25: Nikolaj Velimirović, 'svetosavlje' and Fascist Intellectuals in Yugoslavia (teaser)

In TENE's effort to "catch 'em all", Rey introduces saint and stench wizard, Nikolaj Velimirović, one of Serbian Orthodoxy's most important bishops and the gray eminence of Serbian Fascism. Once a government emissary beloved by Serbian liberals, he took a turn towards the fashy in the 1920s, catching the eye of Adolf Hitler, whom Velimirović compares to none other than Saint Sava himself. From this fun idea, Velimirović creates Svetosavlje, or 'Saint-Sava-hood', reimagining Saint Sava as a sort of Nazi Buddha. However, claiming Dimitrije Ljotić as his follower, claiming Hitler's endeavour was "worthy of a saint and a hero",  turning the 'Bogomojlci' evangelical orthodox worshippers into a fascist propaganda outlet, and poor hygeine were not enough to stop this man from being canonized! Rey brings some other fascist intellectuals from inter-war Yugoslavia into the picture as well, particularly celebrated novelist Miloš Crnjanski who, when not pleasing his readership with classic prose, was editing his own fascist journal and developing some very bad ideas about race. Also featured, the red panic in 30s Yugoslavia, "Cultural Bolshevism", Dinaric Nemanjići, and a Serbian Orthodox response to the Übermensch. This is The Empire Never Ended, the Antifascist Amerikanski-Balkan podcast about (neo) fascist terror, the (deep) state and the alienation, nihilism and desperation produced by the capitalist system. And how to get rid of all that. Something like that... Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly premium episodes! And check out our social media for updates and whatnot: Twitter + Facebook + Instagram + YouTube