National Symbols
The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia establishes the following: the Republic of Serbia shall have its coat-of-arms, flag, and national anthem. The coat-of-arms is used as the large and small coat-of-arms. The flag is used as the national flag and the state flag. The national anthem is a 19th century ceremonial song “Boze Pravde” (God of Justice).
In 2009, the National Assembly adopted the Law on the design and use of the coat-of-arms, flag and anthem of the Republic of Serbia. According to this law, the Serbian coat-of-arms is the one defined by the Law on the coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of Serbia from 16 June 1882. The flag of the Republic of Serbia is used as a national and state flag in the proportion of 3:2 (length to height). The standard is a square-shaped state flag used by the President of the Republic and the President of the National Assembly.
The national anthem of Serbia is a 19th century ceremonial song “Boze Pravde” (God of Justice), composed by Davorin Jenko and with lyrics by Jovan Djordjevic
Text of the national anthem of Serbia is as follows:
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.
Through five hundred years of durance
We have knelt before Thy face,
All our kin, O God! deliver,
Thus entreats the Serbian race!
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.
Through five hundred years of durance
We have knelt before Thy face,
All our kin, O God! deliver,
Thus entreats the Serbian race!
Flags of the Republic of Serbia and standards of the President of the National Assembly and the President of the Republic:
On the basis of competencies stemming from the Law on the design and use of the coat-of-arms, flag and anthem of the Republic of Serbia, the government adopted the Decree on establishing the archetype of the large and small coats-of-arms, archetype of the flag and musical notes of the anthem of the Republic of Serbia.