Serbian authorities and Church agree to establish Orthodox university

Patriarch of Serbia Porfirije and Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Djuro Macur. Photo: serbia.gov.rs

On May 8, 2026, in Belgrade, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the government of the republic concluded an agreement on cooperation to establish the Saint Sava University, reports the UOJ in Serbia.

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and Prime Minister Djuro Macút signed the corresponding memorandum in the presence of high-ranking state officials and hierarchs. The solemn ceremony was also attended by the country's president Aleksandar Vučić and Minister of Education Dejan Vuk Stanković.

Aleksandar Vučić emphasized that Serbian education has historically never been separated from faith. According to him, in the new university, theological education of future priests will take place "shoulder to shoulder" with students of medical, law, technical, and arts faculties.

Serbian authorities expect that such an approach will help educate youth based on principles of traditional morality and preserve the cultural and spiritual heritage of the people.

Patriarch Porfirije called the establishment of the university a continuation of the historical educational path of the Serbian Church and people. He highlighted that church universities are a long-standing and respected European tradition.

Representatives of the state and clergy shared common responsibility for the development of education, which should be based on protecting fundamental values of the individual and society.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in a Serbian church in Buenos Aires, 13 Argentinians embraced Orthodoxy.

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