The Serbian Orthodox Church in Italy has organized the reburial of 93 Serbian prisoners of war who died in captivity after World War II. A solemn ceremony took place at the Serbian Orthodox Cemetery in Trieste, marking the end of a decades-long effort to honor those who perished in exile.

The remains belonged to Serbs who were held in post-war detention camps in Eboli, Battipaglia, and Bari in southern Italy. Many were former soldiers and refugees who, following the establishment of the new communist regime in Yugoslavia after 1945, were unable to emigrate and instead languished in poor conditions without proper medical care. They died far from their homeland, and until now, were buried in unmarked or neglected graves.

The reburial was made possible after years of negotiations with Italian authorities and cemetery administrations. Key contributors to the effort included Dr. Alessia Leggio, an anthropologist from Bari who examined and identified the remains, and Nikola Lukić, a Serbian community member from Australia. The Serbian parish in Trieste played a vital role by funding the transportation and burial arrangements.

Ninety-three metal caskets bearing the names of the deceased were transported from southern Italy to Trieste, where they were laid to rest in a newly constructed crypt next to the Chapel of St. George. The service was led by Bishop Andrej of Switzerland, joined by clergy from the Serbian Orthodox Church in Rome, Vicenza, Udine, and the local community.

Bishop Andrej reminded attendees that after the war, thousands of Serbs found themselves in displaced persons camps across Europe. While some were eventually able to emigrate to the United States, Canada, or Australia, many others died abroad, never returning to their homeland.

“We pray that these souls have finally found peace on Serbian soil, even if far from home,” said the bishop. “May their suffering never be forgotten.”

The reburial ceremony was attended by members of the Serbian diaspora, clergy, and local faithful, offering a long-overdue tribute to those who endured hardship and died in exile.