On April 19, 2026, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia presided over a memorial service (parastos) at the Hrastovi burial field within the Donja Gradina Memorial Site, marking the Day of Remembrance for the Serbs, Jews, and Roma victims during the period of the Independent State of Croatia.
In his address, the Patriarch emphasized the sacred character of the site, describing it as a place sanctified by suffering, prayer, and memory. He noted that no words are sufficient to express the depth of the tragedy, stressing instead the need for silence, prayer, and inner reflection. He paid tribute to the victims, stating that they bore witness through their suffering to faith, love, and the dignity of the human person.
The Patriarch called on the faithful to bow in prayer before the holy martyrs of Jasenovac, honoring the innocent victims who endured immense suffering and, through their sacrifice, followed the path of Christ’s Cross into the light of the Resurrection.
According to data from the memorial site, approximately 700,000 people perished in the Jasenovac concentration camp during World War II, including around 500,000 Serbs. In remembrance of these victims, a Day of Mourning was officially observed in Republika Srpska.
The commemoration gathered clergy, officials, and faithful, united in prayerful remembrance of one of the darkest chapters of the region’s history.
