In Novi Sad and Peć, groups of ethnic Serbs gathered in remembrance of the May 10th 1594 burning of the relics of St. Sava by the Ottoman Turks. Captain Koča, a known member of the Society of St. Sava which maintains that it is not revolutionary in nature, led the demonstrations in the Austrian occupied Novi Sad suburb of Kać. Here, members of the Serbian Free Corps- a volunteer militia- burned effigies of Grand Vizier Koca Sinan Pasha.

In Peć, Karadjordje led the demonstrations- a march from the center of the town to the Patriarchal Monastery where St. Sava had established the Serbian Orthodox Church. Here, Karadjordje, a representative of the Society of St. Sava answered questions from a Serbian professor who was taking notes on the event:

Q. What is the meaning of this organization?

A. The Society or today?

Q. Today.

A. Today, well, today we are showing our history and we are expressing the history of the Serbian people. In 1594, the Ottoman Turk so savagely burned the remains of the founder of our church--how would they react if we burned their prophet's remains? We are doing this so that we do not forget. And so the Turk does not forget.

Q. Is this a declaration of independence?

A. Absolutely not.

Q. But you do want independence?

A. The Society of St. Sava seeks to protect Serbs under Ottoman rule. We are horrified by the damage this war has done on our people. We simply want to keep our people safe.

Q. What is the next step?

A. We will continue to organize relief efforts for refugees of the Austro-Ottoman war, especially those in our capital of Belgrade. We ask that the Ottoman troops allow our grain shipments and meat shipments to reach to Serbs in the city. I know that Captain Koč is in Novi Sad with a militia. I repeat that these are demonstrators and are not fighting for the liberation of Serbia. Captain Koča is doing much to help the Serbian people in the path of the war.