Patriarch Porfirije calls Serbs killed in 1992–1995 "martyrs"

Patriarch Porfirije met with the organizers of commemorative events in Belgrade. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

On June 18, 2026, at the Patriarchate residence in Belgrade, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije received members of the Organizing Committee for commemorating the suffering of Serbs in the Middle Drina and Birač. During the meeting, the Patriarch discussed preparations for the anniversary of the suffering of the Serbian people during the armed conflicts of 1992–1995, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.

"A people that remembers its victims remains in unbreakable communion with both God and the truth," Patriarch Porfirije emphasized, noting that the memory of those who suffered in the Middle Drina and Birač is inextricably linked to the spiritual life of the Church and holds enduring significance for society.

"The memory of the 3267 innocent Serbian martyrs does not refer to the past but represents a living responsibility towards the future and is a building block of true peace among peoples,” he stressed.

Representatives of the Organizing Committee presented the Patriarch with the program of events to be held on July 4, 2026, in Bratunac under the auspices of the highest institutions of the Republika Srpska. The organizers emphasized that the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian Patriarch personally is of invaluable importance for all efforts related to preserving the memory of the victims.

As the UOJ previously reported, Patriarch Porfirije said that the people's faithfulness is more important than the number of pilgrims to the Belt.

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