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Some of his sermons and lectures were published in English under titles
such as The Soul of Serbia, Serbia in the Light and Darkness, The Spiritual Rebirth of
Europe and The Agony of the Church.

One of Nikolai’s ?rst lectures titled Serbia’s Place in Human History was
immediately published by the Westminster Council for the Study of Interna-
tional Relations as the ?rst volume in a series. The booklet dealt with the fol-
lowing topics: “The Struggle between Superman and Universal Man”, “Before
and after the Battle of Kosovo”, “The Resurrection of the Humiliated Against
the Arrogant”, “Democracy and Heroism in Theory and Practice”, “A Great
Struggle for a Great Idea - That is All” and “Always Truthful to Itself ”. Nikolai
dedicated the booklet to Professor R. W. Seton Watson, an expert on the
South Slavs, saying: “Dear Dr Seton-Watson, In these most tragic and most
momentous days in our Serbian history I dedicate to you this text about my
people who are great in their ideals and in their su?ering. This is an expression
of my gratitude to you for loving and understanding us” (London, 10 October
1915).

In a lecture on the theme Democracy and Heroism, Nikolai quoted one
English and one French author writing about Serbs at that time and said: “Dr
Dillon has stated: ‘Rising like a phoenix from the ashes Serbia has risen from
non-existence to existence and has become the Piedmont of the South Slavs
and a central factor in international developments.’”

He then quoted the French author Maurice Barres as saying: “The Serbs,
the impoverished defenders of European civilisation through many centuries,
these heroes wearing rags and moccasins, have earned the respect of the whole
world”.

Nikolai’s words, sermons and lectures about the su?ering of the Serbs
touched the hearts of his listeners with such force that it led to the setting up
of a Serbian Relief Fund in England with Queen Mary as patroness, the Bishop
of London as president and Seton-Watson as secretary.

The London Times History of the War magazine, issue No. 3 of 27th April
1915, was entirely devoted to the Serbs and their struggle in the First World
War. It carried many illustrations including a photo of Prince Regent Alexander
in an army o?cer uniform. Page two of the magazine was full of appeals for aid
to Serbia.

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