“In behalf of all gathered here, including these children and all of you, my dear brothers and sisters, I extend my gratitude for your heartfelt welcome. Your words resonate beyond just an old dialect; they hold truth,” expressed the Patriarch in his address.

“Our prayers to God must seek His peace among all people, within our nation and beyond, bringing down His peace and love upon us. We must understand that perceiving others as unnecessary, viewing them as targets or enemies, desiring their elimination—this creates turmoil. We need to pray for God’s peace to fill our hearts,” he emphasized.

“There can be no peace around us if turmoil resides within us. Intolerance, hatred, or aggression create an absence of inner peace, joy, and serenity. They only burden us with a distressing weight,” he pointed out.

Concluding his remarks, the Serbian Patriarch stated, “As a faithful and Christian people, we acknowledge our faults in how we treat ourselves and others. We pray to God for the strength to rise from these failures. We aim to be a community of open hearts, promoting peace, love, and hospitality, understanding ourselves and others.

May this holiday be a time for our spiritual rejuvenation, both individually and collectively, fostering unity, forgiveness, and empowerment. Our strength lies in fostering peace among ourselves and extending our prayers for peace with the Albanians. We are interconnected, all sharing the same humanity and blood.”

In his visit, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized the importance of spiritual renewal and unity, urging for forgiveness and understanding to build peace within the community and extend it to others, fostering a sense of shared humanity.

Source: Serbian Orthodox Church / Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

Addressing the audience, which included the dean, Prof. Dr. Milorad Mirilović, esteemed professors, students, and guests, the Patriarch emphasized the veterinarians’ role in fostering harmony between humans and the animal kingdom. “The service of veterinarians is pivotal in creating an environment for the coexistence of mankind and the world of animals,” he emphasized, highlighting the neutral nature of knowledge and the importance of channeling it through true spirituality.

The Patriarch stressed the profound significance of education, echoing Saint Sava’s enlightenment, stressing that education goes beyond mere learning—it’s about inner growth and self-cultivation. “Your learning here equips you not only with professional qualifications but also with the ability to serve society, the state, and yourselves,” he pointed out. He encouraged the audience never to overlook the vital aspect of self-cultivation, which he likened to Saint Sava’s enlightenment that has guided the Serbian people across centuries.

Concluding his speech, the Patriarch extended his best wishes, urging everyone to aspire to authenticity and goodness, emphasizing the responsibility of using knowledge for the collective well-being and the glory of God.

Source: Serbian Orthodox Church / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

“The news about the tragedy that is affecting the Holy Land, in which, unfortunately, innocent people of all faiths are dying, and the fire of war is unstoppably devouring cultural heritage that is centuries old, become known one after another. Today, I learned with disbelief and sadness the news of the terrible tragedy in which Orthodox Christians were killed by airstrikes in the monastery of St. Porphyrius in Gaza, the gem of Christian culture, and the religious and cultural treasures of the Orthodox, and I believe also of the civilized world, irretrievably disappeared,” the Serbian Patriarch said.

“We assure you that our prayers are with you, your holy clergy and faithful people. We sympathize with you also because we experienced the tragedy of war not so long ago, the suffering of innocents and the destruction of holy temples where our ancestors prayed for centuries. Today, all Orthodox Serbs are praying to the Lord that the souls of our martyred brothers and sisters may rest in his eternal Kingdom, but also for all the innocent victims in Israel and Palestine,” he wished in his statement.

In his speech he wished: “We pray in this gathering to our Lord to bring peace to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, as Christians, Jews and Muslims suffer there. Save, Lord, all nations, stop the wars, for the sake of the innocent people who suffer there who are walking on the earth that You have sanctified!”

See below the message of the Metropolitan in Serbian:

Therefore, the Serbian Orthodox Church has launched a procedure of verification of the patriarch’s Facebook account (obtaining a blue dot) with the authorized representative of the company Meta. It is recalled that there is a number of false accounts on that platform that use the name and title of the Patriarch of Serbia.

