Atlagich S.

This article examines the origins of the Serbian mentality, which matured over thirteen centuries in southeastern Europe’s cultural, historical, and religious-dogmatic landscape. Due to its strategically significant location, Serbia endured many trials and was exposed to external cultural and civilizational influences. These processes, as well as fateful imprinted events and the activities of prominent Serbs, had a radical impact on the formation and development of the national mentality. As Serbs explored the Balkans, they mentally found themselves within the sphere of expansion of Latin culture and language. Local elites found the foundations of their cultural development, initial theological education, and political reflection here. A distinctive identity and political mentality were formed and ingrained on the foundations of the Orthodox Christian tradition in the consciousness of a people previously defined by polytheism, Slavic character, and geographical location. The folk epic of Kosovo—the Kosovo Testament—integrates historically significant national ideals into the dominant mentalities of the Orthodox people. In the Serbian mentality, the religious dimension of national and political identity is expressed in the desire to preserve national integrity, sovereignty, and uniqueness, and in a passionate commitment to the values of faith, justice, and freedom.