Prof. dr Predrag Đorđević Born in 1940.

Proffesional carrier: Professor Internal medicine, Endocrinology-diabetology. Mr med sci,  Dr med sci. DEAN Medical Faculty Belgrade (2 times) Vice rector ,University Belgrade. President of Serbian Association ofUniversity Professors and Scientists. President of University Professors and Lecturers Paris. Director of the Institute for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases KC Serbia.

Invited and Postgraduate lecturer: Postgraduate course for young diabetologists, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade. Cyprus, Egypt, Milan, Italy, Russel Berrie congress of diabetology, Israel, DiabetesIndia 2008.

Scholarship: Copenhagen, Denmark, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, LA, USA, Moscow, SSSR.

Position: President of Yugoslav endocrinology Society; Serbian Association for the Study od Diabetes.

Professional membership: Member of IDF, ADA, EASD, MGSD.

Membership in scientific associations: Academy of medical sciences Serbian Medical Association. Member of Serbian Scientific Society.

Expert position: Expert Ministry of science SR Yugoslavia and Ministry of Science Serbia

Lectures in Academy of science: Serbian Academy of Science and Art, Montenegro Academy of Science and Art, Academies of Science of Ukraine, Poland, Romania.

Mentor: more than 90 Mg Sci theses, and dr sci. dissertation.

Scientific projects: Head of many scientific projects in Serbia and 7 international scientific projects.

Reviewer of scientific papers and projects: „Eur. J Neurology“, „Diabetic medicine“, „Srpski Arhiv“, „Facta Universitatis“; „Vojno Sanitetski pregled“, VMA

Membership in publishing committee: Editor in chief and member of committee of many Serbian and international scientific journals.

Awards and diplomes: Serbian medical society, Serbian Association of University Professors and Scientists; Hippocrates medals for scientific results in diabetology (2 times), Honorary member DiabetesIndia Association.

Decoration: Medial of Belgrade Assembly, silver star decoration, Presidency of SFRJ.

Papers, monographs and books : 952 papers, international scientific journals – 61, text books and monographs – 7, chapters – 104

Humanitariona activities:

As an expert recognized in Serbian and international community worked as member and President of RC Beograd, Serbia, founder and charter President of RC Beograd-DEDINJE, Assistant of Governor D-2481 2006/07, 2007/08, 2010/11, Paul Harris Fellow,  Founder of RC Kruševac, President of PolioPlus program SubCommittee for D-248, Special advisor of District Governor for healthcare issues for D-2480, President of the Board of medical doctors  D-2480, member of IDF Rotarian Action Group for Diabetes.

