(EXPLAINER) The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates on Friday the Feast of St. Vitus (in Serbian Vidovdan), commemorating the Battle of Kosovo against the Ottoman Turks, which took place in 1389.

St. Vitus Day is a Serbian national and religious holiday. The Serbian Orthodox Church has dedicated the feast day as a memorial to St. Prince Lazar and the Serbian holy martyrs who gave their lives defending their faith and fatherland during the Battle of Kosovo.

According to legend, Vitus died during the Diocletianic Persecution in the year 303. In the Middle Ages, he was counted as one of the “Fourteen Holy Helpers,” a group of saints venerated together by Catholics because their intercession is believed to be particularly effective, especially against various diseases.

In Serbia, this holiday represents an important part of the country’s identity, shaping the nation's culture and history.

Origins of the day

St. Vitus Day symbolizes a fusion of Christian heritage and pagan beliefs. It’s date back to pre-Christian Slavic society. The original name of the holiday, Vidovdan, originates from the name of the ancient Slavic god Svetovid. He was considered one of the most powerful gods among the Slavs, who believed that he could help with eye diseases and improve vision.

The cult of Svetovid was strong among the Slavic tribes, slowing down the process of Christianization. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that, as part of their preaching, Christian missionaries decided to replace the old Slavic gods with Christian saints.

Alternatively, it might be that the Slavic tribes chose to worship their pagan gods through Christian saints. Finally, in the 19th century, the Serbian Orthodox Church recognized St. Vitus Day as a holiday, commemorating and praying for the Serbian soldiers who died during the Battle of Kosovo while defending their faith and country.

Battle of Kosovo 

The Battle of Kosovo, which took place in 1389 between the Serbian army led by Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović and the Ottoman Empire under the command of Sultan Murad I, is commemorated on June 28. This battle was among the first attempts by the Ottoman Turks to conquer Serbia.

There are many mysteries and legends surrounding the Battle of Kosovo. According to official historical records, the Battle of Kosovo is described either as a fight without a clear winner or as one in which the Serbian army was defeated. Both armies suffered terrible losses; both Prince Lazar and Sultan Murad I were killed, along with countless members of Serbia’s nobility. However, the Ottoman army did not continue its military campaign against Serbia. Instead, they retreated and left Serbian territory.

Following the Battle of Kosovo, Christian Europe celebrated the defeat of the Ottoman army. The bells at Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral rang out to celebrate the Serbian victory. Leaders of Florence praised the Serbian army for being the Christian bulwark against the incoming Muslim invasion. While the outcome of the Battle of Kosovo remains unclear, the battle postponed the fall of Serbia to the Ottoman Empire for 70 years.

From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem irrational to celebrate an apparent defeat. On St. Vitus Day, Prince Lazar chose to die as a martyr, sacrificing himself and his army in the hope of entering the heavenly kingdom. This choice turned Prince Lazar into a national hero and a saint, later canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

‘Kosovo Myth’ 

The “Kosovo Myth” is a Serbian national story based on legends and events related to the Battle of Kosovo. The essence of this myth is to fight for your faith and country — even when the odds are stacked against you.

According to the legend, prior to the Battle of Kosovo, Prince Lazar was presented with a choice between the heavenly and earthly kingdoms. Instead of choosing the latter, Prince Lazar and his army died as martyrs, entering the former. There is much Biblical symbolism in this story.

While sacrificing for their faith, Prince Lazar and his Serbian army are represented as the chosen people who make a covenant with God. On the eve of the Battle of Kosovo, Prince Lazar shared his last meal with his soldiers before they willingly sacrificed themselves, similar to how Jesus shared His final meal with the apostles.

The “Kosovo Myth” also covers the Biblical theme of betrayal. In the legend, during the Battle of Kosovo, a Serbian nobleman, Vuk Brankovic, withdrew his troops at a crucial moment, handing the victory to the Ottomans. This is not historically factual. Despite that, Vuk Brankovic became known as the Serbian Judas.

As part of the story, Orthodox Serbs consider the region of Kosovo and Metohija to be the Serbian Jerusalem. It is the cradle of the Serbian Church and statehood. Approximately 1,300 Serbian churches and monasteries are spread out across Kosovo. In fact, throughout much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, while Serbs were fighting for independence from the Ottoman Empire, the “Kosovo Myth” — liberating and uniting Kosovo and Metohija with Serbia — became a national goal, which was achieved in 1912 during the First Balkan War.

Tumultuous history

The events that have occurred on what is today St. Vitus’ feast day became important milestones in Serbian history. The most prominent of all is the Battle of Kosovo. Unfortunately, recent historical events on this day haven't been as glorious as the Battle of Kosovo.

At the beginning of the 20th century, on June 28, 1914, Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. This event sparked World War I, during which Serbia lost almost one-third of its population.

In 1989, on the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo, Slobodan Milosevic, the authoritarian leader of Serbia, delivered a speech at Gazimestan (the memorial site of the Battle of Kosovo). This speech is perceived as marking the beginning of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

Twelve years later, again on St. Vitus Day, Milosevic was extradited to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands, to face trial for war crimes. Milosevic's extradition is still perceived by a significant part of the Serbian population as one of the greatest national humiliations.

Although the recent milestones that took place on this day weren’t as glorious and epic as the Battle of Kosovo, one could hope that upcoming St. Vitus Day events will revive Serbian national pride and glory.

Looking to the future  

For the last 25 years, Orthodox Serbs have celebrated St. Vitus Day without de facto control over the region of Kosovo. After the war in 1999, Kosovo came under the administration of the United Nations. In February 2008, the Kosovo authorities, with the support of Western powers, unilaterally declared independence.

Since then, Serbian leaders have refused to recognize Kosovo’s independence — citing its historical, cultural and religious importance to the Serbian nation. Liberating Kosovo and Metohija from the Ottoman Empire and uniting the region with Serbia has been a cornerstone of the “Kosovo Myth” and Serbian national identity.

However, with Kosovo not under the administrative rule of Serbia, perhaps it is time for Orthodox Serbs to redefine the “Kosovo Myth.” Instead of hoping for the day when Kosovo reunites with Serbia, it could instead serve as a guide to strengthening the Serbian community in the region, while preserving and protecting the Serbian heritage of Kosovo and Metohija.

Jovan Tripkovic is an editorial fellow at Religion Unplugged. Follow him on X @jovan_tripkovic.