A thematic guided tour titled "Silence That Remembers" was organized at Nis' Old Cemetery to mark International Museum Day. The cemetery, a vital repository of the city's cultural heritage, has reopened its doors to history through expert-led tours that shed light on the lives of prominent Niš citizens, including war heroes and artists who inspired Stevan Sremac's literary characters.

Miroslav Veličković, a researcher of the Old Cemetery, emphasized the significance of preserving cultural heritage and bringing the Old Cemetery back to the cultural map of Nis. "This is, in a way, a turning point, where experts and historians are gradually integrating themselves into the story of the Old Cemetery," Veličković said, as reported by the portal "Glas juga."

Among the notable stories is that of Đoka Janković, a famous Niš blacksmith, who is believed to have inspired Stevan Sremac's character Maneta in "Zone Zamfirove." Janković's great-grandson, Đorđe Janković, recalled that Đoka was the first court blacksmith to the King Milan.

Higher custodian of Nis's National Museum, Ivana Gruden Milentijević, highlighted that the Old Cemetery represents an open-air history of Nis. "We can tell the story of Nis from start to finish here. There are so many significant figures that we could have special guided tours dedicated to the history of medicine, wars, culture, and education," she stated.

The Tale of Mirislav Piletić

Another story highlighted during the tour was that of Mirislav Piletić, the son of Serdar Jol Piletić, whose family tomb is located in the Old Cemetery. Higher custodian of the Nis Museum, Ivan Mitić, noted that Mirislav Piletić was a participant in all the wars for the liberation of Serbia from 1912 to 1918 and one of the most significant military commanders of his time.

"He is believed to be the first to enter Pristina with his battalion. He fought in battles at Merdare, Kačanik, Cer, and Kolubara, and he marched with the Serbian army through the Albanian Golgotha," Mitić added.

According to researchers, there are approximately 7,000 graves on the Old Cemetery grounds, with many monuments having been restored thanks to the efforts of descendants and the work of JKP Mediana.