Interview: Perica Gunjić

Photo: Marko Cvetković
Many different, albeit unconnected sources, confirm that Tito was probably initiated in Italy or France between two world wars. One detail is definitely true, and that is that his funeral was certainly the biggest gathering of the most influential freemasons in the world.
Someone could ask: what brings together freemasons and playboy?, and the connection is fairly easy to find as Playboy was at one point publicly crucified by many “well-intentioned” people and was persecuted just because it erased boundaries.
More than anything it is a great adrenalin rush. You know, the whole ritual. When you are blindfolded for about an hour and a half and you are facing yourself during the whole time and then when you are enlightened. It helps you advance as a human being, an individual and a sharing member of the community.
On that April morning, famous restaurant in Zemun, Stara Kapetanija, was unusually decorated. Chairs and tables were pushed against the walls and the center of the room was carpeted with a chessboard-like rug with symbols drawn into the field (to symbolize harmony born out of the balance of opposites). There were spears on the rug, small replicas of Doric columns, and in front was a hammer lying on a stone. All over the room, in the spirit of the ritual about to take place, classic Masonic symbols were carefully positioned. The Bible and drawing compass dominate. In front are the flags of Serbia and Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia (RGLS).
Around fifty elegant men mostly in their thirties, members of RGLS, together with their guests from Macedonia, wearing white shirts, black suits with bowties and white gloves (a symbol of purity) are waiting for the beginning of the initiation ritual of new freemasons. If we disregard the unusual scenery these gentlemen would never be connected to the mystique related to the most famous movement in world history around which myths and legends were created, which was persecuted by all totalitarian regimes, which was a hated enemy of the Catholic Church for hundreds of years and which numerous books describe as the main conspirer with the purpose to rule the world.
On the contrary, these people did not look mysterious at all. They were relaxed, friendly and very open for journalist’s questions. The first thing they’ll tell you is to disregard all the prejudice and that the purpose of their gathering has nothing to do with the widespread legends about freemasonry, that spreading brotherhood, peace and tolerance is the basis for their actions.
The same values are emphasized by the first among equals, Dr Čedomir Vukić, the Grand Master of the 33rd order of the Scottish order (in their terminology: Grand General Inspector) and Knight Templar, which is the very top of the freemason aristocracy that only the chosen can reach. Mr Vukić, dressed for the occasion in freemason insignia, an apron and a necklace which may be worn only by those from the very top of the freemason pyramid is one of the key people in the awakening of free masonry in Serbia during the nineties. He is diligently preparing the scenery in Stara Kapetanija, reminiscent of a theatre play with a detailed script where there is no place for improvisation, and where, once the ritual starts, every participant will have a very precise part and will say pre-prepared sentences. Everything in this ritual is about symbolism and allegory, while conversations about politics are forbidden.
The Grand Master, a vital and talkative 58 year old has a PhD in economics, is one of the rare people from Serbia who have access to the most important institutions in the world and is a friend with a number of influential people at the top of politics and economics of the most developed countries. He is an honorary member of over 30 freemason’s lodges in the world, from Australia, through Europe, to Canada and the USA. He has traveled the world and in his words has been received as a brother everywhere, with greatest hospitality. The oath of freemasons is so strong that friendships between those who recognize each other, mostly by the badges they wear or special signs of recognition through the use of specific terms in communication develop with every step.
Mr Vukić has had a rich career during which he was the vice president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, he worked for the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was the CEO and CFO in several companies, Southeastern Europe representative of American Corporate Funding…
Everyone who has learned about freemasonry only from conspiracy theory books, movies and newspaper stereotypes will be surprised by his openness and great energy: he keeps fit by swimming and exercising in the gym of Belgrade Hyatt hotel.
Without any hesitation or conditions he agreed to speak to Playboy in spite of the fact that such public appearances of Serbian freemasons have been highly unusual since the Second World War. On the contrary, almost half a century of persecution, first by the Nazis and their associates in Serbia, and then by the communists, has developed a tendency in Serbian freemasons not to appear in public, unlike the western world where this is not unusual.
Grand Master Vukić emphasizes that he wants to bring freemasonry closer to the modern world, that openness is one of his priorities and that there are no secrets in his work, other than the secrets of the ritual itself. Only the members of the lodge can participate in the ritual, and he is reluctant to reveal the names of the freemasons in Serbia during the last 20 years, unless they have given him their permission.
After being asked what’s with all the mystery and secrecy Mr. Vukić, as well as the Deputy Grand Master, respectable Belgrade lawyer Dalibor Strnad, say that, in fact, there is no special secret at all: its only about the basic respect for the privacy of the members. Everyone is free to publicly declare themselves as freemason if they choose to do so. They point out that RGLS is an officially registered citizens organization and that the public can access the rules of the organization which are also available at www.rglserbia.org

