detail from: KRK Art dizajn

MATICA SRPSKA

SIMO JELAČA PhD

Matica Srpska is an institution of all-Serbian character, as the first established Matica, for the maintenance of Serbian culture, literature and science. The task of Matica Srpska is the preservation of Serbian identity and publishing activities.

Matica Srpska was founded on February 16, 1826, in Pest. Today, Matica Srpska is the oldest Matica in the world. The reason for its foundation was the need for education and the publication of Serbian books in the Serbian language, and the occasion was the takeover of the Matica Srpska Chronicle, which was in danger of being closed down.

The Serbian National Assembly was the occasion and example for the establishment of similar institutions in other countries: the Czech National Assembly, the Slovak National Assembly, the Illyrian National Assembly (later renamed the Croatian National Assembly), the Sorbian National Assembly, the Moravian National Assembly, the Slovenian National Assembly, and others. The Serbian National Assembly now operates in the territories of the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro, and plans are underway to establish a branch in Vienna.

The founders of the Serbian National Assembly in Pest were: Gavrilo Bozitovac, Jovan Demetrović, Josif Milovuk, Petar Rajić, Andrija Rozmirović, Georgije Stanković, and Jovan Hadžić. The first president was Jovan Hadžić (a lawyer and writer), and the first elected secretary was Teodor Pavlović (a lawyer and journalist).

Since its establishment, the Serbian National Assembly has been an institution of a pan-Serbian character, as the first established institution of its kind. The Serbian National Theatre also played a significant role in the establishment of Serbian cultural institutions (the Serbian National Theatre).

The Serbian National Theatre moved from Pest to Novi Sad in 1864 and has been headquartered since 1927 at the address: Matice srpska no. 1, Novi Sad. It is the foundation of Marija Trandafil. Marija Trandafil was born on December 25, 1816 in Novi Sad. She is the greatest benefactor, she founded the first fund for poor children (Serbian orphans), for which she built the building of the current Matice srpska, which the Matice srpska later moved into. Marija and her husband Jovan (a Greek merchant), after being left childless, donated all their property to the Serbian National Theatre and the Serbian orphans (700,000 forints in cash).

The activities of Matica Srpska have been expanding significantly over time, printing books for the people, university textbooks, monographs by celebrated authors, increasing scholarships, endowments and annals, announcing literary competitions, and branching out publishing activities. Matica Srpska is also gaining strength in the fields of science. The following Serbian greats have published in Matica Srpska: Jovan Cvijić, Mihajlo Pupin, Milutin Milanković, Aleksa Ivić, Jovan Erdeljanović and many others, including the author of this article. Matica Srpska now has around 3,000 collaborators, hundreds of scientific projects, 9 scientific journals and 7 scientific departments. Matica Srpska has become the center of lexicography. Three important institutions have developed from Matica Srpska: the Matica Srpska Library, the Matica Srpska Gallery, and the Matica Srpska Publishing Center. The current president of Matica Srpska is Professor Dr. Dragan Stanić, professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad (elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2024).

Among the achievements of Matica Srpska are the following: Matica Srpska has become synonymous with the Serbian language and spelling, like a queen bee in a hive, Matica Srpska cares for the entire society, it has been concerned with the preservation of national culture for two centuries. In addition to dictionaries and spellings, Matica Srpska prepares and publishes encyclopedias and other publications. Among other things, it takes care of and publishes the activities of the Serbian National Theater and other institutions it founded.

Matica Srpska began its activities in Pest, during the Turkish occupation. The main publishing activity of Matica Srpska was Letopis, a literary magazine, which has been published since 1824 (a full two centuries now). Letopis was also founded by Jovan Hadžić, with the help of wealthy merchants who lived and worked in Vienna, Timișoara, Dubrovnik and Pest. The magazine was not only published during wartime. In addition to the founding members, it was supported by: Prince Miloš Obrenović, Sava Tekelija, Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, members of the Karađorđević dynasty and Mihajlo Pupin. Matica Srpska today has a library with over 3.5 million publications. Matica Srpska cooperates with many peoples, Slavic and European. With its activities and results, it has become a symbol of Serbian society, culture, education and Serbian charity. Letopis is primarily a literary magazine, although it also deals with other scientific and artistic topics. And Letopis is the oldest living magazine in Europe and the world, it is published monthly and has two double issues per year (January-February and July-August). Matica Srpska very successfully cooperates with the Moravian Matica (Brno, Czech Republic), whose representatives visited Matica Srpska in Novi Sad, as part of the promotion of good relations. Also, a promotion of the collection of works on Serbian-French literary and cultural ties in the European context was held.

Regarding the preservation of the Serbian language in other countries, delegations of Matica Srpska visit the relevant institutions of Austria, Sweden and other countries, on which occasion problems of the Serbian diaspora are discussed and solutions are found. Matica Srpska maintains the best possible relations with the Republic of Hungary, building mutual bridges of friendship and cooperation. The anniversary of the Chronicles of the Serbian Motherland was marked in Budapest,

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