The memorials built to fallen Russian volunteers in the Serbian – Turkish War in 1876, in Aleksinac and its surroundings

Aleksinac was ready to solemnly celebrate the consecration of the
monument to Russian volunteers. The path thatleads through the park
Brđanka to the monument to the Russian volunteers was adorned with
numerous flags, and both sides of the road were decorated with green
garlands (decoration of flowers and twigs in the shape of a wreath).
Three triumphal oak gates were erected along the way to the monu-
ment to Russian volunteers.

The inscription on the first gate
“Welcome brothers”

The inscription on the second gate
“No one has greater love than this one,
To lay their soul for friends”

The inscription on the third gate
“Harmony and Brotherly Love”

On the day of the monument consecration (8 November) ,the citizens
of Aleksinac and many guests headed to the church in Aleksinac
where the commemoration to the Russian volunteers killed in the
Serbian-Turkish war was to be held. The Liturgy and holy commemor-
ation were served by the Metropolitan Mihailo. After that ceremony,
Metropolitan Mihailo consecrated the memorial and laid two wreath
on it: his and the wreath of Ms. Novikov, the sister of the courageously
killed Russian officer Kirjeeva. Russian minister resident in Belgrade
Mr Persiani and general Chernyayev were the next to lay the wreaths
During the commemoration to the killed volunteers, the consecra-
tion of the monument and the laying of wreaths, a battalion of infantry
and artillery battalion were paying tribute to the memory of fallen vol-
unteers by firing volleys
After the laying of wreaths, Metropolitan Mihailo gave a speech
commemorating the Russian volunteers
“Upon the end of the monument consecration, the foundation of
the church was consecrated, The church will be built near here to cele-
brate the memories of Russians and Serbs who died together in war, in
1876. for freedom and independence of Serbia. Their names are to be
written on marble slabs of all the church walls.”
Due to the conditions that occured in Serbia in the late 19th and
throughout the 20th centuries, unfortunately, this church was never
constructed.

Memorial Church to Russian colonel Raevski In Gornji Adrovac
Colonel Nikolay Raevsky was a Russian volunteer who came to help
Serbia in its heroic struggle for the liberation of Serbian land that was
ruled by the Turks in the summer of 1876. He died on August 20 (Sep-
tember 1) in 1876 in the Battle of Gornji Adrovac.
The place where Colonel Rayevski was killed was originally marked
at the beginning of August, 1887 with a modest cross made of sand-
stone with engraved words:
“Russian Colonel Nikola Rayevski against the Turks died at this
place on 20 August, 1876”.
More than a decade ago, this was the only mark that is reminiscent
of the legendary hero. The wish of the family of Colonel Rajevsi to
mark the place of his death with the church was realized later.
Today, there is a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity Church
dedicated to Colonel Rayevski.in Gornji Adrovac.It is a village about
twelve kilometers southwest of Aleksinac.
The church is situated on one striking elevated plateau that domin-
ates the entire landscape.This area used to be called "Golo Brdo".
The area around the church is filled with trees .The road to the en-
trance to the church is framed by linden trees that were brought from
the village Razumovka in Ukraine from the former estate of the Ray-
evski family.
There is the inscription on the church wall:
“This holy temple was built due to efforts and supervision of
Bishop of Nis . Mr Nicanor Ružičić,but at the expense of the noble lady
founder Mrs Mary Rayevska The temple was consecrated on 2 Sep-
tember 1903.”

The “Rayevsky Church” was restored in 2001. A plaque with the
following text was placed on the chusrch wall :

“MEMORIAL CHURCH OF ST. TRINITY
THE MONUMENT TO RUSSIAN-SERBIAN
BROTHERHOOD IN ARMS RENEWED TO CELEBRATE
THE 125 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF
RUSSIAN COLONEL NIKOLAI. RAYEVSKY
AT THE INITIATIVE OF RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR
IN BELGRADE V. JEGOŠKIN
AND WITH THE FUNDS OF THE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF RUSSIA
RUSSIAN AND YUGOSLAV ORGANIZATIONS
WITH THE BLESSING OF BISHOP IRINEI FROM NIS
AND THE SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPALITY ALEKSINAC
2 September ,2001. ''

There are many works published on this subject and due to this reason,
this work will not deal with it any further.