Playboy: How did your interest in Freemasonry begin?
Vukić: At University I learned first information about freemasons. I have been interested in the topic for a long time. While studying the history of civil law and human freedom I came across a unique stamp of free masonry, which is more than obvious in the struggle of the people for basic rights and progress of the civilization. The knowledge that the revival of freemasonry in Serbia was being prepared was what finally drew me to this movement, to which I will dedicate my life.
Playboy: Did you have any prejudice before you decided to join free masons?
Vukić: I knew that the brotherhood was an organization with secrets and that it is based on three major principles: brotherly love, eternal struggle for the truth and doing good things for your fellow human beings. I was never moved by rumors by certain interest groups who are not interested for this planet, which is the home of all living beings, and human kind to make a step further into a better future. Their intention was always to present freemasonry in the negative light, blaming the movement for negative events throughout history, since the beginning of the world until now and by exploiting negative examples amongst free masons, those rotten apples, who have deceived not only their brothers, but also everyone else by inventing various untruths.
Playboy: How and when did you become a Freemason?
Vukic: I applied for the brotherhood in 1990 and was initiated in 1991, as one of the first members of the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia.
Playboy: What are your impressions from the initiation?
Vukic: Most of all it is a great adrenalin rush. You know, the ritual, when you are blindfolded for about an hour and a half and you are faced with yourself the whole time. When you go through that kind of enlightenment it helps you advance both as a human being, an individual and a selfless member of the community. Everyone who goes through initiation feels similar excitement, When you are faced with all the symbols when you realize that everything is in the earth, air and water, the Master of Ceremony, who guides you through initiation, presents a brotherly hand that leads you to your goal.
Playboy: How did you advance up the hierarchy?
Vukic: My road was the same as the roads of many of my brothers for decades and centuries before me, bumpy and turbulent, but such was also the road of our beloved and tortured Serbia. I’ve worked hard with my brothers to follow the principles of freemasonry, guided by the idea of a better tomorrow, first for those closest to me and then for the whole humankind, because freemasonry is a universal and international brotherhood and so are its ideas.
Playboy: How did you become the grand master? How did you reach the 33rd degree of the Scottish order an become Knight Templar?
Vukić: You become the Grand Master by being chosen by your brothers. The role is arbitrary, it serves to protect the tradition and old rules and it has a time limit. The only way to get titles or to advance is through selfless work and involvement in the brotherhood. The first three degrees of the Blue or St. Johns masonry, to which most of the worlds freemasons belong, are the same all over the world. No one can become a master before passing these three steps. The first is to be an Entered Apprenticee, which lasts for a year, after that you become a Fellow, and then the Master of Johns order (the name comes from the part of the ritual when the hand is placed on an open Bible, on the chapter about St. Jonh the Baptist).
Playboy: What does reaching such a high position in freemasonry mean? What kind of privileges and which duties do you have?
Vukić: To be the first among equal brothers is a wonderful recognition and it represents the crown of brotherly love and trust. There are many obligations, a working day sometimes doubles in time, but freemasonry helps a men divide his time between work, study and rest, for which you also use knowledge and tools of the old masters as guidelines.
Playboy: How did you prepare for the awakening of freemasonry in Serbia in the beginning of the nineties?
Vukić: The government of SFRJ allowed the creation of groups of citizens in 1986, the so-called non-government organizations, as one of the first steps towards democracy and respecting the main principles of the declaration of the United Nations on human rights and freedoms, in order to improve its image as a communist-democratic and not totalitarian, repressive, government. These circumstances led to the awakening of the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia, with selfless assistance from brothers abroad and a group of freemasons of Yugoslav origin.
Playboy: What was the state of Serbian Freemasonry at the time? The country was divided into those for and against Milošević, supporters and objectors to the war with our neighbors, was freemasonry divided along similar lines?
Vukić: One of the duties of a freemason is to obey the laws of the country he lives in above all else, to be a patriot and to complete the tasks his country puts before him with honor. Unfortunately, freemasonry was then once again marginalized and the only thing the brothers could do was to influence the academic part of the society to resist the ideas of destruction and devastation and to find a peaceful solution. Unfortunately, words were replaced with guns.
Playboy: Were there people from Miloševićs government belonging to the Masonic lodges?
Vukić: Not from the very top, but, as always, there was an interest from certain intelligence circles for the actions of freemasons. What was happening within the brotherhood at the time clearly shows that there were attempts to, if not destroy the organization, then at least to diminish its influence on the factors which could inspire a different history of Serbia at the end of 20th century.
Playboy: How could Milosević’s supporters who were freemasons at the same time believe in his politics of isolation and conflicts and belong to an international movement which stands for the brotherhood of men?
Vukić: Who were freemasons. That was well said. Being initiated into the brotherhood and truly being and living like a freemason are completely different things. Brotherhood is sometimes naïve in its innocence; it opens up to you honestly and completely and sometimes it happens that a man, led by his own ambition and opportunism defames the reputation of the brotherhood. Then it takes time and effort to restore this reputation, leaving a scar that never heals in the heart of every brother. But brotherhood is stronger than evil-thinkers and their actions.
Playboy: Who were the most influential freemasons during the nineties?
Vukić: A number of intellectuals, writers, painters, publicists, lawyers, doctors, a number of brothers who have contributed to the preservation of normal social life through humanitarian, social and cultural work in the time of the greatest struggle of the Serbian people since the First World War.
Playboy: Could you tell us some names?
Vukić: Without their consent – no.
Playboy: What was your relationship to Tito? Was he a freemason, was he really initiated by Winston Churchill in Naples in 1944?
Vukić: The complete biography of Josip Broz Tito from his childhood until he became the leader of the communist party is mystical, as are biographies of various people with similar life paths who managed to rise to positions of earthly power in historically turbulent times. On the other hand, Tito knew how to fulfill expectations of the many and everything that he and his associates did indicates that he was close to and present in the freemason circles worldwide. Many different, although unsupported, sources confirm that Tito was probably initiated in Italy or France, between two world wars. One detail is absolutely true and that is the fact that his funeral was definitely the biggest gathering of the most influential freemasons in the world. Winston Churchill was a freemason, as were most of the officials of the allied countries.
Playboy: Were there freemasons in the opposition parties during the nineties?
Vukić: Yes, of course. However, their names can not be made public by other brothers, and it is left to every individual to announce his belonging if he chooses. Family as a basis for a healthy society is the only institution outside the brotherhood which should be informed about a person’s freemasonry, because wives and daughters of our brothers become our sisters and their sons are thus also our brothers.

Playboy: Did freemasons influence the political, economic and military leadership of the country during the nineties? Do they have that kind of influence today?

