Dear Current and Future Legacy Builders of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral,
Work has been completed in preparing the foundation for organized endowment funds for Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. We began to consider the idea based on the examples of other church, school and health organizations throughout the world. The Serbian tradition of endowments (zadužbinarstvo, which is literally the leaving of one’s legacy) has come back to life in Serbian communities and has become most evident in church congregations.
The purpose of the Endowment Program of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral is to facilitate the specific desire of donors and their gifts to last for an endless amount of time through the mechanism of endowment.
The most well-known Serbian legacy builders are members of the Nemanjić Dynasty, who left after themselves the legacy of monasteries, starting with Hilandar Monastery (endowed by Stevan Nemanja in 1198 AD) and many more
The gifted Memorial and Endowment funds are guaranteed to perpetually fund around 5% of their worth per year for the dedicated ministry chosen by the donor.
The most well-known Serbian legacy builders are members of the Nemanjić Dynasty, who left after themselves the legacy of monasteries, starting with Hilandar Monastery (endowed by Stevan Nemanja in 1198 AD) and many more. That worthy tradition lasted through the 15th century but was suppressed during the long period of Ottoman occupation. After the emancipation from the first occupiers, well-respected and wealthy Serbs have built buildings for their remembrance and the income generating facilities for the support of desired educational, cultural and health activities. Here we find well-known benefactors of Belgrade University (Kapetan Miša), Concert Hall (Kolarac), as well as many other buildings in Belgrade and other Serbian cities.
This well-established culture of Serbian endowments was abruptly interrupted during the half century rule of the other usurpers of Serbian Lands; however, not long ago, the process of returning those stolen endowments to their original purpose has commenced.
In recent times, new legacy founders have shown up, addressing what they think are the current social priorities.
On the next pages, you will be able to acquaint yourselves with the formation of perpetual funds for the help of your most favored activities in our community. I hope that you will join our members who have already realized the value and success of endowment funds. Their short stories are shown for you to more easily understand the formation of this program.
Thank you for your interest,
Gradimir Vučković, MD
HRSOC Executive Board President