A memorial service and commemorative academy were held on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist in Chicago in memory of Serbs who suffered during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Organized by the Association of Krajina Serbs “Prelo,” the event marked the 35th anniversary of the displacement of more than 200,000 Serbs from Croatian cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The memorial service was officiated by Auxiliary Bishop of Midwestern America and Bishop of Kostajnica Serafim, while the commemorative academy was held in the church hall. In his sermon, the bishop emphasized that Serbs had also been subjected to persecution because of their Orthodox faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the commemorative academy in Chicago, documentary films, photographs, and documents were presented, which, according to the organizers, documented numerous crimes committed against Serbs in 1991 and 1992 in cities and towns under Croatian control. It was emphasized that 670 Serbs were killed outside war zones and areas of active combat. Tragically, many families with underage children were among the victims. More than 200,000 Serbs fled the terror, most of them to Serbia, Krajina, Republika Srpska, as well as to countries across Europe and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Written testimonies about the treatment of Serbs in the “Lora” camp in Split, “Pavilion 22” in Zagreb, “Jodno” in Sisak, the “Military Section” in Osijek, Kerestinec, and other camps were read by actors Igor Obradovi\u0107 and Milovan Glogovac. According to the presentation, more than 100 Serbs were killed in Sisak during the second half of 1991, 133 in Vinkovci, 124 in Gospi\u0107, 53 in Osijek, and others in numerous additional locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n