Vukić: The brotherhood is not an institution which imposes its opinions, puts pressure, or influences individuals and groups. On the contrary, freemasonry is opposed to imposing opinions by oppression of the people. Freemasons fulfill their ideals through personal involvement and the rest of the world has the right to decide whether they want to follow these ideals. As was the case with the creation of the French civil society or building of the American nation of free people equal before God which gave a chance to citizens to create a better world through their own efforts in other parts of the planet where there was dictatorship and peoples lives depended on the will of one man. This process still lasts in some countries.
Playboy: How did Serbian freemasonry become so divided?
Vukić: Opportunism and ambitions of individuals triumphed over justice, honor, ant traditional values of every god fearing man, because freemasons are human as well.
Playboy: Which Lodges of today are legitimate successors of the old Serbian Lodges?
Vukić: The Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia and all the lodges operating under its protection are legitimate successors of the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia which was self closed in 1939.
Playboy: What differentiates your lodge from other lodges in the country?
Vukić: Obeying freemason’s tradition and strict rules. There can be only one Grand Lodge on a territory of one country which will have jurisdiction on the whole territory and will operate through working lodges, each with its own jurisdiction. In order to accomplish this and to avoid confusion created by self-proclaimed freemasonry institutions and so-called grand lodges as well as other organizations using our symbols, interpretations and names, the rules of freemasons demand that the grand lodge has to be registered and recognized by authorities of the state in which it operates and whose citizens are members. Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia has such registration and the documents are available to all citizens of Serbia.
Playboy: Before the Second World War freemasons acted almost publicly – the King, Prime Minister, army leaders were freemasons. Why does the public today see freemasonry as a cult or even an occult organization?
Vukić: Freemasonry can develop only in free societies, among free people. Oppressive and totalitarian regimes have always persecuted freemasons everywhere. Development of freemasonry also takes time.
Playboy: How much does the secrecy of the rituals you practice contribute to this image?
Vukić: Freemasonry uses completely benign drama rituals, verbal and nonverbal, which follow old rules and use customs and tools of old stonemasons as allegorical guidelines.
Playboy: How do movements which maintain mystery survive today at all, because there is such a cult of transparency and openness and it is the age of TV, the internet, Big Brother when even intimacy is on public display? Can freemasonry, in spite of rituals which have not changed for centuries, communicate with modern times?

Vukić: Of course it can. Freemasonry has also adjusted and tries to approach people with the intention to explain how it is possible, without any conspiracy, for two people who might not have met otherwise to become friends and perhaps brothers. This interview is one of the ways. Someone could say: “What brings together freemasons and Playboy.” But it is very easy to find the connection, because Playboy used to be a magazine which was publicly crucified by many “well-meaning” people just because it erased borders created by not so well intending people, showing the natural beauty of a woman and breaking taboos, fighting for human freedoms, right to personal beliefs, right to participate in the cultural life, right to education, freedom of expression, which are all written in the declaration of UN and which are ideas that freemasonry fights for.
Playboy: Certain freemason fractions in the world have adjusted their organization to the demands of time. You still stick to the rules which were created almost 300 years ago. I have seen many young, modern people among the members of your lodge. How you reconcile the strictness of rituals and faithfulness to tradition with modern life and times?
Vukić: They say you are born a freemason, you do not become one. I deeply believe in that, with all my heart. Freemasonry does not care about age, the only condition is for the candidate to be over 21. Rituals are always young and modern because they nurture discipline and teach a man to find his inner peace and a true measure in life, a form of golden standard..
Playboy: Freemasons are successful people who have certain influence in society. Does that mean that someone who is, for example, a pop star and leads an unconventional rock’n'roll life can also become a freemason?
Vukić: Yes, freemasonry is a society of equal opportunity and as such it rises above prejudice.
Playboy: In what ways do famous people support your goals in public?
Vukić: By personal example, humanitarian work, doing good deeds.
Playboy: It is a historical fact that freemasonry was very influential, from creation until today. It is known that a number of US presidents were members, that the US originated and gained such power under the influence of freemasons, and that there are Masonic symbols on the dollar bill. Many conclude, and not only because of this, that the new world order and globalization are projects of the freemasons. What do you think about that?
Vukić: Today a person from Greece or Portugal can travel to Ireland or Finland, far north, without borders. He can exchange technology with other people, communicate, cooperate and work for a better life. Globalization is a concept which helps people to overcome differences and rich nations help poorer nations in building a better life. Let’s remember Berlin wall, the iron curtain, barbwires which divided people. And how those people used to live.
Playboy: Is it a coincidence that on our dinar bills, among the greatest people in Serbian history, all were either freemasons or were strongly connected to Masonic organizations.
Vukić: It is no coincidence. These are the people who have marked the golden age of the rise of the Serbian state and people. It is a fact that they all belonged to the brotherhood of freemasons.
Playboy: What is the place of Serbia on the freemason map of the world? In what way should the country be integrated into contemporary trends?
Vukić: Just like Serbia, we are donig all we can to change the bad image which was created during the last 20 years. Freemasons in Serbia have an exceptional treatment in communication with their brothers abroad, which gives us an opportunity to clarify the situation which is often vague for someone who does not live in this region.
Playboy: One of the most prominent freemasons during the nineties, Zoran Nenezić, in his book Freemasonry in Yugoslavia from 1764 to 1980 claims that freemasons aspire to the accomplishments of their global goals and maintaining complete control in the economic, political and cultural institutions of the contemporary world. It’s a fact that many politicians, generals, police officers, journalists and other influential people are freemasons. Do freemasons rule the world? Or do they at least significantly influence events in major countries?
Vukić: Certain modern interpreters of the history of freemasonry who have summarized historical documents from the nineties until now prematurely make judgments and qualifications about issues without an important historical distance.
Playboy: Many NATO generals are freemasons. Are there any in our army? How do soldiers-freemasons act?
Vukić: A very conspiratory question. There probably are some.
Playboy: How can freemasons help Serbia today as it is the last in line to enter EU, behind Albania and Montenegro?
Vukić: In all possible ways. From diplomatic contacts to personal involvement.
Playboy: Is it true that there are Serbian freemasons who are members of some of the most important European and world organizations and who work there in the interest of our country?
Vukić: Yes it’s true. I can not tell you who they are.
Playboy: How big is the influence of freemasons in Serbian institutions? According to our information they are in the ministries, in the parliament amongst the academics, in the police, and bankers and businessmen… How do they accomplish the goals of freemasons?
Vukić: Exactly by having a positive influence in their professions and all social and cultural spheres of life.
Playboy: How has being the grand master of the regular grand lodge of Serbia influenced your private life? How do your friends, relatives, neighbors react?
Vukic: After two decades of my acting as a freemason many of them will find out now, after this interview.