MEMORIAL PLATE AT THE ORIGINAL GRAVE OF
COLONEL RAYEVSKY IN THE MONASTERY ST. ROMAN

Battery Commander Lieutenant Kosta Šamanović in whose hands the
colonel exhaled, handed the dead body of Colonel Rayevsky to para-
medics. They took him to the background hospital which was located
near the church of St. Petka, near the village Trnjane.
The body was handed over to the General Headquarters with the
analysis of doctor Hadan. On the next day, ie. August 21, the Colonel's
body was transferred to the St.Roman monastery near the village Pras-
kovče. It was buried in the monastery courtyard southeast of the altar.
His body rested here a few days, namely until 1 September when
it was transported to Belgrade and then onwards to Russia The initial
temporary grave was marked by a sandstone with no name and no
any other signs until 2008. The grave was maintained as a great asset.
The nuns of the St. Roman monastery continuously planted seasonal
flowers around the grave
According to a legend, Colonel Rayevsky's heart was buried in the
churchyard and his body was transported to Russia. However, there is
a possibility that this is indeed a historical fact. In order to transport
the body of Rayevsky to his homeland , his body was dug up and then
embalmed. The surgery was performed by the Bulgarian volunteer
doctor Molov. The body was laid in an oak coffin, then in the other – a
lead, and finally transported to Belgrade. The process of embalming,
as it is known, involves extracting the internal organs, which may have
remained at the site of the first burial, so the grave in St. Roman is not
empty.
Memorial plaque with the inscriptions in Serbian, Russian and
English was placed in 2008.

“Nikolay Raevsky – Count Vronsky
August 21, 1876
Here eternally rests the heart of
volunteer of Imperial Russia
Nicholas Rayevsky for freedom of the
Serbian people,
Thankful descendants of Serbian patriots from
Patriotic Serbian-Turkish War
of 1876
14.07.2008.”

The Cross in the churchyard of ST. Nestor church in Vitkovac
The Church of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin, popularly known as
Saint Nestor is located in the village Vitkovac, which is 20 kilometers
northwest of Aleksinac. It was rebuilt in 1871 on the foundations of an
older temple. The final battles of the 1876 war were fought on the “Bed”
and Đunis plateau in the immediate surroundings of the church.
during the battle led on the “Bed”, the Russian-Serbian Brigade that
was commanded by Colonel Meženinov had big losses, 21 officers and
588 soldiers. The majority of the killed Serbs and Russians was buried
in the grave next to the church on its northern side. Immediately after
the liberation wars, tomb in the shape of a cross was designed and
wooden cross was put in the middle. In 2006, the wooden cross was re-
placed by concrete cross coated with fine marble.Its height is 1.5 meters
and there is the inscription – 1876.

Bibliography:
Sources:
– Protocol of the deceased in Jagodina Church St.Archangel Michael
no. 13 and 14
– Protocol of the deceased in Paracin-church of St. Trinity no. 12
– The Celebration of monument consecration at Rujevica near Alek-
sinac on 8 November 1880 to the killed Russian volunteers in the Serb-
ian-Turkish war in 1876, Belgrade 1881
– “Vecernje novosti”, 25 June, 2009

References:
– Miodrag Spirić, The history of Aleksinac and its surroundings III,
Aleksinac 2006
– Slobodan Brankovic, The independence of the freedom-loving , Bel-
grade 1998
– From Deligrad to Deligrad 1806-1876,

Serbian uprisings, war and peace, proceedings in honour greta anni-
versary: 120 years from the Battle in Deligrad, 120 years of the Union of
Serbia and Montenegro, 120 years of the Serbian-Turkish war and 120
years of the Red Cross of Serbia, Belgrade, 1997.