IN SEARCH OF THE “LOST“ IDENTITY OF ATANASIJE DIMITRIJEVIĆ SEKEREŠ

Abstract

Atanasije Dimitrijević Sekereš (1738-1794) was one of the most educated Serbs in the second half of the XVIII century. Unfortunately, this Viennese censor of Serbian books and Dositej’s long-lasting friend was one of the most hated and scorned persons amongst the Serbian population and priests in the then Austria. Although Atanasije’s friendship with Dositej Obradović (1739/1740-1811) is one of the key reasons why his name was not completely forgotten, Dositej – the famous Serbian enlightener was not responsible why Atanasije Dimitrijević Sekereš was for almost twenty years persona non grata amongst his compatriots in the Austrian empire. The very search for the reasons why the name of this gifted polyglot of delicate health became synonym for unforgivable betrayal, almost equalling the one that Vuk Branković (allegedly) did, is the topic of our research.