The molitva is a ritual practice performed once a year in the village of Vrtovac, Stara Planina mountain, on the occasion of the feast of St George (Đurđevdan), when community members gather in a collective village celebration – the molitva (prayer). A central place in the actions that are an integral part of this spring ritual is occupied by the kolačar, chosen by the community every year. In front of a stone cross in a chapel (cell), kolačar offers a sacrifice – the molitva, on behalf of the community, and breaks a ritual bread with planinka (the chosen woman, richly adorned with various herbs).
The molitva, as a sphere of social customs, rituals and festivities, includes the practice of offering a collective sacrifice, the aspect of feasting and organizing a collective celebration. It is practiced by the inhabitants of the Vrtovac village near Knjaževac, in eastern Serbia.
