On August 10, 2024, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia welcomed over three hundred young and talented athletes, participants of the “Serbia is Calling You” sports camp, at the Saint Sava Temple in Vračar.
Welcoming the esteemed guests from Kosovo and Metohija, as well as from nearby regions and beyond, the Holy Patriarch expressed:
“May God’s blessing be upon you, your parents, your brothers and sisters, your friends, and your relatives. It brings us immense joy and honor that you have traveled from seventeen countries around the world to visit the sacred temple of the Serbian people—the Temple of Saint Sava.
As you can see, it is not only beautiful but also one of the most magnificent temples in the world.
Emphasizing the importance of Saint Sava for the Serbian people, Patriarch Porfirije addressed the young athletes:
“It is good to gather for prayer and come to the temple to pray to Saint Sava. He is the one who guided our nation towards truth, love, justice, and freedom. He directed us to Christ, who is the God of love, giving us justice, freedom, and meaning.
You are engaged in sports and likely studying at various schools, and you may not yet know what the future holds. However, it is crucial to understand that everything you do should begin and end with prayer to God. Every action should be infused with prayer, becoming a form of worship. By approaching your work in this manner, you will strive to do your best, and God will ensure that the results will bring you joy and spiritual benefit, as well as material success.
Our lives become truly spiritual when we attend church, pray, light candles, and fast. Yet, spirituality should permeate every aspect of our lives—everything we think, say, and do. It becomes spiritual when we frame it within a spiritual context, when everything starts and ends with prayer, and when we strive to glorify God in our efforts. This principle applies to sports as well, dear children.”
“You may have heard the saying, ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body.’ However, we often omit the first part of this saying. You might not know that it originally comes from the Roman poet Juvenal, who said, ‘Pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body.’ He intended to convey that we can never achieve true and complete spiritual health without the grace of God. The grace of the Holy Spirit, which is found in prayer, is essential for our well-being,” emphasized Patriarch Porfirije, concluding:
“I am glad we have gathered here. As Patriarch, I am always happy to visit wherever our people live. I’ve traveled to America, many European countries, and Republika Srpska. I haven’t been to Australia yet—are there any from Australia here? Ah, there are! I plan to visit Canada in the fall.
Wherever our people are, our Church is also present, with many temples dedicated to Saint Sava. Everywhere I have gone, I’ve been welcomed with great joy, and I’ve seen that our people maintain their faith wherever they live. It is crucial that you preserve your faith in your new home while fully engaging in the life of that country and people without feeling any complex.
Remember that every person is an icon of God. We become true Christians when we love ourselves and understand who we are without harboring distrust, hatred, or exclusivity toward those around us. Instead, we should show them deep respect and be proud of our identity. Our beautiful temples, like the one dedicated to Saint Sava, are a testament to our belonging to the family of cultured and civilized people.
Consider our many sanctuaries—from Dečani, Gračanica, and the Peć Patriarchate to Our Lady of Ljeviška, and others across Kosovo and wherever our people have lived and built churches.
You are welcome! I hope you have had a wonderful time and will share your positive experience with enthusiasm when you return home. Most importantly, I hope you will come back and always remember who you are, your roots, and continue to trust in God while striving to be well-rounded individuals. May the Lord protect you and grant you health, joy, and love for you and all your loved ones. Cheers!”
Sportstars’ ‘Serbia is Calling You’ Campaign Unites 320 Young Athletes
From August 1 to 11, the sports association “Sportstars,” with support from the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Serbia, and the Directorate for Diaspora of the Republic of Serbia, brought together 320 talented young athletes from Kosovo and Metohija, the region, and the diaspora. Under the guidance of top athletes such as Bogdan Obradović, Milan Gurović, Željko Tanasković, and Nenad Peruničić, these young talents trained intensively. The campaign “Serbia is Calling You” aims to promote sports among youth while preserving Serbian tradition and identity.
Source: spc.rs
