Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia served the Divine Liturgy on June 28, 2025, on Vidovdan, before the relics of Saint Prince Lazar at the Ravanica Monastery.
The festive gathering of the God-loving people with their Primate in the courtyard of Ravanica began with a memorial service for the heroes who suffered from the Battle of Kosovo until today, served by Metropolitan Ignatius of Braničevo.
This was followed by the Divine Liturgy at the foundation of Saint Prince Lazar, led by Patriarch Porfirije, concelebrated by the Most Reverend Metropolitans Ignatius of Braničevo, John of Šumadija, and Arsenije of Niš.
During the Vidovdan service at Ravanica Monastery, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that “we have come here not only to venerate the relics of the saint but also to show alongside him that we are heirs of the covenant for which he stood – what we call the Kosovo Covenant, which for us can in no way be and is not a myth.” He explained that for those “in communion with Christ, who belongs to His Church, who is united with those baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” the Kosovo Covenant represents “a manifestation, confirmation, and link with the New Covenant,” whose core “stands holiness.”
Patriarch Porfirije further stated, “holiness is a gift in which we participate, because God is One and Only, and by His gift, He allows us to be part of His life by grace. But holiness is also a calling for each of us.” Highlighting the example of Saint Lazar, he noted that “before going to battle, [Saint Lazar] communed together with all those who fought alongside him, knowing well that he was not going to battle to conquer, gain glory or worldly power, but… to save his soul, that is, to save himself, to be saved by Christ’s love.”
Throughout the day, the faithful continuously, with dignity and prayer on their lips, approached the coffin of the Holy Martyr Prince Lazar, beside whom an honorary guard was given by cadets of the Military Academy of the Defense University and students of the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies.
The Vidovdan festivities at Ravanica Monastery, which began on the eve of the feast with a solemn academy and a rich cultural and artistic program, were also attended by ministers Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski and Nenad Popović.
Source: spc.sr
