Patriarch Porfirije: Christ’s example should be an incentive for each of us to care for mothers and for every woman

Објављено 28.08.2025
On the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, 28 August 2025, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije served the Holy Liturgy at Rakovica Monastery.
 
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, His Holiness the Patriarch delivered sermon on the significance of the Most Holy Theotokos, emphasizing Her role as the Mother of all believers and the Ladder that connects heaven and earth. He underlined that the Theotokos made Her very being the holiest throne, and through humility, faith, and trust in God’s providence became the most exalted being through whom God speaks to us, and we, through Her, speak to God:
 
– In a few words, the story of the Most Holy Theotokos could be summarized: She is all faith, She is all prayer, She is all humility and all trust in God’s providence, in His power, in His love, in the fact that everything is in His hand and that He can do all things – even what we cannot imagine, comprehend, or describe in words. Once and for all She determined the path of Her children, the Christians, and that is: Let it be to me according to your word (Lk 1:38).
 
Speaking about our attitude toward mothers, His Holiness stressed that the example of the Lord Christ, Who in His suffering on the Cross entrusted His Mother to Saint John the Theologian, should be an incentive for each of us to care for our mothers, sisters, and daughters. He especially drew attention to the great number of single mothers and women who suffer violence in Serbia, and called for this problem to be approached responsibly and in the spirit of the Gospel:
 
– The prayer of the Most Holy Theotokos has an echo in the ear of God, and in itself encompasses each one of us. Therefore, we pray to Her, but we also pray to Her Son, who loved His Mother to such a degree that He should be a model for every one of us. Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us what our attitude should be toward mothers, toward women in general. Departing from us, when He was crucified, He was caring for the whole world – His crucifixion was for all of us but He especially emphasized His care for His Mother, entrusting Her to Saint John to protect and care for Her. That example of the Lord should be an incentive for each one of us, to care for our mothers and for every woman. We in Serbia must especially take care of our mothers, because – if the information that has reached me is true – there are 320,000 single mothers in Serbia. The question arises: where are those men, where are those fathers, and where are those brothers? Especially today, when we turn to the Most Holy Theotokos, we must open our hearts toward mothers, sisters, and daughters. For not only are there so many single mothers among us, but also so many women – whose number we do not know – who suffer various forms of violence, said His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije.
 
Concelebrating with the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church were: Their Graces the Vicar Bishops Stefan of Remesiana, Nikon of Jenopolje, and Tihon of Moravica; Protopresbyters-Stavrophores Branko Mitrović and Jan Zuzulak of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia; Archpriests Goran Mišanović and Aleksandar Milutinović; Priest Dejan Mandić; Protodeacons Dragan Radić, Radomir Vrućinić, and Sava Topalović; and Deacon Vasilije Perić.
 
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The raising of Rakovica Monastery, dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, is by folk tradition placed in the time of the reign of Serbian kings Dragutin and Milutin. However, modern research points to different data. The oldest written document in which Rakovica Monastery is mentioned, under the name Racauicense monasterium, is found in the travelogue of Felix Petančić from 1502, printed in Vienna in 1522. Turkish sources also mention it in the census of 1560 among other churches and monasteries in the area of Belgrade. Great help in clarifying the origin of the monastery comes from the charter of Wallachian Duke Constantin Brâncoveanu-Basarab, issued to Rakovica Monastery, stating that it was “built and raised from its foundations by the good Christian, the late Duke Radu, who in past years was the ruler of this land (Wallachia).” As there were several Wallachian rulers with this name, the identity of the founder remains disputable. Considering the historical context and relations between Serbs and Romanians, it is most probable that it was Wallachian Voivode Radu I the Black (c. 1377–1385), the son-in-law of Prince Lazar. Thus, based on this data, we can conclude that the monastery arose during the reign of Prince Lazar.
 
Due to frequent Turkish raids, the monastery was moved at the end of the 16th century from its original location to the present, more secluded site. In the following centuries it suffered repeatedly in wars. During the Austro-Turkish wars, the monks fled to Srem, the monastery was plundered and burned, and Abbot Sofronije was cruelly executed in 1790. Despite these sufferings, Rakovica was always restored and continued its life.
 
A major renewal was brought by Prince Miloš Obrenović, who in 1822 built the residential quarters and refectory, and the monastery remained tied to his entire family. Members of the Obrenović dynasty and the First Serbian Uprising hero Vasa Čarapić are buried in the monastery. Rakovica also had a special role in education. The first monastic school in Serbia was opened there, as well as a church printing press, and in the 20th century the Belgrade Seminary was located in the monastery. In the monastery grounds are buried Serbian Patriarch Dimitrije (1920–1930) and Patriarch Pavle (1990–2009).