On August 10, 2025, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint George the Great Martyr in Bežanija, one of the oldest churches in Belgrade — built, according to one source, in 1826, and according to another, in 1878.
At the beginning of his homily, the Patriarch reflected on last week’s Gospel reading about the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish, from which many were fed, with enough remaining for each Apostle to have a full basket to continue Christ’s work — the work of multiplying bread and feeding those hungry and thirsty for truth.
Recalling the reaction of the crowd, the Patriarch noted:
“When they saw what the Lord had done, those who had received the blessing and benefit wanted to make Him king. But He, together with His disciples — they in a separate boat, and He apart from them — withdrew to the other side of the Sea of Gennesaret. The Lord withdrew because those who had witnessed the miracle expected something entirely different: instead of recognizing Him as the Son of God who grants the Kingdom of Heaven, they anticipated one who would bring social justice, lead a revolution, and wage political struggle against the occupiers of the chosen people.”
Seeing these misguided expectations, the Patriarch continued, Christ withdrew with His disciples — but then a sudden great storm arose.
“Although the Apostles were mostly fishermen, they were taken by surprise and became afraid,” Patriarch Porfirije said, explaining one of the most striking and inspiring images in the Gospel. “The Fathers of the Church see in this image the Church at sea — the sea of this world, always restless and suddenly struck by storms. These storms represent the great trials the Church faces from time to time, often unforeseen. Sometimes they are visible and violent; other times they are subtle, disguised in attractive forms. There is also the danger of applause when the Church appears ‘modern,’ when she adapts her rhythm to the spirit, movements, and heartbeat of this world — which in practice means abandoning her true self, relativizing and diluting her nature and message.”
The Patriarch stressed that the Church is called not to conform to the world, but to transform it:
“By the Holy Spirit, we are called to transform the world, not be transformed by it. Through our ascetic struggle and prayer — being crucified with Christ and renouncing our own will — we must embrace everything and bring it into the Church, so that all may become Church, all may be transformed in Christ and by His grace.”
He concluded by reminding the faithful that the Church’s mission is not primarily to address social, economic, psychological, or political matters, but to proclaim Christ crucified and risen:
“In Him lies the meaning of this life and the next. He resolves the mystery of the grave and answers our deepest hunger — the hunger for meaning, for existence, for eternity, for love.”
The Church of Saint George in Bežanija was filled beyond capacity, with the faithful joining the Patriarch in prayers of thanksgiving to God. A particularly moving moment came when the youngest parishioners recited the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed in unison.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were Bishop Stefan of Remesiana, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church Representation in Moscow; Protopresbyters-Stavrophores Luka Novaković and Miljko Korićanin; Presbyters Vladimir Levićanin, Želimir Prodanović, Andrija Vukčević, Miloš Velimir, and Radan Šarić; Protodeacon Radomir Vrućinić; and Deacon Mladen Momčilović.
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
