Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School

The Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School[a], abbreviated as SPOG, is a coeducational gymnasium (analogous to a preparatory high school or grammar school) affiliated with the Metropolitanate of Zagreb and Ljubljana. It is situated in Zagreb, capital city of Croatia, and stands as the only non-seminary high school of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.[3]

Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School

Srpska pravoslavna opća gimnazija Kantakuzina Katarina Branković (Croatian)
Српска православна општа гимназија Кантакузина Катарина Бранковић (Serbian)
Location
Map
Sveti Duh 122

10 000

Croatia
Coordinates45°49′34″N 15°56′18″E / 45.82611°N 15.93833°E / 45.82611; 15.93833
Information
TypePrivate
Religious affiliation(s)Serbian Orthodox Church
Established2005; 19 years ago (2005)
FounderMetropolitanate of Zagreb, Ljubljana and all Italy
PrincipalSlobodan Lalić (acting)[1]
Grades912
GenderCo-ed
Enrolment200[2]
LanguageCroatian, Serbian
Hours in school day8 average (varies; 7–9 45-minute lectures)
CampusUrban
Colour(s)Red, Blue and White
     
AccreditationMinistry of Science, Education and Sports
Annual tuition0 €
SongHymn to Saint Sava
Latin nameOrthodoxus Serbiae Secundaria Schola
Greek nameΣερβικό Ορθόδοξο Γυμνάσιο
WebsiteOfficial site

Established in 2005, the school claims to perpetuate a 200-year tradition of Orthodox minority education in Zagreb.[4] Instruction at the institution is delivered in both Serbian and Croatian language.

The curriculum spans four years and encompasses a wide range of subjects, including Serbian, Croatian, English, German, Latin, Church Slavonic, history, geography, politics, economics, music, art history, the Orthodox religion, sociology, psychology, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, physical education, ecology, informatics and philosophy. All courses are mandatory for students.

Education at SPOG is provided without tuition cost to students,[5] with additional funding provided by the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia covering certain or most of the costs. The student body at the school is diverse, including students from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries. The school maintains an inclusive admission policy, welcoming students regardless of their background, religion, or nationality. SPOG is accredited by the Croatian Ministry of Education and is recognized by other countries in the region. Graduates of SPOG pursue further studies in Croatia, Serbia and abroad.[6] The inaugural graduating class was celebrated at the Monastery of St. Parascheva in Zagreb on June 24, 2009.[7]

Name

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The institution derives its name from Kantakuzina Katarina Branković, aristocratic figure in the XV century. She was the daughter of Đurađ Branković, the Serbian despot, and his wife, Irene Kantakouzene, a member of the Kantakouzenos family of the Byzantine Empire. Kantakuzina Katarina Branković resided for a period in the Zagreb area, where she played a role in fostering the growth and development of the local Orthodox Christian community. Notably, the Varaždin Apostol, hand-written Orthodox liturgical book created in 1454, is associated with her legacy in Zagreb area. It is the oldest preserved text in Cyrillic from the territory of present-day Croatia.

History

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Although the modern day school was established only in 2005, the tradition of education organized by the Metropolitanate of Zagreb and Ljubljana dates back to early 1814.[5] At that time, lessons were conducted at the Metropolitanate's headquarters on Ilica Street.[5]

Serbian Folk Grammar School

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In 1888, at the time when the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Metropolitan initiated the collection of funds for the establishment of a Serbian Folk Grammar School, which was founded in 1891 on Mesnička Street.[5] In 1893, the school was relocated to Margaretska Street where it was visited by Izidor Kršnjavi.[5] During this period, the school run a garden and a library within its walls.[5]

