SUMMARY
- In addition to being one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Novak Djokovic is also spiritually inclined.
- His mother, Dijana, revealed the troubles she went through to baptize her family.
Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The Serb has won 24 Grand Slams in his career, and he is hungry for more. Djokovic‘s drive for success is second to none, but off the court, he is spiritually inclined. Djokovic feels his success is fueled by a higher power, but his faith had to be nurtured, and his mother played a big part in it.
Novak shares a strong bond with his family. He is especially close to his mother, Dijana Djokovic, who instilled in him strong values that he follows to this day. It was Dijana who wanted to get her family to follow Catholicism. However, it did not come easily to her, as Dijana grew up in a non-religious household.
Dijana’s parents were Catholics, but they grew up communists and declared that they were Yugoslavs. “I was not taught to believe in God from childhood, nor did we celebrate Easter or Christmas. Then I couldn’t pass it on to my child either, because I didn’t have one either,” said Dijana (translated via sportal.blic.rs).
Dijana’s husband, Srdjan Djokovic, also came from a non-religious household. When she gave birth to Marko, Novak’s brother, something in her shifted. She wanted to be baptized and baptize her children in turn.
Moreover, Srdjan’s mother, Stanka Djokovic, was seriously ill with bone cancer. Like Dijana, Stanka too wanted the children to get baptized before her death.
The Djokovic family got baptized in May 1992 in Zica, in the old church. That is how Dijana took on her baptismal name, while also keeping her old Serbian name of Milica. Dijana raised Novak Djokovic in the ways of her faith, and the player also follows it.
What religion does Novak Djokovic follow?
Djokovic was born in 1987 in Belgrade, Serbia. As his parents are orthodox Christians, Novak was also baptized when he was just 5 years old.
The Djokovic family faced a lot of difficulties when NATO started dropping bombs on Serbia in 1999. Novak has talked about his experiences as a child growing up in a war-torn country. He also believes that it brought him closer to God.
Novak’s maternal grandfather was a religious man, and he spent time in monasteries. When he died on an Orthodox holiday, Novak saw it as a sign. As an adult, though, Novak calls himself a non-denominational Christian.
Djokovic does not strictly adhere to religion, but he is open to exploring his spiritual side. He has visited places like the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun, Mount Kailash, and others, which are important to people belonging to other faiths. Novak has always felt energized by his visits.
Novak Djokovic always tries to help out the Serbian Orthodox Church whenever he can. He has not publicly commented on his religious views, but it is clear how important it is to him.