Chicago, June 19, 2025 – Marking the 30th anniversary of the tragic forced exodus of Serbs from the Serbian Krajina region in 1995, a solemn Day of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago.
The event is organized by the associations Udruženje krajiških Srba Prelo and Sabor krajiških Srba in cooperation with the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.
From August 4 to August 12, 1995, during the Croatian military operation known as “Operation Storm,” over 230,000 Serbs were expelled from the Krajina region, now part of the Republic of Croatia. In the course of this offensive, 1,893 Serbs were killed, of whom 70% were civilians – children, women, and the elderly – many of them murdered in refugee convoys while fleeing.
The program will begin with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM, officiated by His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica, together with the clergy of the Cathedral. Following the Liturgy, a Memorial Service (Parastos) will be held in honor of all those who lost their lives in the wars of the 1990s.
At 1:00 PM, the Program will take place in the Cathedral hall, offering a reflection on the suffering and uprooting of the Serbian people from Krajina. Distinguished speakers will include:
- His Grace Bishop Seraphim, Bishop of Kostajnica
- Dr. Marko Nikolić, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago
- Tatjana Telić, Consul General of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Dr. Milan Gulić, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Contemporary History in Belgrade
The cultural segment, titled “Word, Memory, and Stage,” will feature poetic and dramatic performances by actors from Serbian theater circles in Chicago: Igor Obradović, Milovan Glogovac, and Milenko Šišarica.
A powerful segment entitled “Testimonies – Children from the Convoy” will present personal stories of individuals who, as children, were part of the refugee columns during the exodus.
The program will also feature the screening of two documentary films:
- Petrovačka cesta (RTS)
- Who Kills the Truth of the Victims (VIDA TV)
In addition, a photo and document exhibition chronicling the events and aftermath of the 1995 forced exodus will be available throughout the day.
The organizers invite all members of the Serbian community and the general public to attend this solemn event and honor the memory of those who suffered during this tragic chapter of modern history.
Media Contact:
Duško Čučković
📞 (708) 955-7950
📧 predsjednik@uksprelo.org
