Patriarch Porfirije: Faith must be active and loving
Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: spc.rs
November 10, 2024, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia delivered a sermon during the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Sava in Vračar, Belgrade, explaining to the faithful that faith "must be active and loving, based on complete trust in Jesus Christ," reports the Serbian Church's website.
In his message, Patriarch Porfirije spoke about the essence of Christian love and faith. "Love as the essence of who we are and what the whole world is, affirms that we have a creative drive, a drive toward building, a tendency toward creativity and improvement of everything, especially ourselves and our relationships with others in love," emphasized Patriarch Porfirije.
He stated that love awakens in us a thirst for eternity, transcending the boundaries of time and space, and that eternal life in unity with those we truly love gives meaning to our existence.
Highlighting the significance of Christ, the Patriarch called Him "the source of meaning, the source of love," and reminded the faithful of the importance of a connection with Him: "Therefore, everything we have, both the world around us and the world within us, only gains the power of life, not merely as being and existence but as the power of life as the experience and reality of love and communion, if it is connected to life, the source of life, to Christ."
The Serbian primate stressed that the key element of this connection is faith, which is dead without works and must be expressed through love and complete trust in Christ: "Faith is dead without works; faith becomes love, faith that is a full commitment and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Savior."
Previously, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported that Patriarch Porfirije discussed the mistakes of the Ukrainian authorities regarding the UOC with the Ukrainian ambassador.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.