traditions of Liberation Wars of Serbia.
King Alexander I was assassinated on 9 October 1934 in
Marseille where he travelled to strengthen relations. The French Foreign
Minister Monsieur Louis Barthou was also assassinated alongside His Majesty
King Alexander I during the state visit to France.
The King’s death deeply moved the whole of Yugoslavia and
sent shockwaves throughout Europe, and hundreds of thousands of people paid
their last respects all along the funeral route through the country to the
royal crypt at Oplenac. King Alexander I was buried there in the Mausoleum
of the Church of St. George, built by King Peter I Karadjordjevic.
In recognition of his greatest accomplishments, namely
the fact that the King had led the Serbian Army through World War One and
was a key person in the unification of Southern Slavs into the state of
Yugoslavia, the National Parliament and the Senate of the Kingdom of
Yugoslavia had named him Noble King Alexander I the Unifier.
His Majesty King Alexander I was the grandfather of Crown
Prince Alexander II.
The Royal Family thanks all those who plan to come at
Oplenac and pay their respects to King Alexander I.
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1997 HRH CP Alexander II
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