Serbian Orthodox Church

Tens of thousands of Belgraders in the Ascension Day Procession

The Ascension Day procession led by the Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and with the participation of tens of thousands of Belgraders, the host of the celebration of the mayor prof. Dr. Zoran Radojicic and the leadership of the City of Belgrade, several hundred priests, members of the Serbian Army, Police and various city services, as well as medical workers - heroes of the fight during the epidemic,  passed through the capital of Serbia.

Tens of thousands of faithful, led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, set off in procession through Prince Milos and King Milan streets, across Slavija and Liberation boulevard, reaching the Saint Sava Cathedral of Saint Sava in the Vracar district, where His Holiness the Patriarch was with Their Graces Bishops Pahomije of Vranje, David of Krusevac, Arsenije of Nis, Heruvim of Osijek-Polje and Baranja, Stefan of Remesiana, retired Georgije of Canada and elected Sava of Marca, abbots  Metodije of Hilandar and Tihon of Studenica and numerous priests served a prayer of supplication.

The largest liturgy in the history of the Serbian people and its capital was adorned with the relics of the Holy Despot Stefan and, to the special joy of the people of Belgrade, the relics of Saint Petka of Kalemegdan the Miracle-worker and tireless protector of the city - carried through the streets of Belgrade after 500 years. Hilandar and the votive flag of Belgrade, which is kept in the Ascension Church. The Holy Cross was carried in front of the liturgy, while His Holiness Porfirije, the Serbian Patriarch,  walked under the sky, when it was carried by members of the Gendarmerie, surrounded by children in traditional costumes and members of all Belgrade church choirs. The Police Orchestra gave a special festive tone to the procession. In addition to the Mayor and the leadership of the City, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade, Mr. Stanislav Hocevar also participated in the procession.

After the prayer of supplication, Patriarch Porfirije delivered a sermon in which he pointed out, among other things: "We gathered tonight in Ascension Day procession through the streets of our first capital city of Belgrade. We gathered under the dome of this beautiful temple dedicated to Saint Sava. We have shown that we know who we are, where we are from, but also that we know where we are going. "

• photo gallery (deacon Dragan Tanasijevic)
• photo gallery (Radio Slovo Ljubve)

On Ascensioin Day the Patriarch celebrated in the Ascension Church

Patriarch Porfirije: If we have not caught the hand of Christ, we are losers in advance. If we hold fast to the hands of Christ, we are victorious in advance!

On June 10, 2021, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord - Ascension Day, His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Ascension Church in Belgrade. The elected Bishop Sava of Marca Sava (Bundalo), the abbots of the Hilandar and Studenica monasteries, Archimandrites Metodije and Tikon,  hierodeacon Nektarije, protopresbyter-staurophor prof. Dr. Vladimir Vukasinovic, protodeacon Stevan Rapajic and Deacon Radomir Vrucinic in the prayer participation of the faithful and the brotherhood of the Ascension church, led by the elder archpriest Arsenije Arsenijevic. The choir of the of Ascension church, conducted by Jelena Cvoro, sang responses.

Canonical visit of Bishop Justin to the church of Saint Achilles in Arilje

On the sixth Sunday after Pascha, the Sunday of the Blind Man, His Grace Bishop Justin of Zica celebrated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of Saint Achilles in Arilje. The Bishop was concelebrated by local clergy.

Bishop Irinej celebrates Liturgy in Monastery of the Holy Archangel Gabriel in Zemun

On the 6th Sunday of Pascha, June 6, 2021, the Sunday of the Blind Man, His Grace Bishop Irinej celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Monastery Church of the Holy Archangel Gabriel in Zemun Park, Serbia. Concelebrating with His Grace were Presbyters Panagiotis and Alexander. 

Serbian Patriarch received Ambassador of Russia to Croatia

His Holiness Porfirije, the Serbian Patriarch, received Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Croatia His Excellency Mr. Andrei Nesterenko in the Diocesan residence in Zagreb, on 7 June 2021.

In a cordial conversation, the first since Mr. Nesterenko was appointed the representative of the Russian Federation in Croatia, the interlocutors sent mutual congratulations and expressed hope for strengthening the relations between the two Orthodox nations.

Envoys from USA and EU visited Serbian Patriarch

His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, along with Their Graces Bishops: Jefrem of Banja Luka, Irinej of Backa and Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, received Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, the EU Special Representative for the dialog between Belgrade and Mr. Matthew Palmer, the US Special Envoy for Western Balkans at the Patriarchal palace in Belgrade on 4 June 2021

In a long and open discussion representatives of the EU and US informed the Patriarch and the Bishops with activities they have been undertaking in the dialog between representatives of Belgrade and Pristina. They emphasized that they are engaged in resolving problems on the lower municipal level, such as the issue of the land property of Visoki Decani Monastery; the issue of the Pristina’s request to UNESCO to remove monasteries of Pec Patriarchate, Visoki Decani, Gracanica and the church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevish from the list of the World Heritage in Danger; the freedom of movement and other issues of vital importance for the everyday life of the Serbian Orthodox Church and her people in Kosovo and Metohija.