30 ways to nurture your Serbian Soul.
Introduction
In the Serbian Orthodox context, the phrase ‘you have lost your Serbian Soul’ is deeply tied to spiritual, cultural, + national identity. It refers to a Serb — in the diaspora or the homeland — who has strayed from their identity, beliefs + sense of belonging.
Here’s what it looks like:
Loss of Orthodox Christian faith.
Abandoning the Serbian Orthodox Church —
its teachings, traditions, or living contrary
to its principles.
Cultural disconnect.
Adopting foreign values and losing touch
with Serbian traditions + lifestyle.
No sense of belonging.
Lack of patriotism, national identity,
+ empathy for the collective.
What can you do?
Below are 30 suggestions to inspire you.
Think of this as a refresher or a starting point on your journey.
30 ways to nurture
your Serbian Soul.
1. Get Baptized.
Most Serbs are baptized as children, but it’s never too late. This is the first step to becoming a Serbian Orthodox Christian. It is a permanent and irreversible sacrament.
2. Pray.
Make prayer part of your routine — morning, evening, and meal time. It doesn't have to be perfect or formal. Speak to God from the heart. Learn the Lord’s Prayer (Oče naš). Learn more prayers over time — use an Orthodox prayer book to guide you. Pray in silence or listen to sacred music and prayer readings via Radio Slovo Ljubve.
Оче наш,
Који си на небесима,
Да се свети име Твоје;
Да дође Царство Твоје;
Да буде воља Твоја
и на земљи као на Небу.
Хлеб наш насушни
дај нам данас;
И опрости нам дугове наше
као што и ми опраштамо
дужницима својим;
И не уведи нас у искушење,
Но избави нас од злога
Амин.
3. Go to Church.
In church, you can receive grace and spiritual nourishment. Choose to live near a Serbian Orthodox Church. The Divine Liturgy connects you to God. Participate in the sacraments of Eucharist, Confession, and Repentance. These practices are central to the Orthodox faith.
4. Observe your Slava.
Honour your family’s Slava (specific to Serbs), Christmas, Easter and other Holy + Fast days. These are all important, practical expressions of faith and culture. Get a Serbian Calendar to track key ‘red letter’ dates. Incorporate fasting into your lifestyle — it is the key to spiritual discipline.
5. Read the Bible.
This will deepen your understanding of Christianity. Learn also about Orthodox doctrine and tradition. Familiarize yourself with protocols for monumental life events like weddings, baptisms and funerals.
6. Live a Christ-centred life.
Strive to live by Christian values like faith, love, humility, repentance, forgiveness, prayer, and charity.
7. Use icons and symbols.
Place an icon in your home, light candles and wear a cross or brojanica as a reminder of your faith.
8. Connect with like-minded people.
Surround yourself with people who have similar goals and values. We are all products of our environment.
9. Seek spiritual guidance.
Connect with the Serbian Orthodox Church for in-depth spiritual guidance. If no parish is nearby, find a Russian Orthodox Church or similar.
10. Go on a pilgrimage.
Book a visit to sacred sites like Kosovo and Metohija, Ostrog, and Hilandar to deepen your connection to Serbian Orthodox history and faith.
→ Serbian Culture
11. Speak the Serbian language.
Practice daily. This applies more to the diaspora, but anglicisms (for example, ’edukacija’ instead of ‘obrazovanje’) are becoming an issue even in Serbia.
12. Use Cyrillic.
Embrace the beautiful, 30-letter, phonetic Serbian alphabet — ‘Azbuka’. If you’re in the diaspora and don’t know it, learn it. It should take a day. No excuses!
13. Explore Serbian music, dance and film.
Seek out various genres. Participate in cultural activities. Attend lectures, exhibits, premieres and cultural events like folklore performances to stay engaged. Explore films: Marš na Drinu (1964), Boj na Kosovu (1989) and even the romantic series Ranjeni Orao 2008. And documentaries by Boris Malagurski: The Weight of Chains (2010). Kosovo: A Moment in Civilization (2017), 🇷🇸 Srpska: The Struggle for Freedom (2021). Seek out other acclaimed directors: Emir Kusturica, Zdravko Šotra. Follow us on Spotify for curated music playlists.
14. Curate a Serbian library.
Create a collection of literature and art. Here’s a super short list of authors / artists to inspire you: Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, Matija Bećković, Ivo Andrić, Miloš Crnjanski, Borislav Pekić, Jovan Dučić, Jovan Jovanović — Zmaj, Đura Jakšić, Paja Jovanović, Uroš Predić, Sava Šumanović, Nadezda Petrović, Katarina Ivanović.
