Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic congratulated the holiday Vidovdan (St Vitus Day) to all Defense Ministry and Serbian Army members, said a Ministry press release.

“On this day in 1389 the famous Battle for Kosovo took place on the Kosovo field, which largely defined the path of the Serbian state. Fighting to preserve the state and freedom, for who knows how many times Serbs stood on the defense of their homeland,” said Stefanovic.

Serbs celebrate Vidovdan when their army lost the Battle for Kosovo to the Ottoman Empire on June 28, 1389. Vidovdan is also an Orthodox religious holiday.

Stefanovic said the Battle of Kosovo is woven into the very being of every Serb and that generations of children are still growing up while keeping in their hearts the vow inherited from their ancestors.

“Vidovdan is the heart and soul of the Serb people. It is the very essence of our national identity that will live as long as the memory of the Kosovo heroes lives,” the Minister said adding that it was the duty of the Serb people leave to the new generations a better Serbia, one economically, militarily and culturally stronger and more advanced, the press release said.