One hundred years of the Russian Church of the Holy Trinity in Belgrade
On Sunday, 17 November 2024, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije celebrated the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy at the Russian Church of the Holy Trinity on Tašmajdan, the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade.
On this occasion, His Holiness the Patriarch consecrated the new frescoes of the Russian church, which has adorned the Serbian capital for a century. Concelebrating with His Holiness, there were: Metropolitan of Volokolamsk kyr Anthony – Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Their Graces Bishops: Stefan of Remesiana – Vicar of the Serbian Patriarch and Head of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow; Archimandrite Nektarije – Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Mihailo – Hegumen of the Jovanje Monastery; Protosyncellus Sava from the Diocese of Niš; Protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev – Head of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade; Protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov – advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Protopresbyter Đorđe Stojisavljević – Head of the Office of the Serbian Patriarch; Protopresbyter Igor Yakimchuk – Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Protopresbyter-Stavrophoros Miloš Trišić; Presbyter Nikolai Vasin – Secretary to the Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Protodeacons Stevan Rapajić, Dragan Radić, and Radomir Vrućinić, as well as Deacon Nikolaj Vuković.
Among the attendees at the Holy Liturgy, there were: Dr. Nenad Popović – Minister without Portfolio entrusted with International Economic Cooperation and the Field of Societal Position of the Church Internally and Abroad; Dr. Vladimir Roganović – Director of the Administration for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities within the Ministry of Justice; Academician Nikolai Mukhin – artist from the Russian Federation; and Mr. Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko – Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia.
Patriarch Porfirije: The encounter between the deceased daughter and Jairus’ faith with Christ symbolizes the victory of life over death
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, Patriarch Porfirije delivered a homily:
– In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, everything in our lives, in the life of every person, could happen – or perhaps it might not have happened at all. The fact that we are gathered here today, thank God, has come to pass, but it might not have – it could be that someone among us is not present, or that someone intended to come to this gathering but, for whatever reason, is not here. However, there is one thing in the life of every individual that must happen. Everyone who has been born will also pass away. The one event that none of us can avoid is leaving this world –although, truthfully, each of us lives as if that moment will never come. Even though everything inside of us and around us assures us of our transience – even though we see countless people disappearing before our eyes – we live as though we have the impression that we alone will escape that fate, as if that chalice will pass us by. Alas! Everyone who has entered this world, everyone who is born, will leave it. This shows that death is perceived as our greatest enemy, our biggest problem. It also suggests that death is not natural to our being; it is something foreign, something added to our nature.
For this reason, man but also humanity as a whole has, for as long as it has existed, sought through philosophy, art, and science to decipher the mystery of death and find a way to overcome it. This reveals that we were created for life. Deep within us lies an insatiable and indomitable drive to conquer death, our first and ultimate enemy. Progress is evident – from decade to decade, from century to century, civilization advances. At times, someone might have thought that he has come on the verge of solving mystery of death, but it is most likely that he will never achieve it, as he has never done it so far. More precisely, he will never reach the opportunity to overcome death by himself.
Today’s Gospel gives us a foretaste of how the mystery of death can be resolved so that only life remains – for life is why we were created. We are meant not only to exist within the boundaries of time and space, i.e. in history, but to experience eternity in eternity. In the community of love with each other and with God we live forever in the Kingdom of God, which exists as uncreated so that it may also be the space of our life. Thus, we are presented with a dramatic image: a man with a sick daughter who is searching for her healing. Encountering the Savior, the Lord, recognizing in Him a power not of this world, he approaches with faith, believing that what he himself, as a mere human, cannot do, God can. And indeed, the outcome of this encounter of the deceased daughter and Jairus's faith with Christ is her resurrection. This is an image of our own needs and longings, our crosses and pains, but also an image of what Christ brings: life and victory over death. It reflects both His Crucifixion and His Resurrection – not for Himself but for us, because He is life, carrying life within Himself. Only if we are united with the Source of Life, with Life, can this life flow into us, into our persons, and into humanity as a whole. This happens, of course, as a gift from Christ, becoming our content, our daily reality, through faith. Countless times, as we read in the Gospels, the Lord performed miracles – not imposing Himself as life or love but offering Himself and all that is His to those who showed faith and trust in Him. In this sense, every miracle, and the mystery of life as the greatest miracle, is the fruit of cooperation between the Life and human freedom; between God, our Savior, who has already done everything for us, and our freedom, expressed as effort. Freedom is not merely an abstract choice; it entails a commitment, effort, and endeavor to live in harmony with that choice – in a word, to live by the Word of Christ, by His Gospel.
