Merry Christmas

Christmas epistles: Messages of peace from Patriarch Porphyry, Metropolitan Ioanniki and Bishop Grigori

In the epistle of Patriarch Porfiry, all direct and indirect participants in the war in Ukraine are asked to find the strength in themselves to establish peace, end the suffering and return the refugees to their places. We hope that the peace of God will reconcile the brothers, that the divisions and schisms in the Montenegrin society will be overcome, Metropolitan Ioannikije said. Bishop Grigorije spoke about the importance of inner and outer peace, emphasizing that the former should not be understood as "reconciliation with some kind of deprivation or some kind of voluntary handicap".

On the spot: Enthronement of Patriarch Porphyry

The better side of history

Already at the beginning of his sermon, Patriarch Porfirije called for peace with the Albanians, for forgiveness and reconciliation. It is clear that politicization has been avoided and that this is a big win for everyone, except for those who live off nationalist skirmishes over the hump of the people.

On the spot

Enthronement of Patriarch Porphyry: Both Serbs and Albanians are equally children of God

 Already at the beginning of his speech, Patriarch Porphyry called for peace with the Albanians. He chose to mention the beautiful moments of the common history (and not to mention those other moments), the close ties between Muslims and Orthodox, saying that God does not look at who is who, but that everyone is God's children

Sketches from history

Enthronement of the Patriarch: Still, it's good this way

Almost a hundred years ago, the ceremonial enthronement of Patriarch Dimitrije, the first patriarch of the renewed Serbian Patriarchate (1920), was held in Peja. In the Peć Patriarchate monastery, the Skopje theater troupe is playing, the orchestra of the Royal Guard is playing, and the choir is singing. Cannon shots ring out all around. The people of Peja are finally happy, writes a journalist from "Politika". And this is a town where "desperate people live, victims of some heavy fog of uncertainty and insecurity", there are few roads, and those that do exist are not safe

News

Biology textbook: The victory of the church over science

The Ministry of Culture accepted the assessment of the Working Group, which was formed on its behalf, that in the biology textbooks of seven publishers, the lesson on sex and gender identity should be urgently changed, which was demanded by the top of the Serbian Orthodox Church because they supposedly "propagate gender ideology".

News

Helsinki Committee on Religious Education: SPC must not educate our children

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights issued an appeal to abolish religious education in schools. The board requires the state to respect the Constitution and the principles of secularism and cites evidence that the church has a huge influence on the state. This June, Patriarch Porfirius criticized school principals for preventing students from opting for religious studies

I remember

Homosexuals in SFRY: Breaking taboos in socialist conservatism

A long time ago, Jovan Ćirilov once told me that he was against the gay parade, because sexual orientation should be a private matter, but I am convinced that in such a situation he would go for a walk on Saturday and be in the front rows, because he always fought for freedom

On the spot

Europride: If the Pride Parade is banned, it will turn into a protest

Homophobes, regime agitators, right-wingers and other "traditionalists" turned up, with the blessing of the church, for the two-hour walk of those who in Balkan society are forced to ask themselves "why they are less valuable". For them, a free walk in the city is a dream of some fairer times

Comment

SPC against Europride: Citizen Perić versus Patriarch Porfirije

Therefore, if we understood the Christian and Orthodox logic of the priest Porfirio, the real danger is not in the announced walk, but in the fact that gays and lesbians, if we start beating and killing them, will start, as deviant as they are, to multiply rapidly. That is why we should not beat and kill them. Not because they are people like us, like citizen Perić and priest Porfiri, but because they are the ultimate evil that multiplies under beatings

News

Patriarch Porfirije: Europride should be cancelled

The Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church supported the cancellation of Europride in Belgrade. He says that this is in the spirit of Orthodox Christians and that members of "other religions and nations with whom we live" also think so. The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church also said that "evil is not cured or defeated by violence, it only multiplies in that way."

News

The Law on Cultural Heritage: A Story of Traitors and Patriots

Patriarch Porfirije warned that AP Vojvodina is mentioned in six articles of the draft Law on Cultural Heritage, and none mentions AP Kosovo and Metohija, so it could be concluded that the southern Serbian province is "excluded from the system of state care". The Ministry of Culture immediately adopted those remarks