Patriarch Porfirije in Deževa: Saint Sava introduced our people to the mystery of the Cross and Christ’s Resurrection!
On the occasion of the 850th anniversary of the birth of Saint Sava, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije celebrated the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy on 2 May 2025, at the Church of Saint Sava in Deževa – the site where Stefan Nemanja founded the first Serbian state and where his court and cathedral church once stood. It is the place where his sons Vukan, Stefan the First-Crowned, Rastko (Saint Sava), and other great members of Nemanjić kin grew up.
Serving alongside His Holiness were Their Eminences Metropolitans Teodosije of Raška–Prizren and Ignatije of Požarevac and Braničevo; His Grace Vicar Bishop of Novo Brdo kyr Ilarion; as well as clergy and monastics from several Dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church, joined in prayer by a large gathering of faithful from all parts of the Raška region.
On this occasion, His Holiness emphasized that Saint Sava introduced the Serbian people to the mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ, and that Deževa is, therefore, the birthplace of all Orthodox Serbs – of each of us:
– Saint Sava was born here 850 years ago – this is his jubilee and our jubilee. And from here, he began to mature into a true man of God, a spiritual giant. He traveled the world — to Egypt, to the Caliph of Baghdad, to the West — building bridges of friendship and fraternal relations with all, and even in that, he showed that love is the meaning of our existence, and that love, sooner or later, wins every battle. Love must be ready to accept humiliation, rejection, and persecution – to bear the Cross. For the Cross is crucifixion, and in the Cross, as in Christ’s crucifixion, lies His victory.
– Saint Sava was born here, and brothers and sisters, you who are from here should be proud. You are blessed, because all of us, all Orthodox Serbians, were born here. This is the birthplace of each one of us! And that is why we have come to you as to our own brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by your love and your faith, and to pray together with you that the Lord may grant peace and joy to us all, love and mutual understanding, and that He may send His blessing, peace, joy, and unity to our entire nation, wherever it may be – that we may all be one in faith, in virtue, and in goodness; that we may not be divided – Patriarch Porfirije said in his sermon.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Porfirije, accompanied by the Hierarchs, visited the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul — also known as the Peter’s Church — in Ras, near Novi Pazar, where he consecrated and laid the cornerstone for a new monastic residence. On this occasion, His Holiness venerated the holies of the oldest church in our region.
After the visit to the Peter’s Church, a meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church was held at the Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery.
Serving alongside His Holiness were Their Eminences Metropolitans Teodosije of Raška–Prizren and Ignatije of Požarevac and Braničevo; His Grace Vicar Bishop of Novo Brdo kyr Ilarion; as well as clergy and monastics from several Dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church, joined in prayer by a large gathering of faithful from all parts of the Raška region.
On this occasion, His Holiness emphasized that Saint Sava introduced the Serbian people to the mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ, and that Deževa is, therefore, the birthplace of all Orthodox Serbs – of each of us:
– Saint Sava was born here 850 years ago – this is his jubilee and our jubilee. And from here, he began to mature into a true man of God, a spiritual giant. He traveled the world — to Egypt, to the Caliph of Baghdad, to the West — building bridges of friendship and fraternal relations with all, and even in that, he showed that love is the meaning of our existence, and that love, sooner or later, wins every battle. Love must be ready to accept humiliation, rejection, and persecution – to bear the Cross. For the Cross is crucifixion, and in the Cross, as in Christ’s crucifixion, lies His victory.
– Saint Sava was born here, and brothers and sisters, you who are from here should be proud. You are blessed, because all of us, all Orthodox Serbians, were born here. This is the birthplace of each one of us! And that is why we have come to you as to our own brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by your love and your faith, and to pray together with you that the Lord may grant peace and joy to us all, love and mutual understanding, and that He may send His blessing, peace, joy, and unity to our entire nation, wherever it may be – that we may all be one in faith, in virtue, and in goodness; that we may not be divided – Patriarch Porfirije said in his sermon.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Porfirije, accompanied by the Hierarchs, visited the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul — also known as the Peter’s Church — in Ras, near Novi Pazar, where he consecrated and laid the cornerstone for a new monastic residence. On this occasion, His Holiness venerated the holies of the oldest church in our region.
After the visit to the Peter’s Church, a meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church was held at the Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery.
