Thirty-four years after the events in the Middle Podrinje and Birač regions, Bratunac once again hosted a commemoration for the victims on July 4, 2026.
Thousands of faithful gathered at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos for the annual remembrance event, held under the slogan, “One is not invited to Bratunac; one goes to Bratunac.”
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, who has repeatedly emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of those who suffered and of passing that remembrance on to future generations.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dabar-Bosnia, Metropolitan Methodije of Budimlje-Nikšić, Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral, Bishop Jerotej of Šabac, as well as clergy and monastics from several dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Patriarch Porfirije: The world will not accept us because we will not renounce Christ
In his homily, Patriarch Porfirije stressed that the Serbian people’s identity is inseparable from the Orthodox faith and the legacy of Saint Sava.
“We are Orthodox Serbs. We know our homeland, we know our birthplace, and we know who gave us birth in Christ. That is Saint Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop,” the Patriarch said.
He explained that Saint Sava chose the difficult path of fidelity to Orthodoxy rather than seeking power and privileges from the dominant political forces of his time.
“Saint Sava chose to go to the powerless and exiled Orthodox Emperor because he knew that there the true faith was preserved—the Gospel faith in Christ,” he said.
The Patriarch described Orthodoxy as the Serbian people’s “identity card,” shaping their history and preserving their spiritual being despite wars, occupations, and the loss of territory.
“We lost lands, homes, and possessions, but we never lost ourselves,” he said. “We remained who we are.”
Referring to the Gospel reading of the day, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that Christians should not expect universal acceptance.
“The world will not accept us because we will not renounce Christ. We will not become anything other than Orthodox Christians who live according to the values of the Gospel.”
He warned against abandoning one’s faith, identity, and spiritual inheritance for temporary interests and worldly approval.
“Because we refuse to renounce what is holy to us, the world often rejects us and even persecutes us,” he said.
At the same time, he stressed that Christians are not called to hatred or contempt for others, but to victory through truth, justice, love, and peace.
“We will not prevail by despising others or hating others. We will prevail in truth, in justice, and in love,” he said.
The Patriarch concluded by describing Saint Sava’s path as a demanding yet life-giving one:
“It is a narrow and thorny path. It requires sacrifice, the rejection of selfishness and comfort, and a readiness to preserve who we are always, everywhere, and at any cost.”
Memorial Service for the Victims
Following the Divine Liturgy, the faithful participated in a solemn procession to the Bratunac cemetery, where prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the victims.
At the central memorial cross, Patriarch Porfirije served a memorial service attended by several thousand faithful from across Serbian lands. Among those present were officials of Republika Srpska and Serbia, representatives of diplomatic missions, families of those killed, missing, or captured during the conflict, and organizations representing war veterans and victims.
The commemorative program continued under the title “One Is Not Invited to Bratunac; One Goes to Bratunac,” during which family members of the victims and senior representatives of Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serbia addressed the gathered crowd.
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church