Photo credit: D. Tanasijević

IN MEMORIAM

Brother Academic Milorad Pavic

Bard of postmodern Serbian literature was born 15, October 1929, in Belgrade. He went on his last voyage to the eternal East on 30th November 2009. He was Serbian prose writer, historian of Serbian literature of 17-19. century, an expert on Baroque and symbolism, may be best Serbian translator of works of Pushkin and Byron, Professor of University. He was a Freemason, member of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1991. years until his departure, member of Crown council. He was married to Mrs. Jasmina Mihajlovic, which is a writer and literary critic.

He was born in the zodiac sign of Libra, and hes ascendant was Scorpio, in Aztec zodiac he was a snake.

Brother Pavic was a novelist, storyteller, poet and playwright, he gave up the impression of writer whose writing style was all natural inserted. To date, brother of Pavic, had over 80 different translations of his books in different languages all around the world. By eminent experts from Europe, USA and Brazil, brother Milorad Pavic nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature.

At the beginning of his literary and professorial career brother Pavic published a book of lyrics called Palimpsest in 1967, and the History of Serbian literature of the Baroque era in 1970, along with  Vojislav Ilic and European Poetry in 1971 year. The second book of songs Moon Stone published in 1971, and the first collection of stories Iron Curtain in 1973. The following Review story: Horses of Saint Mark (1976), Russian Hound (1979), New Belgrade stories (1981), Spirit’s are taking there last bath (1982).

Brother Pavic domestic and world fame came with novel Dictionary of the Khazars, which was published in 1984 year. This kind of Lexicon in 100,000 words, critics and audiences quickly proclaimed the essential reading for the new century to come. Many critics noted that brother Pavic is writer of wonderful imagination and the leader of European post modernism.

The second novel, Landscape Painted with Tea (1988) the author offers exciting work for fans of crossword puzzles. In 1991st he published his third novel, The inside of the wind, and Last Love in Constantinople (the manual for divination) that came to light in 1994.

In addition to this quartet of novels that are crucial for a comprehensive review of creativity of brother Pavic, an Hat from fish skin (Love Story) 1996, Glass snail (stories from the Internet) 1998, Box Writing in 1999, and novels Stellar mantle(astrological guide for the uninitiated) 2000, Unique 2004… In 2005 he released a comedy Wedding in the bathroom.

Academician brother Milorad Pavic’s was the winner of several literary awards, such as the NIN Award for 1985; Mesa Selimovic Award for 1988; Award of the National Library of Serbia for 1988; Borisav Stankovic Award for 1992, silver medal for Felix Romulijana 1992; October Award City of Belgrade for 1992; Prosveta Award for 1994; Stefan Mitrov Ljubisa Award for 1994; Kočić Award for 1994; Vuk Award for 1996; Andric Award. He was an honorary doctor of Sofia University and president of the Serbian – Ukrainian society, the European Society of Culture, the Serbian PEN Centre, member of the Crown Council, as a Freemason, He was one of the founders of Regular Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia, which resulted as transformation from the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia in Rimini, Italy in 1993 due to beginning of the civil war in Yugoslavia among other things.

He left us in Beograd on 30th of November 6009. as a result of a heart attack. The earthly remains of esteemed brother were buried on Thursday 3rd December in the Alley of Great’s in New Cemetery in Belgrade. Requiem was served by bishop of  Sabac Lavrentije and bishop Atanasije. On behalf of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences his farewell speech was given by Vice President of Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, Academician Nikola Tasic, and on behalf of the Crown Council and the Department of Language and Literature Academcian Svetlana Velmar-Jankovic. New cemetery funeral was attended by delegation of his masonic brothers, as some press magazines covered it on there front pages “They was present too, standing little on a side in silence”. Appellate ritual was held in the premises of the lodge in the presence of brothers only, with wishes that The Great Architect of All Worlds illuminate his path, and to receive him in the Celestial Lodge above when he reach Golden Gate’s of Eternal East.

