Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia issued a heartfelt statement regarding the recent developments in Syria and the broader Middle East, highlighting the region’s escalating turmoil and its global implications.
With deep concern, the Patriarch reflected on the ongoing tragedies in Palestine and the spreading conflict now reaching Syria. “For months, we have followed with great sorrow the suffering of the people in Palestine. Now, it seems that the flames of war, carried as if by the wind, are spreading eastward into Syria,” he said.
Drawing from the Serbian Orthodox Church’s own experiences of suffering in recent decades, as well as the plight of neighboring nations, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized the interconnectedness of the world. He warned that the suffering in Syria and Palestine could easily spread to other parts of the globe, urging all nations and individuals involved in the Middle East conflict to recognize this reality.
The Patriarch called upon Serbian clergy, monastics, and the faithful to include the Orthodox Christians and other persecuted communities of the Middle East in their daily prayers. “As we pray unceasingly for our suffering brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija, let us also beseech the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos to extend their protection to the Orthodox faithful of the Middle East and all Christians in that sacred region sanctified by the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ and His first disciples.”
He also expressed solidarity with all those enduring hardship in Ukraine and other conflict-ridden regions, invoking the Lord’s profound teaching: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Patriarch Porfirije conveyed particular love and prayerful support for Patriarch John X of Antioch, describing him as a true friend of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He commended Patriarch John, his clergy, and their steadfastness in bearing witness to God’s love, often in the face of trials akin to the martyrdoms of the early Church.
Patriarch Porfirije’s statement serves as both a call to prayer and a reminder of the global responsibility to seek peace and justice. He urged all people of goodwill to remember the enduring sanctity of the Middle East and to stand in solidarity with those who continue to suffer for their faith and humanity.
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
