Every generation has its own Kosovo, and each of us faces a personal choice between the transient and the eternal, between selfishness and love, between fear and trust in God
On 28 June 2026, the feast of Vidovdan and Saint Lazar the Holy Martyr of Kosovo, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Ravanica.
Concelebrating with His Holiness were His Eminence Metropolitan of Braničevo kyr Ignatije, together with clergy and monastics from several dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
– Faith is the foundation of our life, not faith in some idea, ideology, or abstract god, but faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Logos of God, the One who became one of us, the One who shared everything that is ours, except for sin, of course. Thus, faith in the living God is the foundation of our life: faith not merely as an opinion, but as a way of life; faith as existence itself; faith as trust in the God of love. It is the foundation of our lives, and everything in our lives depends upon the nature of our faith. In other words, according to the depth and breadth of our faith, so too will be the depth, breadth, and height of the meaning of our existence. Through this faith in Christ—a faith that is our very way of life—through God's providence and His love, through the love and care of the Metropolitan of the God-protected Diocese of Braničevo, and through the kindness of the Hegumenia of this holy monastery, we have gathered today in holy Ravanica, the endowment of the Holy Great Martyr Prince Lazar of Serbia and Kosovo – preached Patriarch Porfirije, emphasizing:
– Standing today before the relics of Saint Prince Lazar, we do not merely remember a historical event. Before our eyes stands the unique and unwavering choice made by this saint of God. That choice is significant not only for one people or one particular age. The choice made by Saint Prince Lazar is important for all people and for all times – for every individual and every nation. Much is said about the Kosovo Covenant. However, if we regard it merely as a historical or national idea, if we see it only as an event of the past, as part of our collective memory, then we remain far from the essence of the Kosovo Covenant and of Saint Prince Lazar's choice. For the Church of Christ, the Kosovo Covenant is inseparably linked with the New Covenant. It is an expression of Christ's New Covenant. It is a Gospel covenant. It is the choice of Christ and commitment to Him. It is the response to Christ's call to 'seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
– By making this choice, Saint Prince Lazar did not choose what is transient, nor did he choose an earthly kingdom. Yet neither did he choose death. He chose eternal life because he chose Christ, knowing that eternity is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, defeat was not his choice. Rather, he chose faithfulness, trust, and complete surrender to Christ, Who has already won the victory for us here and now. Saint Prince Lazar's commitment was not suffering for suffering's sake. He embraced the Cross of Christ because he knew that without Christ's Cross there can be no Resurrection. Just as we heard in the second Gospel reading today, the Lord says: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me.” And to follow Him means knowing in advance that you will be humiliated, persecuted, and crucified, for the Lord Himself endured all these things before us. Yet He endured them not because He needed them, but for our sake, out of love for us and for our salvation.
– Vidovdan is not a cult of the past. Vidovdan is not a day on which we shut ourselves within history. On the contrary, it calls us to look into our own hearts and ask ourselves what each one of us is choosing. For every generation and every individual among our people has its own Kosovo, its own personal choice between what is transient and what is eternal, between selfishness and love, between fear and trust in God – Patriarch Porfirije concluded. The full text of his homily in Serbian may be read HERE.
Today, the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić visited the Monastery of Ravanica, where he was welcomed by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije. Accompanying President Vučić on the visit were Ministers Adrijana Mesarović and Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski; the President of the Serbian Progressive Party Miloš Vučević; the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović; the President of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats Milorad Dodik; and the President of the Democratic People's Party of Montenegro Milan Knežević.
Concelebrating with His Holiness were His Eminence Metropolitan of Braničevo kyr Ignatije, together with clergy and monastics from several dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
– Faith is the foundation of our life, not faith in some idea, ideology, or abstract god, but faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Logos of God, the One who became one of us, the One who shared everything that is ours, except for sin, of course. Thus, faith in the living God is the foundation of our life: faith not merely as an opinion, but as a way of life; faith as existence itself; faith as trust in the God of love. It is the foundation of our lives, and everything in our lives depends upon the nature of our faith. In other words, according to the depth and breadth of our faith, so too will be the depth, breadth, and height of the meaning of our existence. Through this faith in Christ—a faith that is our very way of life—through God's providence and His love, through the love and care of the Metropolitan of the God-protected Diocese of Braničevo, and through the kindness of the Hegumenia of this holy monastery, we have gathered today in holy Ravanica, the endowment of the Holy Great Martyr Prince Lazar of Serbia and Kosovo – preached Patriarch Porfirije, emphasizing:
– Standing today before the relics of Saint Prince Lazar, we do not merely remember a historical event. Before our eyes stands the unique and unwavering choice made by this saint of God. That choice is significant not only for one people or one particular age. The choice made by Saint Prince Lazar is important for all people and for all times – for every individual and every nation. Much is said about the Kosovo Covenant. However, if we regard it merely as a historical or national idea, if we see it only as an event of the past, as part of our collective memory, then we remain far from the essence of the Kosovo Covenant and of Saint Prince Lazar's choice. For the Church of Christ, the Kosovo Covenant is inseparably linked with the New Covenant. It is an expression of Christ's New Covenant. It is a Gospel covenant. It is the choice of Christ and commitment to Him. It is the response to Christ's call to 'seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
– By making this choice, Saint Prince Lazar did not choose what is transient, nor did he choose an earthly kingdom. Yet neither did he choose death. He chose eternal life because he chose Christ, knowing that eternity is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, defeat was not his choice. Rather, he chose faithfulness, trust, and complete surrender to Christ, Who has already won the victory for us here and now. Saint Prince Lazar's commitment was not suffering for suffering's sake. He embraced the Cross of Christ because he knew that without Christ's Cross there can be no Resurrection. Just as we heard in the second Gospel reading today, the Lord says: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me.” And to follow Him means knowing in advance that you will be humiliated, persecuted, and crucified, for the Lord Himself endured all these things before us. Yet He endured them not because He needed them, but for our sake, out of love for us and for our salvation.
– Vidovdan is not a cult of the past. Vidovdan is not a day on which we shut ourselves within history. On the contrary, it calls us to look into our own hearts and ask ourselves what each one of us is choosing. For every generation and every individual among our people has its own Kosovo, its own personal choice between what is transient and what is eternal, between selfishness and love, between fear and trust in God – Patriarch Porfirije concluded. The full text of his homily in Serbian may be read HERE.
Today, the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić visited the Monastery of Ravanica, where he was welcomed by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije. Accompanying President Vučić on the visit were Ministers Adrijana Mesarović and Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski; the President of the Serbian Progressive Party Miloš Vučević; the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović; the President of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats Milorad Dodik; and the President of the Democratic People's Party of Montenegro Milan Knežević.