Serbian Autonomous Folk School

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In 1897, the Serbian Folk Grammar School was renamed the Serbian Autonomous Folk School.[5] In 1899, the school celebrated the 50th anniversary of Jovan Jovanović Zmaj's artistic career.[5] The school relocated in 1900 to Petar Preradović Square, close to the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.[5] The Teachers Council was established in 1906.[5] In 1909, the school moved to a new building in nearby Bogovićeva Street, where the Serbian Orthodox Gymnasium (SPOG) would later be established in 2005.[5] In 1913, the school received a visit from Zagreb Mayor Janko Holjac.[5] The school was discontinued during World War I, reopening afterward as a girls' boarding school in the newly established unified Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.[5] It retained its name until 1922, when it was converted into a public institution and renamed the State Primary School of King Peter I The Liberator.[5]

Establishment of Serbian Orthodox Secondary School

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Old building in Bogovićeva Street 7 (exterior & interior)

On 2 October 2003, a meeting was convened at the Metropolitanate of Zagreb, Ljubljana and all Italy, where it was decided to reopen the school under the patronage of the Metropolitanate.[5] On 14 January 2004, Metropolitan Jovan Pavlović sent a letter of intent to the Ministry of Science and Education, and on 20 October, a commission met to establish the school.[5] The high school was officially chartered on 21 February 2005. Stories about the school have been featured in various media outlets, including Jutarnji list,[8] Novosti,[9] Politika,[10] Večernji list,[11] Novi list,[12] on Radio Television of Serbia,[3] Radio Televizija Republike Srpske,[13] the website of the President of Croatia,[14] Croatian Radiotelevision[15] and Radio Television of Vojvodina.[16]

New campus

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For the 2011–12 academic year, the school relocated to a newly constructed 6,000-square-meter campus in northern Zagreb, valued at €7 million.[17] The facility includes a library, computer lab, gymnasium, playground, student counselling offices, cafeteria, music hall, laboratories, chapel, terrace, garden, and quadrangle. Construction of the campus began in May 2010, with the cornerstone ceremony attended by Bishop Nikolaj of the Metropolitanate of Dabar and Bosnia, Bishop of Srem Vasilije, Bishop of Eastern America Mitrophan, and hosted by Metropolitan Jovan.[18]

Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia Slobodan Uzelac expressed hope that the school would eventually offer university-level programs,[18] while Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić emphasized the importance of the Serbian Orthodox community as an integral part of Zagreb and highlighted the history of Serbian schools in the city.[18] The official opening ceremony in June 2012 was attended by Serbian Patriarch Irinej, along with a delegation from the Holy Synod. During his visit, Patriarch Irinej also met with Croatian President Ivo Josipović and Prime Minister Zoran Milanović. This marked the first official visit by a Serbian Orthodox Patriarch to Croatia since the breakup of Yugoslavia. The event was covered by various media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans,[19][20] Croatian Radiotelevision,[21] Nova TV,[22] Večernji list,[23] Novi list,[24] 24sata,[25] Slobodna Dalmacija,[26] Radio Television of Serbia,[27] B92,[28] Večernje novosti,[29] Press,[30] Blic,[31] Radio Free Europe,[32] Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina,[33] RTV BN,[34] Kurir[35] and Prva Srpska Televizija.[36]

The opening ceremony was attended by numerous bishops, the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch, Croatian government ministers Željko Jovanović and Predrag Matić, ambassadors from Serbia, the United States, Russia, Norway, France, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as delegations from Austria, Ukraine, and the Vatican, Serb minority MP Milorad Pupovac representing the Croatian Parliament, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts president Zvonko Kusić, mayor Milan Bandić, MPs and representatives of other religious communities.[37] Croatian President Ivo Josipović appeared in a video made for the occasion[37] directed by Dejan Aćimović.[citation needed]

Educational Program

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Ninth grade Tenth grade Eleventh grade Twelfth grade
Croatian language Croatian language Croatian language Croatian language
Serbian language Serbian language Serbian language Serbian language
English language English language English language English language
German language German language German language German language
Latin language Latin language X X
Music Music Music Music
Art History Art History Art History Art History
X Psychology Psychology X
X X Sociology X
History History History History
Geography Geography Geography Geography
Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics
Physics Physics Physics Physics
Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Biology Biology Biology Biology
X Ecology elective Ecology elective Ecology elective
Computer science Computer science elective Computer science elective Computer science elective
X X X Politics and Economy
Physical Education Physical Education Physical Education Physical Education
Religious Education Religious Education Religious Education Religious Education
Church Slavonic language optional Church Slavonic language optional X X
X X X Philosophy
X X Logic X

