On May 15, 2025, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, alongside the Mayor of Belgrade, Mr. Aleksandar Šapić, attended the central event of the “Belgrade Family Days” festival held at the historic Kalemegdan fortress.
Patriarch Porfirije expressed his gratitude to the Mayor and the City of Belgrade for organizing the initiative, emphasizing the vital role of family values in society.
“Just as every individual is, in a way, a family in themselves—carrying within them an entire world—so too is a nation one large family,” said the Patriarch. “The family, in its most fundamental and immediate sense, is the cornerstone of every society. If the family is healthy, the community will be as well. A person raised in a family to respect and love others, to understand freedom and responsibility, will contribute to a society built on order, love, and mutual respect.”
He also underlined that building and maintaining family relationships requires constant effort and love:
“The family is not something given once and for all—it is something we build and nurture every single day.”
Mayor Šapić thanked the Patriarch for his presence and called on citizens to actively take part in programs that promote family values:
“The purpose of this event is to remind ourselves that the family is the basic unit of society. No modern achievement, no form of progress has true value if it is not rooted in the family. The family is where we learn love, solidarity, and responsibility. That’s why we must support the family in every possible way—as individuals, as a city, and as a nation.”
The “Belgrade Family Days” festival, organized by the City of Belgrade with the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church, has now taken place for the third consecutive year. The event brings together citizens, associations, children, and parents with the aim of promoting family values, togetherness, and a culture of dialogue.
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
