Patriarch Porfirije: "We will always strive for peace at any cost"

Church of St. Prince Lazar in Belgrade. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

March 14, 2025 – Belgrade – During the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Prince Lazar in Belgrade on March 14, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije addressed the faithful with a call to strive for peace, as reported by Orthodoxia News Agency.

Patriarch Porfirije thanked the gathered clergy and believers for their communal worship and stated:

"Let us never forget that without our personal repentance, without our personal transformation, without our efforts to be who we truly are – icons of God – we cannot achieve anything truly valuable and good in the long term. That is why we are called to be witnesses. A Christian is a witness, and the Church is a witness."

The Patriarch urged believers to pray together and repent, emphasizing the importance of following God's laws in all aspects of life.

Addressing the congregation, the Serbian Patriarch declared:

"As children of God, as His Church, we will always strive for peace at any cost – as witnesses of Christ. The greatest testimony is one of peace and love. We must strive for this and understand that this is our path – both individually, in our hearts and prayers, and collectively, as the Church of God."

The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church stressed that even in times of trials for the Serbian people, the faithful should seek to improve themselves and pray to the Most Holy Theotokos.

In conclusion, Patriarch Porfirije stated:

"Tonight, in all our churches, an Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos will be held, where we will pray for peace within us and among us, so that She may intercede for us before the Son of God and pray that we may truly have peace within ourselves and among each other, and that there may be peace throughout the world."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Serbian Church had called on the people to end conflicts.

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