As the Apostle James says: Faith without works is dead. Faith, as an expression of our freedom and commitment to Christ, coupled with the effort to live according to God's commandments – and not only did miracles of healing and curing occur and they do so through now but also the miracle of awakening from death did so – ultimately depends on us because life has already been given to us in Christ. However, whether He becomes our reality depends on our choice and faith. In this sense, everything is always and only in our hands, because the Lord has done His part – He is the Truth, the Way, and the Life, all of which can and should become ours. We were created for this, but it requires true and genuine faith. Through such faith, even the woman with the issue of blood, who had sought healing for years, merely touched Christ's garment and was healed. This demonstrates that the grace of God acts on its own, working among and within us. No matter the obstacles in life – external, physical, or internal, spiritual – if they are not a reason for us to give up but rather an impetus for greater effort and ascetic struggle, we will surely touch that grace, which is ever near us. Spiritually, we will grow, overcome every infirmity, weakness, and disease, and most importantly, advance in love and faith, glorifying the One God in Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Patriarch Porfirije: The Church as the Body of Christ is the one, unique and eternal organism
Delivering a sermon at the end of the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness the Patriarch said:
– I wish to congratulate our Russian brothers on the fact that this church has stood here for a full century, a place where Russians who came to Serbia have gathered and prayed to God from the very beginning up to this day. The borders of the Church, or its structure, are organized in such a way as to better manage the Church for pastoral and missionary purposes. We have various Churches, each headed by its own bishop and, subsequently, a patriarch, but in reality, there is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church — the Church of Christ — where the words of Christ fully apply: there is neither Greek nor barbarian, slave nor free, male nor female, meaning that individual and personal imprints exist. Each person is a unique icon of God, bearing their own distinct imprint, that is, their own particular and special gifts that set them apart from others. Similarly, every family has something extraordinary, as do larger and broader families. Every nation has its own particularity, its own uniqueness, its own special gift — in short, a gift given so that through it love can manifest and be shown toward those who are different, and so that this gift can serve as a springboard for building unity. Indeed, the Church as the body of Christ is that one, unique, and everlasting organism; it is the Kingdom of God here among us — the Church of the Kingdom of God — and, in its fullness and eternity, the Lord as King and as the foundation and axis, as the vine around which we not only gather but onto which we are grafted, becoming one with Him, and thus all of us become one with each other. I rejoice that this church has stood here for a full century, that the Liturgy is served in it, and I pray to God that the Lord may preserve it until the end of time. May the blessing of God always dwell upon it — God grant you many days of life and congratulations! We are extending our fraternal greetings and love to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, along with our love, prayer, and request that he pray for us! May the Lord preserve the Russian Church and the Russian people for many years!
The Russian church in Belgrade: A symbol of brotherhood between the Serbian and Russian peoples
The Russian church of the Holy Trinity on Tašmajdan stands as one of the most significant spiritual and cultural symbols of the Russian émigré community which has brought rich culture and Orthodox tradition to Serbia after the October Revolution and the civil war in Russia. In order to meet their spiritual needs, the Russian community, composed of prominent hierarchs, intellectuals, artists, and officers, initiated the construction of the church. The church was built between 1924 and 1925 according to the design of architect V. T. Theofanov. The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and its architecture is inspired by traditional Russian Orthodox style. The Russian church in Belgrade was not only a place of worship but also a cultural center for the Russian emigration, a gathering place, a source of spiritual comfort, and a means of preserving Russian identity. Various cultural and educational activities, concerts, lectures, and exhibitions were held in the church. The Russian church is an important historical monument. It houses the grave of General P. N. Wrangel, the commander of the Russian White Army. The faithful people of the capital eagerly visit the Russian church and venerate its shrines, including the wonderworking icons of Saint Xenia of Petersburg and Saint Matrona of Moscow. The church also preserves a part of the shawl of Saint Prince Alexei Romanov. The church represents a lasting symbol of the brotherly relations between the Serbian and Russian peoples and a testament to their shared history and Orthodox faith.
The Russian Church has been given new brilliance thanks to the work of the famous Russian painter and iconographer Nikolai Mukhin, whose works also adorn the Church of Saint Sava on Vračar. Professor Mukhin is a member of the Russian Academy of Arts and a recipient of numerous national and international awards for his work. His artworks are recognized throughout the Orthodox world, and he is considered one of the leading contemporary artists continuing the tradition of Byzantine and Russian Orthodox art. Together with a group of Russian artists, academician Mukhin painted over 520 square meters of frescoes in just seven months, under the supervision of Archpriest Vitaly Tarasyev, head of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade, with financial support from the church's benefactor, Dr. Nenad Popović, minister responsible for international economic cooperation and the position of the Church both in the country and abroad. Today, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk presented Dr. Popović with the Order of the Venerable Andrei Rublev, Iconographer. The walls of the church are decorated with scenes from the Gospel, and alongside Christ and His saints, special attention is given to the depictions of Russian and Serbian new martyrs.
