Patriarch Porfirije: May God grant that we never see each other as enemies
Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
On March 4, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia led the service of Great Compline, during which he addressed the faithful with a pastoral message on spiritual struggle during Lent.
Patriarch Porfirije urged believers to embrace reconciliation and brotherly love:
"May God not allow hatred to have a place among us. May we not be enslaved by the spirit of violence, and may we never see each other as enemies."
His Holiness emphasized that the essence of Great Lent lies in repentance, as called for by John the Forerunner and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:
"Repentance is our joy; it is a spiritual transformation possible only through faith and trust in God."
The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church called on all believers to open their hearts to God during the days of fasting and, following the spirit of Divine love, to strengthen their unity with Him and their neighbors.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in his Christmas Message, Patriarch Porfirije urged the faithful to pray for an end to wars.
Read also
OCU: Filaret did not want UOC-KP to exist after his death
The OCU insists that Filaret wanted the Kyiv Patriarchate to cease to exist after his death.
UOC primate blesses vehicles for evacuating the wounded from the front
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry performed the rite of blessing for nine vehicles purchased with donations from faithful in Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
Lawyer warns of planned seizure of UOC Ascension Church in Kyiv
The head of the religious community of the Holy Ascension Church in Demiivka has been unlawfully replaced, according to a lawyer.
UOC bishop comments on situation around Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi
Metropolitan Meletiy said court rulings transferring Bukovyna’s main shrine to the OCU are unlawful.
SBU detains antisemite calling to tear down banners for Jewish holidays
In Zakarpattia, authorities exposed an online agitator who used social media to incite religious hatred.
OCU: Those ordained by Filaret after the Tomos are not bishops
The OCU maintains that hierarchs of the UOC-KP, unlike those aligned with Dumenko, are non-canonical schismatics.