State Symbols

Embassy of the Republic of Serbia

STATE SYMBOLS

Adopted on August 17, 2004, it is a replica of the Coat of arms of the former Obrenović dynasty (first adopted in 1882) and features the white bicephalic eagle of the Nemanjić dynasty (which in turn took on the eagle from the Paleologos dynasty of the Byzantine Empire.

The exact colors used on small coat of arms are red (Pantone 193C), blue (Pantone287C), yellow (Pantone 116C) and white.

ss1 ss2
Small Coats of Arms Large Coats of Arms

Blazon: The principal field stands for the Serbian State. It consists of a double-headed eagle on gules (red) shield, with body and wings displayed in inverted argent, and tongues, beaks, legs and claws in or (golden), between two fleurs-de-lys. The inescutcheon stands for Serbian Nation (cross between four firesteels in argent across gules shield).

The design on the inescutcheon has been used by Serbian states and church since the Middle Ages. It consists of a cross and four firesteels arranged in the quarters around it, all of them facing horizontally outwards. The firesteels were originally used in the Byzantine imperial coat of arms as stylized Greek letters Β and stood for the imperial motto Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileusin ("King of kings, ruling over kings") in Greek.

The firesteels look like the cyrillic letter С, which represents the /s/ sound. They are often rendered as such, especially when the basic design is drawn by hand. They are commonly associated with the slogan Samo sloga Srbina spasava ("Only unity saves Serbs").

Although Serbia is now a republic , the new coat of arms also features the crown of the former Serbian monarchy signifing its royal heritage.

Flag

The flag of Serbia is a tricolour with Pan-Slavic colours. It consists of three equal horizontal fields, red on the top, blue in the middle and white on the bottom. The official flag has small Coat of Arms of Serbia centered vertically and located left of centre by one-seventh of the length of the flag. The current form of the flag was officially adopted on August 16, 2004.

The same flag was also used in 1882, when Serbia was proclaimed a kingdom, the merchant flag was modified following modification of the coat of arms: the shield was surmounted by a royal crown (without mantle), the shield contained a white double-headed eagle with the coat of arms in escutcheon and with two golden fleurs-de-lis in base. The flag was abandoned in 1918 however is in use since 2004 as the flag of Serbia - a part of Serbia and Montenegro. After the independence of Montenegro, on June 8th, 2006 the new flag was raised for the first time in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Note: Standards of Flag and Coat of Arms, Parliament of Serbia can be found on the web site of the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia (in Serbian language)

National Anthem

Bože pravde (God of Justice) is the official anthem of Serbia. It was written in 1872 with music by Davorin Jenko and words by Jovan Đorđević. Being the anthem of the Kingdom of Serbia, the original lyrics praise Serbian king.

Lyrics of National Anthem
Serbian Cyrillic	Serbian Latin	English translation
Боже правде, ти што спасе од пропасти до сад нас, чуј и одсад наше гласе и од сад нам буди спас. Моћном руком води, брани будућности српске брод, Боже спаси, Боже храни, српске земље, српски род! Сложи српску браћу драгу на свак дичан славан рад, слога биће пораз врагу а најјачи српству град. Нек на српској блиста грани братске слоге знатан плод, Боже спаси, Боже храни српске земље, српски род! Нек на српско ведро чело твог не падне гнева гром Благослови Србу село поље, њиву, град и дом! Кад наступе борбе дани к' победи му води ход Боже спаси, Боже храни српске земље, српски род! Из мрачнога сину гроба српске славе нови сјај настало је ново доба Нову срећу, Боже дај! Отаџбину српску брани пет вековне борбе плод Боже спаси, Боже брани моли ти се српски род!	Bože pravde, ti što spase od propasti do sad nas, čuj i odsad naše glase i od sad nam budi spas Moćnom rukom vodi, brani budućnosti srpske brod, Bože spasi, Bože hrani srpske zemlje, srpski rod! Složi srpsku braću dragu na svak dičan slavan rad sloga biće poraz vragu a najjači srpstvu grad. Nek na srpskoj blista grani bratske sloge znatan plod Bože spasi, Bože hrani srpske zemlje, srpski rod! Nek na srpsko vedro čelo tvog ne padne gneva grom Blagoslovi Srbu selo polje, njivu, grad i dom! Kad nastupe borbe dani k pobedi mu vodi hod Bože spasi, Bože hrani srpske zemlje, srpski rod! Iz mračnoga sinu groba srpske slave novi sjaj nastalo je novo doba Novu sreću, Bože daj! Otadžbinu srpsku brani pet vekovne borbe plod Bože spasi, Bože brani moli ti se srpski rod!	God of Justice; Thou who saved us when in deepest bondage cast, Hear Thy Serbian children's voices, Be our help as in the past. With Thy mighty hand sustain us, Still our rugged pathway trace; God, our hope; protect and cherish Serbian lands and Serbian race! Bind in closest links our kindred Teach the love that will not fail, May the loathed fiend of discord Never in our ranks prevail. Let the golden fruits of union Our young tree of freedom grace; God, our Master! guide and prosper Serbian lands and Serbian race! Lord! Avert from us Thy vengeance, Thunder of Thy dreaded ire; Bless each Serbian town and hamlet, Mountain, meadow, heart and spire. When our host goes forth to battle Death or victory to embrace- God of armies! be our leader Strengthen then the Serbian race! On our sepulchre of ages Breaks the resurrection morn, From the slough of direst slavery Serbia anew is born. Protect the serbian fatherland, the fruit of five centuries of battle, God save, God protect, so prays to you, the Serbian people!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, 4-7-24 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan

tel. +81 (3) 3447-3571, fax +81 (3) 3447-3573

email: embassy@serbianembassy.jp, web site: www.serbianembassy.jp