Statements

Patriarch sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Montenegro

On August 11, 2021, His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr. Zdravko Krivokapić, which relates to the Fundamental Agreement between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the state of Montenegro. The letter states, among other things:

“In this matter, likewise the any other, we want to perceive, acknowledge and
safeguard the interests of both of the sides evenly, especially because in this particular case, the same faithful people actually consist the majority of both of the sides. As a measure of full responsibility, we sent your proposals to the designated expert commission which should determine what is their qualitative contribution in relation to the already determined, fully agreed and accepted by you text that we intended to sign on 27 May of this year at the Patriarchal See in Belgrade.”

Statement of appreciation of the Serbian Patriarch Porfirije

On the occasion of the magnificent celebration of the Ascension Day, the Patron Saint-day of the capital of Belgrade, His Holiness Porfirije, the Serbian Patriarch, in this way expresses its greatest gratitude to all Belgraders, especially to all participants in the magnificent procession, which gathered tens of thousands of Orthodox believers.

In the long history of the capital, the past celebration will be remembered as the most numerous prayerful and certainly one of the most dignified gatherings ever held on its streets and squares. Our people have once again expressed their loyalty and love for the Serbian Orthodox Church and their capital by participating in this exclusively prayerful celebration. The spiritual leader of all our Orthodox people especially thanks all the city services led by the Mayor Professor Dr. Zoran Radojicic and his associates, the Serbian Armed Forces, the Police, the media and everyone who contributed to this year's celebration of the Ascension of the Lord will remain in everyone's fondest memories.

Information service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Press release on the occasion of the celebration of the Patron Saint-day of the City of Belgrade

His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, will celebrate the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the act of blessing of slava gifts in Belgrade's Ascension Church on June 10, 2021, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord -  Ascension Day. The host of this year's Patron Saint-day of the city is the Mayor of Belgrade, Professor Dr. Zoran Radojicic.

The solemn slava procession which will be led by His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, with hundreds of priests, members of all Belgrade church choirs, and representatives of various city services, will leave at 7 pm from the Ascension Church through Prince Milos and King Milan streets, across Slavija Square and Liberation Boulevard to the Saint Sava Cathedral in the Vracar district, where His Holiness will serve a prayer of supplication for Belgrade and its inhabitants. We invite the pious people of the Serbian capital to take part prayerfully in the celebration of the Patron Saint-day of the City of Belgrade.

Suggestions of the Serbian Orthodox Church accepted

Minister of Culture Maja Gojkovic: Preserving cultural heritage is the common goal

Vice President of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and Minister of Culture and Information Maja Gojkovic informed today His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, that the work meeting accepted the suggestions and proposals that the Serbian Orthodox Church sent to the Draft Law on Cultural Heritage, in order to improve and enhance the text of the Draft Law.

Patriarch Porfirije to the Ministry of Culture: Postpone the adoption of the Law on Cultural Heritage!

His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, the Chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops, sent a letter to Mrs. Maja Gojkovic, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, stating that the Serbian Orthodox Church is the largest individual owner of spiritual, movable and immovable cultural heritage in the Republic of Serbia, but that it was unfortunately not involved in the drafting process of the very important Law on Cultural Heritage, which also affects its internal functioning.

For that reason, pointing out the shortcomings of certain articles of the Draft of this law, and knowing that the common goal is the preservation of cultural heritage, His Holiness suggested to Ms. Gojkovic to postpone its adoption until further notice. Among other things, the primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church pointed out that the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is mentioned in six articles of the draft law, while the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija not in any article,  where cultural heritage is most endangered and exposed to attacks and devastation. In this regard, His Holiness indicated the possibility of ill-intentioned conclusions that by omitting the southern Serbian province from the text of this draft law, the province was excluded from the system of state care, which is certainly not the case and may diminish the state's enormous efforts the state is doing in the protection of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije continues to fight for the rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the faithful people in Montenegro

His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, received Mr. Zdravko Krivokapic, President of the Government of the Republic of Montenegro at the Serbian Patriarchate today, on 27 May 2021.

The meeting was attended by members of the Holy Synod of Bishops: Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia, Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, as well as Bishop Joanikije of Budva-Niksic.

In the morning of the same day, the representatives of the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Government of the Republic of Montenegro fully harmonized the text of the Basic Agreement between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the state of Montenegro. Representatives of the Government from Podgorica then confirmed that Mr. Krivokapic would come to Belgrade in the afternoon to meet with His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, and solemnly sign the Fundamental Agreement. The same intention of Mr. Krivokapic was verbally confirmed to His Holiness Patriarch from the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Montenegro.