On this occasion, His Holiness the Patriarch consecrated the new frescoes of the Russian church, which has adorned the Serbian capital for a century. Concelebrating with His Holiness, there were: Metropolitan of Volokolamsk kyr Anthony – Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Their Graces Bishops: Stefan of Remesiana – Vicar of the Serbian Patriarch and Head of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow; Archimandrite Nektarije – Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Mihailo – Hegumen of the Jovanje Monastery; Protosyncellus Sava from the Diocese of Niš; Protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev – Head of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade; Protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov – advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Protopresbyter Đorđe Stojisavljević – Head of the Office of the Serbian Patriarch; Protopresbyter Igor Yakimchuk – Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Protopresbyter-Stavrophoros Miloš Trišić; Presbyter Nikolai Vasin – Secretary to the Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Protodeacons Stevan Rapajić, Dragan Radić, and Radomir Vrućinić, as well as Deacon Nikolaj Vuković.
Among the attendees at the Holy Liturgy, there were: Dr. Nenad Popović – Minister without Portfolio entrusted with International Economic Cooperation and the Field of Societal Position of the Church Internally and Abroad; Dr. Vladimir Roganović – Director of the Administration for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities within the Ministry of Justice; Academician Nikolai Mukhin – artist from the Russian Federation; and Mr. Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko – Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia.
Patriarch Porfirije: The encounter between the deceased daughter and Jairus’ faith with Christ symbolizes the victory of life over death
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, Patriarch Porfirije delivered a homily:
– In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, everything in our lives, in the life of every person, could happen – or perhaps it might not have happened at all. The fact that we are gathered here today, thank God, has come to pass, but it might not have – it could be that someone among us is not present, or that someone intended to come to this gathering but, for whatever reason, is not here. However, there is one thing in the life of every individual that must happen. Everyone who has been born will also pass away. The one event that none of us can avoid is leaving this world –although, truthfully, each of us lives as if that moment will never come. Even though everything inside of us and around us assures us of our transience – even though we see countless people disappearing before our eyes – we live as though we have the impression that we alone will escape that fate, as if that chalice will pass us by. Alas! Everyone who has entered this world, everyone who is born, will leave it. This shows that death is perceived as our greatest enemy, our biggest problem. It also suggests that death is not natural to our being; it is something foreign, something added to our nature.
For this reason, man but also humanity as a whole has, for as long as it has existed, sought through philosophy, art, and science to decipher the mystery of death and find a way to overcome it. This reveals that we were created for life. Deep within us lies an insatiable and indomitable drive to conquer death, our first and ultimate enemy. Progress is evident – from decade to decade, from century to century, civilization advances. At times, someone might have thought that he has come on the verge of solving mystery of death, but it is most likely that he will never achieve it, as he has never done it so far. More precisely, he will never reach the opportunity to overcome death by himself.
Today’s Gospel gives us a foretaste of how the mystery of death can be resolved so that only life remains – for life is why we were created. We are meant not only to exist within the boundaries of time and space, i.e. in history, but to experience eternity in eternity. In the community of love with each other and with God we live forever in the Kingdom of God, which exists as uncreated so that it may also be the space of our life. Thus, we are presented with a dramatic image: a man with a sick daughter who is searching for her healing. Encountering the Savior, the Lord, recognizing in Him a power not of this world, he approaches with faith, believing that what he himself, as a mere human, cannot do, God can. And indeed, the outcome of this encounter of the deceased daughter and Jairus's faith with Christ is her resurrection. This is an image of our own needs and longings, our crosses and pains, but also an image of what Christ brings: life and victory over death. It reflects both His Crucifixion and His Resurrection – not for Himself but for us, because He is life, carrying life within Himself. Only if we are united with the Source of Life, with Life, can this life flow into us, into our persons, and into humanity as a whole. This happens, of course, as a gift from Christ, becoming our content, our daily reality, through faith. Countless times, as we read in the Gospels, the Lord performed miracles – not imposing Himself as life or love but offering Himself and all that is His to those who showed faith and trust in Him. In this sense, every miracle, and the mystery of life as the greatest miracle, is the fruit of cooperation between the Life and human freedom; between God, our Savior, who has already done everything for us, and our freedom, expressed as effort. Freedom is not merely an abstract choice; it entails a commitment, effort, and endeavor to live in harmony with that choice – in a word, to live by the Word of Christ, by His Gospel.