Extracurricular Activities and Visits

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Extracurricular Activities

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In May of 2011 the school has partnered with the local office of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims to conduct a series of workshops focused on psychological issues for first-grade students.[38] In December of 2011 the school held a conference for Serbian language teachers in partnership with the Council of Serbian Language Teachers from Vukovar-Syrmia County and Osijek-Baranja County.[39]

From September 10 to 18, 2019, students participated in the Erasmus+ student exchange project "Multi-kulti folder" involving 12 students from the school and 12 peers from Theresianum Gymnasium Mainz, Germany.[40]

As a part of their extracuricular activities students created a version of a free sanitary pad dispenser to assist their female classmates.[41] Inspired by a sociology class discussion, the students reached out to the manufacturer Violeta for donations and constructed two dispensers installed in the girls' restrooms, highlighting the importance of accessible hygiene products for all women.[41]

Visits

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The school has hosted several high level visitors over the years. On January 28, 2019, Serbian Minister of Culture Vladan Vukosavljević visited the school where he discussed the school's programs, funding, and the living conditions of Orthodox Serbs in Croatia.[42] On March 16, 2023, Željka Cvijanović, the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited the school accompanied by the Bosnian ambassador to Croatia, Aleksandar Vranješ.[43] During her visit, she met with school officials and students from the Republika Srpska.[43] On March 29, 2023, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited the school to attend a screening of the documentary film “Kralj” by Dejan Aćimović.[44] On September 23, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes gave a lecture titled "Through the Ups and Downs of Life" to third and fourth-grade students.[45]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Serbo-Croatian: Srpska pravoslavna opća gimnazija Kantakuzina Katarina Branković, Српска православна општа гимназија Кантакузина Катарина Бранковић

