Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia presided over the festive Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the Feast Day of Saint Paraskeva (Saint Petka) at the historic Church of Ruzica within the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade.
As is tradition, thousands of faithful from the Serbian capital gathered from the early morning hours to join the Patriarch in prayer, venerating Saint Petka, one of the most beloved saints of the Orthodox world. Pilgrims came to draw holy water from her miraculous spring, bringing it home for the sanctification of soul and body and for spiritual healing.
In his homily, Patriarch Porfirije reflected on the sacred significance of Kalemegdan, where the relics of Saint Petka once rested:
“Here, where the beautiful rivers Danube and Sava meet, lies the blessed place once sanctified by the relics of Saint Petka—the one whom the Lord glorified. This holy ground is filled with divine grace, inviting us to gather not only as a community, but also within ourselves. True unity—both personal and communal—is possible only when we are united in the Lord, together with His saints.”
The Patriarch emphasized that God’s grace is always present where there is pure and simple faith:
“Wherever there is sincere faith in God and trust in His saints, there is also divine grace—there is health and healing. The Lord has never remained silent before those who come to Him in faith. Saint Petka is one of those who gave herself entirely to God, and through her prayers, the Lord continues to touch and heal the faithful.”
He went on to highlight Saint Petka’s role as a unifying figure for all Orthodox peoples:
“Born in what is now modern-day Turkey, her holy relics traveled through the lands of the Balkans—Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania—binding them all together. Through her life and relics, Saint Petka revealed that there is one Lord, one Church, and that the Church is the Body of Christ, encompassing all who are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
The celebration at Kalemegdan once again demonstrated the deep veneration of Saint Petka among the Serbian faithful, as prayers and hymns filled the air around one of Belgrade’s most sacred and historic shrines.