He wrote his autobiography, and some parts of it we transfer here.

“I am a writer for two hundred years. Back in 1766th a Pavic published in Budapest his collection of songs, since that time we are the considered as literature family.

I was born in 1929th on the shore of one of the four rivers of Eden at 8 hours and 30 minutes in the morning in Libra (Ascendant Scorpio), the Aztecs horoscope snake.

The first time I was bombed, I was 12 years in 1941. Another time I was 15 years old. Between the two bombings I feel in love for the first time, and under German occupation i was forced to learned German. Then I learned English from one gentleman who was smoking a fragrant pipe tobacco and did not know English very well. At the same time the first time I forgot the French (in future I forget it even for the second time). Finally, in one school for dog’s timiding, where I found myself running away from the Anglo-American bombing in 1945, a Russian immigrant who was old Imperial officer began giving me lessons of Russian from the Russian book of poems by Feta Tjutčeva, and some other Russian books he had. Today I think the language was my kind of turning into different enchanted animals.

I loved the two John’s – John of Damascus and John Chrysostom (gold mouthed).

A lot more love I received in my books than in my life. With one exception, which is still ongoing. Night in my dream was like a sweet glue to both of my cheeks.

By the 1984th I was most wanted writer in my country, and from that year onwards. I also wrote a novel in a form of dictionary, the other in the form of crossword puzzles, in the form of third and fourth Klepsidra as a handbook for divination tarot cards. The fifth was the astrological guide for the uninitiated. I tried to be less present in those novels. I believe that the novel is like a cancer, metastasis of their own lives and feeds with it. As time passes, I am less a writer of my present books and more writer of books of the future, that probably will never be written.

To my dismay my books are now translated into about a hundred times in various languages. In short, I have no biography. I have a bibliography. Critics in France and Spain recorded that I am the first writer of 21st century, and I lived in the 20th century, when one had to prove his innocence, not his guilt.

The biggest disappointments in life brought me victorys. Winings are not paid off.

I did not kill anyone, but I was killed, long before my death. For my books, it would be better for them if author was a Turk or German. I was a famous writer of most hated  people in the world – the Serbian people.

The new millennium began for me in 1999 (with three reverse sixes) and my third bombing, when NATO planes dropped bombs on Belgrade and Serbia. The river where I live, the Danube, since that time is no longer navigable.

In the 21st century, I entered through the theatrical boards in Palindromic year of 2002, by director Vladimir Petrov, who “launched the first interactive theater swallow in Moscow and won the Russian capital without a battle,” setting the scene “of the Moscow Chekhov Academic Hudojestvena Theatre” my “theater menu – For ever and a day more. Tomaz Pandur in same year built the tower with 365 seats and in it, like in the circus, it was played on the sand played my  ”Dictionary of the Khazars” in Belgrade and Ljubljana, transforming in front of obvious audience word in to meat and water in to time. In 2003. Petrograd “Lensov Academic Theatre” welcomed the white nights and anniversary tercentenary of his city to my piece “A Brief History of mankind”.

All in all I can say that I got for my life something  of what many writers get only after death. I think I was blessed by God with his infinite grace by giving me the joy of writing, but I was punished in the same way perhaps because of that joy.

Milorad Pavic “

Official web presentation  http://www.khazars.com/

Biography Serbian Academy of Science and Arts Academcian Milorad Pavic

INTERVIEW:

ČEDOMIR VUKIĆ

„Our Government is not interested for services of Freemasons“

Published:

15.06.2009 | 17:36

Sorce:
S media, Photo: Attica Media

History of Freemasonry in world has always been under veil of secrecy, mostly due our own masonic culture of prefering more to stay silent, within shadows, away from eyes of non masons. And there was good reasons for that. For centuries, Freemasons and Craft were always being targeted by Vatican, whole Roman Catholic world, and by totalitarian regimes and petty dictators. Since that time Freemasonry was always subject of sensational figment, myth’s, story’s, conspiracy’s, folklore tales, and eventually urban legends.

According to one of masonic legends, Freemasons were, pupil’s and descendant’s of Master Mason Hiram, who build Solomon’Temple “House of God”. It is also said that Freemasons, descend from Knight Templars, Legendary Knights, who’s keepers of Jesus blood, and there are some who believe that they brought to Europe nothing less than a Holy Grail, and many other relics from there Crusades in Holy Land.

Grand Master Brother Cedomir Vukic, 33 IGH, KT reached to the top of masonic ladders, and he is Grand Master of Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia. He has PhD in Economics, with very impressive carrier. He was vice president of Serbian Chamber of Commerce, he worked  in Federal Government of Republic of Yugoslavia as independent senior consultant, he was director and also financial director of several company’s, exclusive representative ofAmerican Corporate funding for South-East Europe and list goes on…He is Honorable member of over 30 lodges all over world, from Australia across Europe to Canada and United States.

