Serbian Patriarch Porfirije attended a ceremonial academy in the Church of St. Nicholas in Kotor’s Old Town to mark the 185th anniversary of the Serbian Singing Society “Jedinstvo.” During the event, he delivered a heartfelt speech:
“Don’t hold it against me for saying this, but tonight I feel exactly as Saint Stephen the First-Crowned once described himself: I have returned to my ancestral home. In the deepest sense, beyond all political considerations, wherever Saint Sava’s feet tread, wherever his scepter touched, wherever prayers were raised to the Most High God, there lies not only my heritage but the heritage of every saint and every Serb who believed in Christ and followed in His footsteps,” said the Patriarch, conveying a deep sense of spiritual belonging.
He emphasized that Kotor, often referred to as the “pearl of the Adriatic,” was, and continues to be, a place of unity and convergence throughout its long history, particularly during the reign of the Nemanjić dynasty:
“Kotor, the royal city, the city of Saint Sava, the city of the Nemanjićs, is a city encircled by walls—not walls of isolation, but walls of faith in Christ. Just as the Nemanjićs firmly established their state, they fortified their imperial city with impenetrable defenses. These walls were not meant to seal off the space but to serve as meeting points, bridges of exchange, creativity, and connection. In Kotor, there is no division between East and West, in any sense—materially, culturally, or spiritually.”
Patriarch Porfirije’s words highlighted the enduring significance of Kotor as a center of faith, unity, and cultural exchange, reinforcing its place in the spiritual and historical heritage of the Serbian people.
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
