Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia: Belgrade needs 100 more churches
Belgrade has 62 religious buildings, including a mosque and a synagogue, and several Orthodox churches are under construction.
His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia stated that the Serbian capital needs one hundred new Orthodox churches.
"According to European standards, Belgrade needs at least 100 churches," noted the Patriarch, adding that both he and many other city residents are upset by protests against initiatives to build churches that meet the needs of the faithful.
Belgrade currently has 62 religious buildings, including a mosque and a synagogue, with several Orthodox churches under construction.
"To understand the real need for new Orthodox churches in Belgrade, we must take into account the mismatch between urban planning and the city's development over the last 80 years," said Deacon Miroslav D. Nikolić, an architect of the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci.
He reminded that in 1939, the exterior construction of St. Mark’s Church was completed, but because of the war, the work was halted and only finished in 1948. During the communist regime, no Orthodox churches were built in Belgrade for 40 years. The first church after World War II was consecrated on 13 November 1988 – the Church of the Synaxis of All Serbian Saints in the Karaburma district. However, this church was relatively small. The second church, dedicated to St. John Vladimir, was built and consecrated in 1998.
According to Deacon Nikolić, over the five decades, many small settlements around Belgrade have transformed into large municipalities, but urban plans did not take into account the population's need for Orthodox churches. The planning of schools, shops, and other infrastructure did not reflect the spiritual needs of the citizens.
Modern urban planning standards state that access to public facilities, including churches, should be within a radius of 0.8 km or a 10–15 minute walk. However, many areas of Belgrade are still several kilometers away from the nearest church.
Nikolić also emphasized that most new churches are being built in the suburbs, creating significant inconveniences for residents in the central areas of the city.
As the UOJ wrote, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia stated that the time for repentance is limited.