Mr. Vukic told us that he decided to go public and to acknowlege that he is Freemason after 20 years of hiding his, some would say dual identity, and he did that only for simple reason, because Freemasonry is not Conspiracy organization and unholy mysticism  as some people would like to label Freemasonry today.

Masonic organization is not public or social club, but every where in civilized world there are Masonic Halls, structures, buildings, where Freemasons gather as a Lodge and work as such. There is plaque in front of every such Masonic Hall, and on it it is written, name of Lodge, her number, and name of Grand Lodge under which Jurisdiction it operates, only in our country that is not The case – that is what Mr. Vukic told us and added that masonry in Serbia is divided for long time.

Issues started with Grand Lodge Yugoslavia in 1939, and she had to be put to self sleep since Germany started WW II. Germans was also reason for many masonic Lodges seizure to work, and many masons died in concentration death camps. After 1945. Lodges in Continetal Western Europe started to live once more, but in country’s of Eastern Europe it started only at the dawn of 1990’s. In ex SFRY it was arranged forming of Grand Lodge Yugoslavia, as continue to tradition of Grand Lodge before WW II, and that arrangement was concluded between Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Is it the case that there was many fractions in masonry, after fall of Yugoslavia?

But of course.In 1993 group of Freemasons, left and went to Italy in to city of Rimini to one of our members, who was also member of one Italian Lodge. This ten people (some of theme are still alive) summoned extraordinary Grand Assembly , and those ten persons was only one present at that Assembly. What they did is to change name from Grand Lodge Yugoslavia to Regular Grand Lodge Yugoslavia. They registered later at Yugoslavian Federal Ministry of Justice, and Regular Grand Lodge Yugoslavia as such continued to work, since it had primate and she was acknowledged by some European and some other Grand Lodges. Regular Grand Lodge Yugoslavia, also suffered another blow in 1997, when one fraction separated and they left for under Jurisdiction of Grand Lodge of France who is in official masonic circle not recognized as regular, but instead as irregular so called masonic body. And even there they had lots of troubles among them self’s, fighting over positions, who will become Grand Master etc. But RGLS managed, with some minor turbulences to survive and function till 2004, when once again some issues was arisen, but it continued till 2006, when State Union of Serbia and Montenegro sized to exist. At that time there was some 20 operating Lodges, and 5 of those was from Montenegro, and they left with there newly established state. In Serbia from remaining 15 Lodges, eleven left Regular Grand Lodge Yugoslavia and they consolidated and registered as Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia.

Could You tell me, are there any divisions in Serbian Masonry today?

There are divisions between so called Obedience’s, it is Serbian terminology for many Grand Lodges, regular and irregular who operates in Serbian dominion. Those are same divisions from past. On one side we have group of people, leftovers of communist regime, group of people that are heavily pushing  to keep there own domination and supremacy, but things don’t go in that direction since Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia is legally registered in Republic of Serbia within Ministry for Local government and self government. It is one and only suprime masonic power, one that function without divisions, who has its own Grand Master and 16 operating Lodges, dully registered with authority’s of Republic of Serbia, and it is one that will stay solid for long time. On other hand, masonic Hall’s that once belonged to The Craft, were confiscated and nationalized after end of WW II. Masonic Lodges don’t have there own Hall’s in there own possession in real sense of that word. We are all managing, either we work in hotels, restaurants as our brothers labored centuries ago, congressional halls, but we are  in function we work and we exist…Those are some of minor problems that Freemasons face in Serbia, andit will be like that until government don’t pass Low of Restitution of sized and nationalized property. On my own presumption, masonry owned property before WW II, is now worth about 150 and 200 millions in Euros, but that property is out of reach of Serbian Freemasons.

Sanja Vajagic

Dear visitor,

Point of this lines below is to answer you on many of frequently asked questions, asked by countles masses of people during centuries about our universal brotherhood. If you want to ask us some question that you did’t find on our list of FAQ, be free to contact us with question, and we will give you an answer that is best to our knowledge.

Who are Freemasons?

Many of our nation’s patriots were Freemasons – Peter Ičko, Mitropolit Stevan Stratimirovich, Mitropolit Metodije, Voyvoda Janko Katich, Aleksa Nenadovich, Dositej Obradovich, Voyvoda Toma Vuchich Perishich, Vladika Peter Petrovich Njegosh, Vuk Stefanovich Karadzich, Voyvoda Zhivojin Mishich, Vladika Nikolai Velimirovich, Dr. Laza Pachu, Djordje Vajfert, Knez Mihajlo Obrenovich, King Milan I Obrenovich of Serbia, King Petar I of Serbia aka Peter Mrkonjich, King Aleksandar I of Yugoslavia, Damjan Branković, Svetomir Nikolajević and many other countless brothers that dedicated there lifes to freemasonry, freedom and wellfare of Serbian nation.