References

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  1. ^ "Grad Pakrac | Pakrački List > Slobodan Lalić, svećenik pakračke parohije". Pakrac.hr. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  2. ^ "Pravoslavnu gimnaziju od 2011 pohađa 200 učenika, Zagrebancija-prvi novinski portal o Zagrebu". Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  3. ^ a b "PТС-Српска гимназија у Загребу". Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  4. ^ Srbi u Zagrebu, Djean Medaković, Prometej, Novi Sad, 2004.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Duško Spasojević, Srpska pravoslavna opća gimnazija Kantakuzina Katarina Branković, Eparhijski upravni odbor Eparhije zagrebačko-ljubljanske, Zagreb, 2010
  6. ^ "Snv - Vijesti - Studiraju Od Zagreba Do Moskve". Snv.hr. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  7. ^ Први матуранти Српске православне гимназије Катарина Кантакузина Бранковић, Парохијске вести-Гласник Српске православне црквене општине загребачке, Zagreb, May–August 2009.
  8. ^ "Jutarnji list-Pravoslavna gimnazija na Zagrebačkoj špici". Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  9. ^ "Novosti-Jedan dan sa učenicima Srpske gimnazije". Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  10. ^ "Politika-Свети Сава на загребачком Светом Духу". Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  11. ^ "U Pravoslavnoj gimnaziji besplatne i knjige i izleti - Život - obitelj i zdravlje - Večernji list". Vecernji.hr. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  12. ^ "Novi list on line". Novine.novilist.hr. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  13. ^ "РТРС-ЗАГРЕБ-ПОЛОЖЕН КАМЕН ТЕМЕЉАЦ ЗА СРПСКУ ПРВОСЛАВНУ ГИМНАЗИЈУ". Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  14. ^ "Ured Predsjednika RH". Predsjednik.hr. 2006-01-27. Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  15. ^ "Hrvatski radio :: Naslovnica". Hrt.hr. Retrieved 2013-09-21.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Osveštan kamen temeljac zagrebačke Srpske pravoslavne gimnazije - Radio-televizija Vojvodine". Rtv.rs. 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  17. ^ "SERB KIRCHE Austria". Serb-kirche.at. Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  18. ^ a b c "Izravno.com: Kamen temeljac za srpsku pravoslavnu gimnaziju "Kantakuzina Katarina Branković"". Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
  19. ^ "Patrijarhova posjeta važan ekumenski događaj | Al Jazeera Balkans" (in Bosnian). Balkans.aljazeera.net. 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  20. ^ "Hrvoje Cirkvenec o posjeti patrijarha Irineja Zagrebu | Al Jazeera Balkans" (in Bosnian). Balkans.aljazeera.net. 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  21. ^ "HRT: Patrijarh Irinej u posjetu Zagrebu". Hrt.hr. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  22. ^ "Patrijarh Irinej stigao u Zagreb". Dnevnik.hr. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  23. ^ "Patrijarh Irinej stigao u Zagreb, sutra s kardinalom Bozanićem - Aktualno - hrvatska - Večernji list". Vecernji.hr. 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  24. ^ "Srpski patrijarh Irinej u hramu Preobraženja Gospodnjeg u Zagrebu - Hrvatska / Novi list" (in Croatian). Novilist.hr. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  25. ^ "Patrijarh Irinej se sastao s Milanovićem i Josipovićem - 24sata". 24sata.hr. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  26. ^ "Patrijarh Irinej se sastao s Milanovićem, Josipovićem i Bozanićem: Ima dobrih stvari, ali i problema > Slobodna Dalmacija > Hrvatska". Slobodnadalmacija.hr. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  27. ^ "RTS :: Patrijarh Irinej u Zagrebu" (in Serbian). Rts.rs. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  28. ^ "Vesti - Vernici dočekali Irineja u Zagrebu". B92. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  29. ^ "Patrijarh u Zagrebu: Duhovne poruke nas povezuju | Društvo". Novosti.rs. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  30. ^ "Press Online :: Vesti dana - politika, skupstina, Srbija, Tadić, vlada, premijer :: (FOTO + VIDEO) Patrijarh Irinej u poseti Zagrebu". Pressonline.rs. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  31. ^ "Blic Online | Patrijarh Irinej: Izgraditi lepši suživot dva naroda". Blic.rs. Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  32. ^ Enis Zebić (2012-06-08). "Hrvatska o posjetu patrijarha Irineja: Poticaj za suradnju". Slobodnaevropa.org. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  33. ^ "Bhrt: Bhrt". Bhrt.ba. Retrieved 2013-09-21.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ "PoÄ?eo sastanak kardinala Bozanića i patrijarha srpskog Irineja « Radio Televizija BN Radio Televizija BN". Rtvbn.com. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  35. ^ Miroslav Lajčak. "Patrijarh Irinej kod Milanovića: Poštovati hrišćanstvo - Kurir". Kurir-info.rs. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  36. ^ "Prva Televizija :: Patrijarhova poseta Zagrebu korak ka uklanjanju jaza" (in Serbian). Prva.rs. Archived from the original on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  37. ^ a b [1][dead link]
  38. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2012-05-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. ^ [2] Archived April 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  40. ^ "Erasmus program u SPOG-u". Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Sjajan potez zagrebačke pravoslavne gimnazije". Novosti (Croatia). 18 June 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  42. ^ "MINISTAR KULTURE SRBIJE POSJETIO PRAVOSLAVNU GIMNAZIJU". Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  43. ^ a b "PREDSJEDAVAJUĆA PREDSJEDNIŠTVA BIH U GIMNAZIJI". Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  44. ^ "PREMIJER HRVATSКE U GIMNAZIJI "КANTAКUZINA-КATARINA BRANКOVIĆ"". Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  45. ^ "POSJET VELEPOSLANICE SAD-a U RH". Kantakuzina Katarina Branković Serbian Orthodox Secondary School. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.

Sources

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