Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia visited the Summer Spiritual School of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci on July 15, 2026, as the program welcomed its fourth and final group of participants at the Šuplja Stena children’s resort on Mount Avala.
The Serbian Patriarch was greeted by the children with the song Children of Heaven and spent time with the more than 200 young participants who are attending the camp in four separate sessions between June 23 and July 20. The campers, drawn from elementary schools throughout the Archdiocese, are spending part of their summer vacation in an environment centered on faith, fellowship, learning, and joy.
During the visit, Patriarch Porfirije met with the children, presented them with prayer books and icons, and listened as they shared details about their camp activities. The youngsters also had the opportunity to ask questions, to which the Patriarch responded with warmth and encouragement.
Offering fatherly advice on love for one’s neighbor, Patriarch Porfirije invited the children to visit the Patriarchal Court in Belgrade, the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Court Church of St. Symeon the Myrrh-streaming. He also encouraged them to see the exhibition of treasured relics and sacred objects from Hilandar Monastery currently on display at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
The Patriarch later toured the camp facilities accompanied by Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, chairman of the Archdiocesan Committee for Religious Education, as well as representatives of the Belgrade Children’s Resorts administration and members of the Religious Education Committee.
In addition to visiting the recreational and workshop areas, he stopped at the camp chapel, where a Divine Liturgy had been celebrated earlier that day in the presence of all participants.
The Summer Spiritual School, organized by the Committee for Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci, combines prayer, education, creativity, and outdoor activities to foster spiritual growth and Christian virtues. This year’s program is dedicated to the theme “Mount of Transfiguration,” introducing children to the Gospel account of the Lord’s Transfiguration and its significance in the life of the Church.
Throughout their seven-day stay, participants engage in pottery and mosaic workshops, hiking, sports activities, visits to animal farms, and pilgrimages to the Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Three-Handed near Ripanj.
According to the organizers, the daily liturgical life of the camp remains at the heart of the entire program. Catechists noted that one of the most visible fruits of the initiative is the transformation that occurs among the children within just a few days, as they build friendships, develop a spirit of community, and set aside their phones and digital distractions in favor of prayer, conversation, outdoor activities, and shared experiences rooted in the life of the Church.