What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest Fraternity. Its history and tradition date to antiquity. Its singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love have survived even the most divisive political, military, and religious conflicts through the centuries. Freemasonry is neither a forum for, nor a place of , worship. Instead, it is a friend to all religions which are based on the belief in one God.

There have been a number of definitions of Freemasonry, though perhaps the most direct is employed by English Freemasons: “Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols.”

The system of morality referred to undoubtedly includes principles with which candidates are more or less familiar before their entrance into Masonry. They, nevertheless, find these principles presented in new ways and under forms different from those which they have known in the past. The essence of morality is to be found in the utter simplicity (though not the ease) of Masonry’s requirements.

Symbolism reaches a high degree of development in Freemasonry, and is largely responsible for its universality. Men of different tongues may find it difficult to reach a common understanding; but symbols enable all men to comprehend each other without the necessity of any spoken word. The symbolism of Freemasonry deals with the intellectual, moral, and spiritual values of life.

There is nothing of a light or trifling character in Freemasonry. Any intimations to the contrary are patently false. A Masonic Lodge is a place wherein members are content to love and serve their brothers, to honor their God, and to learn the many lessons that Masonry seeks to teach.

What do Freemasons do?

Freemasons are respectable citizens who are taught to conform to the moral laws of society and abide by the laws of the government under which they live. They are men of charity and good works. They remain unchallenged as “the world’s greatest philanthropy.”

For Example, The Freemasons of America contribute more than one million dollars every day to charitable causes which they, alone, have established. These services to mankind represent an unparalleled example of the humanitarian concern of this unique and honorable Fraternity.

What are qualifications for being a Freemason?

Freemasonry is proud of its philosophy and practice of “making good men better.” Only individuals believed to be of the finest character are favorably considered for membership. Every applicant must advocate his belief in the existence of a Supreme Being (note: atheists are not accepted into the Fraternity).

How does a man become a Freemason?

In most Masonic Jurisdictions, an individual must ask a Masonic friend to recommend him for membership. He must sign a petition, stating his age, occupation, and place of residence. Members of the Lodge vote by secret ballot which, in most Jurisdictions, must be unanimous and that is common practice all around the globe.

What are the Masonic Degrees?

A Candidate receives three Masonic Degrees, concluding with the Third (or Master Mason’s) Degree. The Degrees are solemn, enlightening, and an enjoyable experience with no uncomfortable or embarrassing moments. It is here where the principles of Freemasonry are taught and where the new member learns that his family and his livelihood are to be considered above Freemasonry. Every Master Mason is welcomed as a “Brother” in any of the thousands of Regular Masonic Lodges throughout the world.

We also decided to include books that are in lesser words “hostile”, toward Freemasonry and Freemasons, in order to give honest chance to general population to ask us directly, about any question or issue that one could read somewhere in so called “Anti-masonic” books.

If man can be free of prejudice, he can than read anything, and still be able to use logic, common sense, knowledge and his own head to see what is right and what is not right.

Nevertheless, all publications are available for reading on-line on various web sites, FREE, and some of them could be downloaded. We spend many hours collecting those links for your pleasure, and we will post new links on week basis.

For Serbian speaking language readers, we wish to notice that we are in process of translating and transforming some of books in to digital form, and we hope that they will be patient, since our translators are also our brothers, and they do this volunteer work in there own free time.

We are dedicated to make this in Republic of Serbia unique electronic library larger every week with new volumes.

If you have any suggestion, or you know some link to some on-line book that is not included yet on our blog, or if there is some book you would like to read, please contact us and we will see what we can do for you.

The Constitution of Freemasons 1734

Lexicon of Freemasonry – Albert Mackay

The Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts by C. W. Moore

Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Albert Pike

Magnum Opus or The Great Work of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Albert Pike

Enciclopedia of Freemasonry part 1 by Albert Mackey

Enciclopedia of Freemasonry part 2 by Albert Mackey

COOMING SOON…

Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia does not hold any copyrights over this links, or publication. All rights are reserved by authors or copyright owners. All links are here for educational purpose and for spreading truth. If anyone thinks that his rights are offended in any way, by this links, please contact us and we will do what ever is in our power to make things right.

Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium

United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria

Grand Lodge of Croatia

Grand Lodge of Czech Republic (at present web site out of order)

GrandLodge of Danmark

Grand Lodge of Estonia

Grand Lodge of Finland

Grand National Lodge of France

United Grand Lodges of Germany

Grand Lodge of Greece (web site under construction)

National Grand Lodge of Norway

Regular Grand Lodge of Italy

Grand Lodge of Latvia

Grand Lodge of Lithuania

Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta

Grand East of Holand

The Norwegian Order of Freemasons, Grand Lodge of Norway

National Grand Lodge of Poland

Legal Grand Lodge of Portugal

National Grand Lodge of Romania

Grand Lodge of Russia

Grand Lodge of Slovenia

Grand Lodge of Spain

Grand Lodge of Sweden

Grand Lodge of Switzerland – Alpina

Grand Lodge of Turkey