The first church in Ub

 
The first church in Ub was the oldest in the Valjevo area, according to the priest Ljuba Kostic. It was believed that the church was built in 1822, and that it was made of wood and covered with wooden roof. Except that it was built of bad material, the former church in Ub was built in the Baroque style, very inappropriate for this area. After the earthquake in 1998, it was only a matter of time whether the church would persist, and any attempt of reconstructing it was both expensive and risky. Therefore, the church board decided to build a new church in Ub resembling Serbian-Byzantine style modeled on the monasteries in Bistrica and in Prizren. The realization was entrusted to Predrag Ristic, PhD, one of the best church architects.






Translated by Jelena Milutinovic, II3, Technical school of Secondary Education

The church in Ub

   The construction of the church in Ub was on hold during the period from 2004-2009, because the proposed artistic and architectural solutions needed to be on a very  high level for finalizing the works on the temple. However, the sanctuary constructions were not stopped. Baroque iconostasis was completely renewed, and the belfry was built, named after Saint Makarije the Great, whereas the entrance gate was built with a stone ball weighing 300 kg, and having put a crown on the top, four metal artistically shaped gates with Byzantine motives  were placed into the entrances at the sanctuary.

   This part of the text  was translated by Aleksandra Mitrovic, II3, Technical school of Secondary Education

 http://www.navidiku.rs/magazin/putovanja/domaci-turizam/crkva-na-ubu-ponos-gradana-i-eparhije-valjevske_24186/

                    

Angel

     I have been brainstorming about my new post, and its name for a while,until I finally decided. Surely, the person who is my role model of the new generation regarding her success in the science field, is my close friend Andjelka Simic. She deserves to be mentioned not only because of her brains, but also because she has been promoting Ub as a centre of culture, and implementing new ideas into the educational system. She combines mathematics and art in a special way. Her works were exhibited in Texas, and on RTS, where she was also interviewed. I am looking forward to seeing her future projects, and I am convinced that she will be remembered as one of the important people, whose hometown is Ub. Let's see what she has to say about her work:

''I see mathematics and art as one and I am very excited in occasions when something which is nice for the eye of the observer I can explain with mathematical language. What I find inspirational in art is its freedom, and in mathematics most certainly the precision and creativity that I have observed solving many different problems using simple rules that are scientifically and accurately given. Being fascinated by the beauty and possibilities of modularity, especially the “OpTiles”, which is the borderline between arts and mathematics, I soon came up with the idea of applying “OpTiles” on the jewelry and clothes, because I seek regularities by my own nature on jewelry and clothes looking for any kind of order.  Everyone can notice the symmetry, anti-symmetry or rotation on these pieces of jewelry. In my opinion, this kind of jewelry is adequate for any occasion, regardless of gender, age, and what fashion trends are being promoted at the moment.''
http://www.opartfashion.com/index.php/en/

The last year's flood

      Some parts of Serbia were seriously affected by the floods last year, including the town Ub. It took us by surprise, out of the blue in the late evening, on May 13, 2014, the date which we will never forget. Not only do we remember the date when it happened, but also we are obliged not to forget it, especially in terms of  human casualties. Thousands of people had to be evacuated from their homes, dozens of acres of land were under water for several weeks. We cannot measure the value of a man's life, so it would be unwise to talk about figures in this case. We are eternally grateful to those people who came to help us in our difficult moments from all over the world, and of course we owe special thanks to our heroes from the police and army.  Someone would say that it was their duty and their job, but it was absolutely necessary not to get cold feet. We could not define their acts in some other way, besides calling them heroic. Those men are our heroes. Thank you all!

Inside my house

The bridge near my house

The magical three balls

Billiards has always been very popular among  many generations. Although, other games existed, they could not keep up with the billiards, which persisted. According to the number of its fans, the only sport that could compete with the popularity of the billiards, was precisely football.

Almost every townsmen played billiards, and the hierarchy had to be respected, the same as while taking a bath in the river Ub. You would have to give your seat to the older people. This photograph had been taken in the summer 1960s.(M.Jovanovic,186)

The carriage of dreams

Laza Kanacki was one of the first carriage drivers in Ub. He performed his duty for more than 35 years every day no matter what the weather was like, in winter and in summer, clad in opaklija ( a cloak made of sheep's fur ) driving carriage or sleigh. He would always make it on time respecting the timetable, and if it was necessary he would have passed the same route for two times a day. People called him 'uncle Laza'. Only six passengers could get on, and the ride  would cost them 5, 10, and 18 dinars, depending on their age. Accuracy, properness and the sound of his trumpet were the signs, by which many people from Ub could wound up their clocks. He died in 1948.

We can see him here in front of '' the old Post Office'', and now that is the place near the City library.

M.Jovanovic, 2004.

Inn, tavern, or simply said ''kafana''

People like taking pictures on different occasions. Some years ago, while the camera was a rarity, and we did not have many photographers, the pictures were most frequently taken for the purpose of having kept the memories from the military. The ones who could afford themselves going to a spa took pictures in the spa’s park, or next to a photographer’s tools.

Many photographs  are related to a special place in our lives- Inn, tavern, or you can use the term kafana, because it is a word with  strong markdness.[1]  People would put on their finest clothes when going to kafana , because it made no sense at all to be clad in bad clothes, surrounded by others, who were beautifully dressed, all having the same desires, needs and habits. They all were mostly the same and equal. Probably, that was the main reason for taking the pictures with eagerness, so relaxed and light-hearted. They would keep those photographs as dear memories. The atmosphere and good company would make the person smile, and we should not underestimate a good drink.

In the report of County Valjevo in 1858, it was stated that there were 27 kafanas in Ub. Anyway, our devotion to kafanas is still present. And the young have accepted the reasons for going to kafanas with ease.