Source: Serbian Orthodox Church

Sunday’s attack marks serious escalation in Kosovo after months of mounting tensions with Serbia.

The Holy Synod of the Serbian Church in an announcement published pointed out the official stance it has taken on the Kosovo issue and rebutted all the claims regarding its meddling in the events.

“We recall that the Serbian Orthodox Church has always advocated, as it does now, that misunderstandings in Kosovo and Metohija be resolved peacefully and through dialogue, in order to achieve a peaceful coexistence of Serbs, Albanians and all other peoples living in the area,” they reiterated.

“Many people from Pristina and the world, but, even from Belgrade” has been gunning for the Serbian Church in regard to the events that took place on Sunday: “The goal of those who want to drag the Church into tragic conflicts at all costs is to drive the Serbian Church and its faithful out of Kosovo and Metohija,” they stressed in the announcement.

“Countless attacks have been carried out on our shrines, on our people, even on Serbian children. In recent months, people have been arrested without any evidence or on the basis  of fabricated evidence,” they added.

And finally, they concluded: “We point out that for the Serbian Orthodox Church, Kosovo and  Metohija are an inseparable part of the state of Serbia. We support and encourage the continuation of peaceful dialogue in order to achieve peace and resolve vital issues for all who live in the Province.”

Read the full announcement of The Holy Synod of the Serbian Church:

With great sadness in our hearts, we pray to the Savior to welcome into the  Kingdom of Heaven all Serbs and Albanians who suffered on September 24, in Banjska, Kosovo. We extend our deepest condolences to the relatives of the victims and pray to the Most Holy Mother of God to give them comfort.

We also invite the faithful people to pray to the Lord for all the victims, so that God would give peace to everyone, for the future of both Serbs and  Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija. We must know the simple truth of the Gospel that we cannot ask God for peace only for ourselves, but that we must also pray for those with whom we live, with our  neighbors.

We regret to note, however, that many people from Pristina and the world, but, even from Belgrade, with different ideologies, are trying to portray the Serbian Orthodox Church as a participant, even in the culprits,  conflicts and tragic events. The goal of those who want to drag the Church into tragic conflicts at all costs is to drive the Serbian Church and its faithful out of Kosovo and Metohija.

Therefore, we recall the ten-century uninterrupted presence of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren in Kosovo and Metohija, and more than anything, that the Serbian Orthodox Church, with its clergy, monks, nuns, and faithful people, has survived there in all times, in all conditions, despite the most terrible persecutions, sufferings and  martyrdom of monks, priests and believers, solely because they were Orthodox Serbs, faithful to   Christ and the Kosovo pledges.

We also recall that the Serbian Orthodox Church has always advocated, as it does now, that misunderstandings in Kosovo and Metohija be resolved peacefully and through dialogue, in order to achieve a peaceful coexistence of Serbs, Albanians and all other peoples living in the area.

We continue to pray and support Bishop Teodosije of Raska and Prizren, priests, monks, nuns, and believers.

The Serbian Orthodox Church has many times pointed to the extremely dangerous policy imposed by the authorities in Pristina, whose only goal is the complete expulsion of the Serbian people and the creation of an (ethnically-speaking) only Albanian  Kosovo.

To this end, countless attacks have been carried out on our shrines, on our people, even on Serbian children. In recent months, people have been arrested without any evidence or on the basis  of fabricated evidence, the land owned by Serbs has been seized, in short, Kosovo and Metohija is today a country, in which  there is neither freedom nor normal life for Serbs.

We send a message of boundless love and paternal care to our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija. The Serbian Church will continue to help you, its suffering but proud people in Kosovo and Metohija.  We hope to be able to give you comfort, warmth and hope in these difficult days.

Finally, we point out that for the Serbian Orthodox Church, Kosovo and  Metohija are an inseparable part of the state of Serbia. We support and encourage the continuation of peaceful dialogue in order to achieve peace and resolve vital issues for all who live in the Province.

Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Saint Joakim Osogovski (aka St Joakin of Osogovo).

