On the occasion of the 850th anniversary of Saint Sava’s birth, the Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia celebrated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on May 2, 2025, at the Church of Saint Sava in Deževa —the very place where Stefan Nemanja laid the foundations of the first Serbian state and where his palace and cathedral once stood.
Concelebrating with Patriarch Porfirije were Metropolitans Teodosije of Raška-Prizren and Ignatije of Požarevac-Braničevo, Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, along with priests and monks from numerous dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Many faithful from all regions of Raška participated prayerfully in the celebration.
On this occasion, the Patriarch emphasized: “Saint Sava was born here 850 years ago; it is his anniversary — and ours as well. From here, he began to mature into a true man of God, a spiritual giant. He journeyed to every corner of the world — as far as Egypt, to the Caliph of Baghdad, and to the West — building bridges of friendship and forging brotherly relations with all. In doing so, he showed that love is the true meaning of our existence and that, sooner or later, love wins every battle and triumphs. Love must be ready to accept humiliation, rejection, and persecution — to bear the Cross. For the Cross is crucifixion, and in the Crucifixion of Christ lies His victory.”
He continued: “Saint Sava was born here, and brothers and sisters, you who come from this land should be proud. You are blessed, because all of us — all Orthodox Serbs — were born here. This is the birthplace of each one of us! That is why we have come to you as true brothers and sisters: to be strengthened by your love and faith, and to pray together with you, that the Lord may grant us all peace and joy, love and understanding among ourselves, and that He may bestow His blessing, peace, joy, and unity upon our entire nation, wherever it may be — that we may all be one, in faith, in virtue, in goodness, without division.”
Following the service, Patriarch Porfirije, accompanied by the hierarchs, visited the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul — also known as the Petrova Church — in the Ras region near Novi Pazar, where he sanctified and laid the cornerstone for a new monastic residence. During this visit, the Patriarch venerated the holy relics in the oldest church of the region.
Afterward, a session of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church was held at the Monastery of Đurđevi Stupovi.
