Strelac (Serbian: Стрелац) is a village in the municipality of Babušnica, in southeast Serbia. Until the 1960s, Strelac was the largest settlement in the region of Lužnica, but having a constant and accelerating depopulation like most of the settlements in the region, according to the 2011 census, the village had a population of only 214.
A settlement in the area of Strelac existed in Roman times. There are remnants of the Roman cemetery, an aqueduct and a water well.[2]
According to the 1948 census, Strelac had a population of 1,589 and was the largest village in the region, and until the census of 1961 it had more population than the regional center and its own municipal seat, town of Babušnica.[1] In previous, more prosperous periods, the village had a school with a dormitory, stores, post office, community health center, agricultural cooperative, local community office but also grocery shops, watermills, sawmills, kafanas and artisan shops (furriers, tailors, stitchers, blacksmiths, farriers).[2]
Name
Name of the village, strelac, means "archer" in Serbian (in modern language, also "shooter"). The name is old but there is no definite explanation how the village got it. There are two popular myths on the origin of the name, both connecting it to the Middle Ages. According to one, the village had an archery field and one of the village archers won the knight's competition. The other claims that there was an archery workshop which produced well known arrows in the mediaeval period.[2]
Characteristics
The village has a Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It was built in 1837 by the priest Radenko Gmitrović, on the foundations of an older temple. Gmitrović was educated in Belgrade, which was already liberated at that time, but returned to his homeland which was still under the Ottoman rule. Because of the foreign rule, the construction and painting of the church went slow. Local population helped the construction as much as they could: some donated stone, some gave money for the materials while some brought food for the builders. In the 19th century, the church served also as a seminary for the Serbian, Bulgarian and Greek priests (Strelac Seminary).[2]
The church is located on the 14 km (8.7 mi) of the Babušnica-Zvonačka Banja road. It has a small central building and a wooden bell tower and is situated in the ash tree forest.[2]
References
^ abComparative overview of the number of population in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2002 and 2011 – Data by settlements, page 29. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade. 2014. ISBN978-86-6161-109-4.
^ abcdeDana Stanković (24 September 2017), "Zamiljiva Srbija: Babušnica - Spas za Bogorodičinu crkvu u Strelcu", Politika-Magazin, No. 1043 (in Serbian), p. 22-23
strelac, serbian, Стрелац, village, municipality, babušnica, southeast, serbia, until, 1960s, largest, settlement, region, lužnica, having, constant, accelerating, depopulation, like, most, settlements, region, according, 2011, census, village, population, onl. Strelac Serbian Strelac is a village in the municipality of Babusnica in southeast Serbia Until the 1960s Strelac was the largest settlement in the region of Luznica but having a constant and accelerating depopulation like most of the settlements in the region according to the 2011 census the village had a population of only 214 Strelac StrelacVillageStrelacCoordinates 42 59 05 N 22 27 45 E 42 98472 N 22 46250 E 42 98472 22 46250Country SerbiaDistrictNisavski okrugMunicipalityBabusnicaLocal communityStrelacPopulation 2011 Total214Time zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST Historical populationYearPop 19481 589 19531 507 5 2 19611 367 9 3 19711 156 15 4 1981844 27 0 1991605 28 3 2002392 35 2 2011214 45 4 Source 1 Contents 1 History 2 Name 3 Characteristics 4 ReferencesHistory EditA settlement in the area of Strelac existed in Roman times There are remnants of the Roman cemetery an aqueduct and a water well 2 According to the 1948 census Strelac had a population of 1 589 and was the largest village in the region and until the census of 1961 it had more population than the regional center and its own municipal seat town of Babusnica 1 In previous more prosperous periods the village had a school with a dormitory stores post office community health center agricultural cooperative local community office but also grocery shops watermills sawmills kafanas and artisan shops furriers tailors stitchers blacksmiths farriers 2 Name EditName of the village strelac means archer in Serbian in modern language also shooter The name is old but there is no definite explanation how the village got it There are two popular myths on the origin of the name both connecting it to the Middle Ages According to one the village had an archery field and one of the village archers won the knight s competition The other claims that there was an archery workshop which produced well known arrows in the mediaeval period 2 Characteristics EditThe village has a Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God It was built in 1837 by the priest Radenko Gmitrovic on the foundations of an older temple Gmitrovic was educated in Belgrade which was already liberated at that time but returned to his homeland which was still under the Ottoman rule Because of the foreign rule the construction and painting of the church went slow Local population helped the construction as much as they could some donated stone some gave money for the materials while some brought food for the builders In the 19th century the church served also as a seminary for the Serbian Bulgarian and Greek priests Strelac Seminary 2 The church is located on the 14 km 8 7 mi of the Babusnica Zvonacka Banja road It has a small central building and a wooden bell tower and is situated in the ash tree forest 2 References Edit a b Comparative overview of the number of population in 1948 1953 1961 1971 1981 1991 2002 and 2011 Data by settlements page 29 Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia Belgrade 2014 ISBN 978 86 6161 109 4 a b c d e Dana Stankovic 24 September 2017 Zamiljiva Srbija Babusnica Spas za Bogorodicinu crkvu u Strelcu Politika Magazin No 1043 in Serbian p 22 23 42 59 05 N 22 27 45 E 42 98472 N 22 46250 E 42 98472 22 46250 This Pirot District Serbia location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Strelac amp oldid 802531059, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