As the Apostle James says: Faith without works is dead. Faith, as an expression of our freedom and commitment to Christ, coupled with the effort to live according to God's commandments – and not only did miracles of healing and curing occur and they do so through now but also the miracle of awakening from death did so – ultimately depends on us because life has already been given to us in Christ. However, whether He becomes our reality depends on our choice and faith. In this sense, everything is always and only in our hands, because the Lord has done His part – He is the Truth, the Way, and the Life, all of which can and should become ours. We were created for this, but it requires true and genuine faith. Through such faith, even the woman with the issue of blood, who had sought healing for years, merely touched Christ's garment and was healed. This demonstrates that the grace of God acts on its own, working among and within us. No matter the obstacles in life – external, physical, or internal, spiritual – if they are not a reason for us to give up but rather an impetus for greater effort and ascetic struggle, we will surely touch that grace, which is ever near us. Spiritually, we will grow, overcome every infirmity, weakness, and disease, and most importantly, advance in love and faith, glorifying the One God in Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Patriarch Porfirije: The Church as the Body of Christ is the one, unique and eternal organism
Delivering a sermon at the end of the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness the Patriarch said:
– I wish to congratulate our Russian brothers on the fact that this church has stood here for a full century, a place where Russians who came to Serbia have gathered and prayed to God from the very beginning up to this day. The borders of the Church, or its structure, are organized in such a way as to better manage the Church for pastoral and missionary purposes. We have various Churches, each headed by its own bishop and, subsequently, a patriarch, but in reality, there is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church — the Church of Christ — where the words of Christ fully apply: there is neither Greek nor barbarian, slave nor free, male nor female, meaning that individual and personal imprints exist. Each person is a unique icon of God, bearing their own distinct imprint, that is, their own particular and special gifts that set them apart from others. Similarly, every family has something extraordinary, as do larger and broader families. Every nation has its own particularity, its own uniqueness, its own special gift — in short, a gift given so that through it love can manifest and be shown toward those who are different, and so that this gift can serve as a springboard for building unity. Indeed, the Church as the body of Christ is that one, unique, and everlasting organism; it is the Kingdom of God here among us — the Church of the Kingdom of God — and, in its fullness and eternity, the Lord as King and as the foundation and axis, as the vine around which we not only gather but onto which we are grafted, becoming one with Him, and thus all of us become one with each other. I rejoice that this church has stood here for a full century, that the Liturgy is served in it, and I pray to God that the Lord may preserve it until the end of time. May the blessing of God always dwell upon it — God grant you many days of life and congratulations! We are extending our fraternal greetings and love to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, along with our love, prayer, and request that he pray for us! May the Lord preserve the Russian Church and the Russian people for many years!
The Russian church in Belgrade: A symbol of brotherhood between the Serbian and Russian peoples
The Russian church of the Holy Trinity on Tašmajdan stands as one of the most significant spiritual and cultural symbols of the Russian émigré community which has brought rich culture and Orthodox tradition to Serbia after the October Revolution and the civil war in Russia. In order to meet their spiritual needs, the Russian community, composed of prominent hierarchs, intellectuals, artists, and officers, initiated the construction of the church. The church was built between 1924 and 1925 according to the design of architect V. T. Theofanov. The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and its architecture is inspired by traditional Russian Orthodox style. The Russian church in Belgrade was not only a place of worship but also a cultural center for the Russian emigration, a gathering place, a source of spiritual comfort, and a means of preserving Russian identity. Various cultural and educational activities, concerts, lectures, and exhibitions were held in the church. The Russian church is an important historical monument. It houses the grave of General P. N. Wrangel, the commander of the Russian White Army. The faithful people of the capital eagerly visit the Russian church and venerate its shrines, including the wonderworking icons of Saint Xenia of Petersburg and Saint Matrona of Moscow. The church also preserves a part of the shawl of Saint Prince Alexei Romanov. The church represents a lasting symbol of the brotherly relations between the Serbian and Russian peoples and a testament to their shared history and Orthodox faith.
The Russian Church has been given new brilliance thanks to the work of the famous Russian painter and iconographer Nikolai Mukhin, whose works also adorn the Church of Saint Sava on Vračar. Professor Mukhin is a member of the Russian Academy of Arts and a recipient of numerous national and international awards for his work. His artworks are recognized throughout the Orthodox world, and he is considered one of the leading contemporary artists continuing the tradition of Byzantine and Russian Orthodox art. Together with a group of Russian artists, academician Mukhin painted over 520 square meters of frescoes in just seven months, under the supervision of Archpriest Vitaly Tarasyev, head of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade, with financial support from the church's benefactor, Dr. Nenad Popović, minister responsible for international economic cooperation and the position of the Church both in the country and abroad. Today, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk presented Dr. Popović with the Order of the Venerable Andrei Rublev, Iconographer. The walls of the church are decorated with scenes from the Gospel, and alongside Christ and His saints, special attention is given to the depictions of Russian and Serbian new martyrs.