The photo was taken in May, in the 50’s last century, in front of the restaurant’’Promaja’’. Visitors were sitting in the garden. Nowadays, the garden is a hotel terrace ‘’Tamnava.’’The garden was paved with pebbles, which was considered to be very luxurious at that time. The stadium ‘’Jedinstvo’’ had not yet been planned, and at the place of today’s  pool was a meadow.

  

In front of ''Beges''kafana in the 60's

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[1]Lepa Varos Ub, Divni ljudi,Milutin Jovanovic,  strana 119.  I have used Serbian word for tavern, people are familiar with it.

From my point of view

The author's family album


I keep thinking about the past times, and even as a child I really enjoyed looking at my family albums asking my mother whether she knew anything about the people in the photographs. Let's begin with the first photo, these two people are my grandparents. Unfortunately, my grandfather had died before I was born, so I didn't have the chance to meet him. They got married in 1951. The photo is slightly damaged, but we can see that the newly weds were nicely dressed. It is a custom in Serbia that a groom should wear a sprig of rosemary on his wedding jacket, whereas bride carries a bouquet of flowers.

In the second photograph, we can see the other wedding couple-my aunt and uncle, very dear people.

My aunt, father's sister among her peers in high school Skola za kvalifikovane radnike (High school for skilled workers) now called Tehnicka skola ,,Ub''.

 My aunt and uncle at their wedding. The photo was taken in 1980.

 My father at elementary school in our village. Nowadays there are not many pupils.

Finally, my uncle with his friends. Back then, it was not important the place where you wanted to have a great time, but the company you chose.

Weddings

Weddings have always been interesting for people who live in Ub, especially for women. In order to make a wedding plan work, different factors were key to success: the weather, family’s financial state, obligations etc. The physical appearance of the newly weds would arouse a great deal of interest, and people often commented on a bride’s beauty.

The Main Street, as we can see, was paved with cubes.  [1]

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[1] Lepa Varos Ub, Divni ljudi,Milutin Jovanovic, 75.strana

Ljubisa Jocic

Ljubisa Jocic was born in 1910, in Ub. He was a journalist, film director, poet, interpreter and a painter. He published his first poem in 1928, and his novels ‘’Broken cars’’, ‘’Draga Masin’’,’’What’s the time’’, which he illustrated himself.

He wrote poems, essays, made movies, did acting and painting. He mostly experimented with modern form and expression, trying to find a formula of personal, autobiographic poetry, finding his authentic moments in different poetic aspects: satire, elegy, lyric and descriptive poem. [1]

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[1] Znameniti Tamnavci, Zivorad Todorovic, 17.strana

Dragan Dzajic

Dragan Dzajic was born in May 30, 1946. As a fifteen-year-old boy, he started playing for the Red Star. Two years later, in May 1963, he had his debut in the match against Buducnost, the team from Titograd, now Podgorica. Dragan Dzajic led his peers in winning the title of four National Cups. Then, he made his debut in the national team June 17, 1964, in the match against Romania.[1]

International career

Džajić on his most well-known international matches (at the UEFA Euro 1968):

"I have nice memories from that championship. It's true that our failure in the final hurts me, but from today's perspective I can say that we made a great result. Some excellent teams were behind us but against the home side, we were in a subordinate position due to a 'higher power.' The referee Dienst was the Azzurri's twelfth man and they won only due to his help. In those circumstances, our generation couldn't win the gold medal. It's also too bad that there was no Ilija Petković in the repeated match because our game play would have been much quicker."

"Džajić is the Balkan miracle – a real wizard. I'm just sorry he's not Brazilian because I've never seen such a natural footballer."

-Pelé about Džajić

Džajić was just 18 when he was first named to the Yugoslav national team. He made his debut on 17 June 1964 in a 2–1 defeat against Romania at the JNA Stadium in Belgrade. Džajić would go on to earn 85 caps (the most in the history of the Yugoslav national team) and score 23 goals. Few who saw the left-winger play could ever forget Džajić's brilliance. He became internationally renowned for his passing and dribbling as well as his goal-scoring. His most famous international match was likely the 1968 European Championship semifinal against England, in which his 87th-minute lob over goalkeeper Gordon Banks gave Yugoslavia a 1–0 victory against the defending world champion. The British press dubbed him "the magic Dragan." He went on to score in the final against Italy but he could not prevent Yugoslavia going down 2–0 after a replay.

Dragan Džajić (right) facing Sweden's Jan Olsson at the 1974 FIFA World Cup

He participated in the 1974 FIFA World Cup which was held in West Germany. Džajić participated in Yugoslavia's opening championship game draw with world champions Brazil and scored one goal in a record victory of 9–0 against Zaire. However, after passing the second stage of the championship, Yugoslavia didn't repeat the results of their opening games. They lost three games in a row, and had to return home.

Džajić was much loved because of his kindly nature and easy-going manner, while on the pitch, he won admiration for being an exceptional left-winger who could both score goals and deliver defence splitting passes with fantastic precision. The left wing was his domain – and it was quite usual for him to take off, leaving all defenders in his wake to deliver an inch-perfect pass into the penalty area. If highly appreciated by players and coaches alike for his passing ability, Džajić was no less embraced for his goal-scoring. He could score from just about any angle and many of his successful attempts came direct from corner kicks. Gifted with vision and that rare gift, a killer left foot, he was already scoring "Platini-like" free kicks when the French legend was still in shorts.[2]

Lepa Varos Ub, Divni ljudi,Milutin Jovanovic

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[1] Znameniti Tamnavci, Zivorad Todorovic, 27.strana

[2] Wikipedia.com