Metropolitans Agatangel of Povardar, Grigorije of Kumanovo-Osogovo, former Metropolitans Josif of Kumanovo-Osogovo and Jakov of Dorostol (Bulgarian Patriarchate), Bishop Nectarije of Jegar and vicar of the Serbian Patriarch concelebrated the Divine Liturgy. Clergy from the Ohrid Archdiocese and the Romanian Orthodox Church were also present during the celebration.

In his sermon, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije addressed the present Metropolitans, Bishops, and clergy.

He said among other things: “We celebrated the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. After Jesus Christ the Son of the Most Holy Theotokos, and God, the Theotokos is in second place. During every prayer we appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos, because she gave birth to our Savior, but she is one of us.

The Most Holy Theotokos interceded with our Lord on our behalf and for our sake, and therefore being one of us, but also as the Mother of our God, she better understands our needs and our weaknesses, ” he added.

“The temple, which is next to the main church, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary herself,” he said.

“We are all brothers and sisters within the Church of Christ!” he added.

“Saint Joakim Osogovski and his contemporaries pray for the unity of the Church. They showed that to become one with Christ we must be one with the whole world.

It is a great pleasure to be here today, in this holy temple. We celebrated the Divine Liturgy and showed that knowledge, intelligence, skills, success are important things. However, without prayer, without the grace of God, all this lasts only for a little bit and it is meaningless.

“Your Beatitude and Eminence, who live here, may the Lord bless you all together along with your pious flock, so that we can continue to visit this holy temple and every holy temple in the country, as well as every Orthodox temple in the world.”

Finally, he gave the Archbishop a gift as a souvenir of the important day.

In particular, the Holy Synod of the Archdiocese of Ohrid met on Tuesday and ratified what the Serbian Church had decided a month ago, when it had decided to “grant” bishops that belonged to its jurisdiction (“Orthodox Archdiocese of Ohrid”).

In particular, Metropolitan John (former head of the “Archdiocese of Ohrid “) was now appointed as Metropolitan of Kruševo and Demir Hisar.

Mr. Joakim took over the Diocese of Deljandrovo-Iliden, Mr. Markos the Diocese of Kamenica-Delčevo, and Mr. David was appointed Bishop of Dremvit (he will also serve as an auxiliary Bishop of Skopje).

The beginning had been made in May, when the Patriarchate of Serbia decided that the priests who belonged to the “Orthodox Archdiocese of Ohrid” under its jurisdiction would be under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Ohrid . It also proceeded to a further settlement of the administrative issues between the two Churches.

As stated in the communiqué issued at the time, during the meeting, special attention was paid to the issue of the final solution of the canonical status of the Archdiocese of Ohrid.

To this end, it decided to grant canonical discharge to the hierarchy of the autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid, and its inclusion in the Synod of the Ohrid Archdiocese headed by Mr. Stefan.

In the letter, Archbishop Stefan refers to the fruits of the universality of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, expressing the most heartfelt wishes to the Ecumenical Patriarch: “Allow me to congratulate You on Your name day and to wish You eternal protection from Your heavenly patron, sobriety of spirit, strength of will, consolation and support from the Mother of God, health and long life”.

He also referred to the Tomos of the Autocephaly saying: “We patiently and humbly await the long-awaited joyful news, the Tomos of the Autocephaly for our Local Orthodox Church.”

As in previous days, praying in silence, hundreds of citizens of the capital waited patiently in line to venerate the relics of St. Nicholas. After the veneration of the Holy Relics, the Church was full of believers, in which the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The director of the Directorate for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities Dr. Vladimir Roganovich was there among the pilgrims too.

Immediately after the Divine Liturgy, the Vespers of the Kneeling were celebrated, during which the wishes were read and then the Holy Prayer for peace was performed in front of the relics of Saint Nicholas (Velimirović). The relics of Saint Nicholas were welcomed with devotion and love by the Serbian people, they now bid farewell to them as they were about to be returned to the monastery where they belong.

Source: Serbian Orthodox Church