On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 29, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Prince Lazar in Zvezdara.
During the Divine Liturgy, Deacon Dr. Ivica Čairović, professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade, was ordained to the priesthood.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were Bishop Alexei of Hvostan, along with clergy of the parish.
Speaking to the faithful, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that without humility, repentance, and inner transformation, it is impossible to enter the Kingdom of God.
“It is no coincidence,” he said, “that on the Fifth Sunday of Lent we commemorate Saint Mary of Egypt, in whose life the mystery of Christ and His love is revealed. Without repentance, without transformation, without the awareness that we must become better and grow in virtue with the grace of God, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
The Patriarch further stressed that abandoning the “logic of this world” and embracing the Gospel of Christ is essential for spiritual life.
“Without repentance… our life already becomes hell,” he noted, pointing to the anxiety, bitterness, and inner emptiness that characterize a life centered on worldly concerns rather than on God.
Calling the faithful to self-examination, he underlined that approaching Christ requires constant repentance and honesty before God.
Referring to Saint Mary of Egypt, he described her radical transformation after encountering Christ, noting that despite the depth of her former sinful life, she recognized Christ as Savior and chose to align her life fully with His will.
“His word is paradise, His word is meaning,” the Patriarch said, adding that it is the ultimate testimony of the Kingdom of God for which humanity was created.
Source: spc.rs