15. Support Serbian cultural initiatives.
Attend festivals, theatre, and art exhibits. Watch documentaries. Director Boris Malgurski has some thought-provoking ones mentioned above. Stay engaged with the Serb cultural scene in the diaspora and homeland.
16. Prepare and enjoy Serbian food.
Make traditional Serbian dishes and share them. Food is one of the best ways to connect with your culture and share it with others.
17. Create a ‘Serb essentials’ kit.
Prepare a kit for key Serbian celebrations like Slava, Christmas, and Easter. Include Serbian recipes, red wine, tamjan, prayer books, beeswax candles, music playlists, and icons. Use checklists to ensure you don’t forget anything.
18. Stay connected.
Keep in touch with family and cultural traditions, whether you’re in Serbia or the diaspora. Nurture your roots and strengthen bonds. Care for each other.
19. Grow your network.
Surround yourself with people who share your values and vision. Connect with like-minded supporters and expand your community. Join our mailing list.
20. Collaborate.
Work with other Serbian families on projects such as daycare, homeschooling, and home care for the elderly. Start businesses together. Build networks worldwide.
→ Serbian National Identity.
21. Get your Serbian Citizenship / Passport.
Serbia is the homeland of all Serbs. Your ancestors sacrificed for it. It is your birthright.
22. Travel to Serbia
Visit the homeland, including Kosovo and Metohija, Montenegro, and Republika Srpska. Immersing yourself in the land of your ancestors strengthens your connection to it. Can’t travel just yet? Watch Kulturista on YouTube. Interested in organized travel adventures? Join our waitlist.
23. Live, study or work in Serbia.
Don’t just be a tourist! If you are from the diaspora, try complete immersion. Spend a year or two living, working, or studying in Serbia. Get to know the Serbian people. Consider moving there. Tačka Povratka provides resources to help with that.
24. Invest in Serbia.
Support Serbia’s economy by starting a business, purchasing real estate, or investing in land. Homesteading can create a lasting connection to the land. Great opportunities exist for creative entrepreneurs. Kredium can help with financing.
25. Join the military.
Military service creates discipline and lifelong bonds with fellow Serbs.There are professional and volunteer options. Of course, use your judgment and consult with your loved ones.
26. Volunteer for a righteous cause.
Engage in volunteer work for a cause that resonates with you in Serbia. Help protect Serbia’s natural beauty or help those less fortunate.
27. Learn from Serbian role models.
Draw inspiration from Serbian greats — like St. Sava, Vladika Nikolaj Velimirović, Patriarch Pavle, Czar Lazar, Miloš Obilić, Karadjordje, Mihajlo Pupin, Nikola Tesla and more recently, Novak Djoković. Study their achievements, sacrifices and commitment to their Serbian identity.
“If I am fortunate enough to achieve some of my ideals, it will be a triumph for all mankind. If those hopes should come true, my sweetest thought will be that they were the endeavours of a Serb.”
—Nikola Tesla
28. Study Serbian history.
Serbia has a history of heroism and great sacrifice — fueled by Serbs’ great love for their nation. Nowhere was this more evident than in WW1. Serbia lost 25 percent of her total population defending the homeland. Knowing the history will help you better understand the Serb mentality. History bores you? Start with the big picture instead of details. Get to know the timeline of events.
29. Learn the geography.
Start with knowing where your family came from. Orient yourself. You don’t want to be lost in space :) Where is your family from? Parents? Grandparents? Identify key cities and significant regions for the Serbian nation. The more you know, the more you will love it.
30. Observe Serbian national holidays.
Learn the anthem: God of Justice (Bože pravde)
February 15 — Sretenje (Presentation of Lord Jesus Christ at the Temple)
Statehood Day honours the First Serbian uprising led by Karađorđe (Đorđe Petrović) in 1804 and the 1835 Sretenje Constitution. It celebrates freedom from the Ottoman Empire (Turks).
June 28 — Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day)
Commemorates The Battle of Kosovo in 1389. This remains the eternal symbol of Serbia’s sacrifice for Christianity and freedom. A profound moment of devotion to both faith and national identity.
Боже правде, ти што спасе
од пропасти досад нас,
чуј и одсад наше гласе
и од сад нам буди спас.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућности српске брод,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род!
Боже спаси, Боже брани
моли ти се српски род!
Conclusion
We hope you’ll consider these 30 tips to nurture your Serbian Soul.
It’s about taking action, developing new habits and discipline. Down with apathy!
Embracing your Serbian identity strengthens us all — in the diaspora and homeland. And it will enrich your life.
Let this be one of the starting points on your journey to finding your ‘Srpstvo.’
We’re always learning, too! Let us know if anything else needs to be on our top 30.
And always refer to our Serbian Orthodox Church for in-depth religious guidance.