Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the Church of Saint Sava in Vračar, marking the Entry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
In his homily, the Patriarch proclaimed:
“Brothers and sisters, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna to the Son of David! Truly blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord—and we are even more blessed by the fullness of God’s love, because the very Son of God comes to resolve the deepest and most important mystery of life. He comes to provide an answer to the innermost longing and needs of every human being and all of humanity.”
He emphasized that all of human history, culture, and civilization is an expression of this longing—our deep desire for life, for existence, and for the eternal presence of those we love.
“Through philosophy, art, science, and through various ideological movements, humanity has strived only to prolong life, to extend the life of those we love. But alas, no matter how capable or successful, no matter the results of all our efforts, the desire remains unfulfilled. Death remains.”
He continued:
“We are blessed not only because someone comes in the name of the Lord, but because the Lord Himself comes—because we alone cannot resolve the meaning and mystery of life, nor can we conquer death. If, in the end, we are only dust and ashes, then everything that precedes it becomes meaningless—our love, our virtues, and our good deeds lose their value. But if there is an answer to the mystery of the grave, if there is hope and a solution, then everything else gains its meaning from that very mystery.”
“Therefore, we are blessed, because the One who resolves the mystery of life and death is coming. Life Himself comes to defeat death, to give us life, and to open to us the perspective of eternity in the Kingdom of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Patriarch Porfirije was joined in the Liturgy by Bishops Stefan of Remesiana, Petar of Toplica, and Nikon of Janopol; Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dimitrije Kasapis; and numerous clergy and deacons of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Source: spc.sr