Serbian Patriarch Porfirije presided over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, July 26, as the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Kovilj celebrated its patronal feast on the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka, Bishop Isihije of Valjevo, Bishop Damaskin of Mohács, Bishop Nikon of Jenopolje, Archimandrite Prokopije of the Patriarchate of Antioch, Hieromonk Sevastijan, Abbot of Krka Monastery, together with clergy and deacons from several dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
In his homily following the Gospel reading, Patriarch Porfirije reflected on the mission of the holy angels as heralds of God’s will and emphasized the importance of humility, obedience, and faithfulness to the Church.
“Whoever listens to the Apostles, whoever listens to the word of the angels, whoever listens to the voice of the Church listens to the Lord Himself,” the Patriarch said.
He explained that the Archangel Gabriel, both in the Old and New Testaments, never proclaimed his own opinion but faithfully revealed God’s will, most notably when announcing to the Virgin Mary the mystery of the Incarnation.
Drawing on this example, Patriarch Porfirije said Christians are likewise called to place God’s will above their own.
He warned that whenever personal desires prevail over the teaching of the Church and the will of Christ, a person sets himself in opposition to Christ. Referring to the Lord’s Prayer, he noted that the petition, “Thy will be done,” is a daily expression of the believer’s participation in the obedience and humility exemplified by the Apostles and the holy angels.
The Patriarch stressed that even though believers remain weak and sinful, they continue to abide in God’s embrace when they sincerely seek to live according to His will.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Porfirije blessed the traditional slava offerings and extended his greetings to the monastery’s brotherhood and all the faithful gathered for the feast.
Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka also addressed the congregation, thanking the Patriarch for presiding over the celebration and for his words of spiritual guidance. He emphasized that no individual is an authority in himself, but that the Church, as the conciliar God-human organism, remains the ultimate criterion of truth.
The Metropolitan also expressed gratitude to the hierarchs, monastics, clergy, and numerous faithful who had traveled from various regions to participate in the monastery’s patronal celebration.
The liturgical hymns were chanted by the monks of the Kovilj Monastery together with members of the St. John Damascene School of Church Chant of the Novi Sad Church Municipality under the direction of Deacon Dr. Vladimir Antić.
Among those attending the celebration were Mother Charitina, Abbess of the Patriarchate of Peć Monastery, Monk Zachariah, acting abbot of Bođani Monastery, nuns from the Monastery of the Resurrection of Christ in Kać, and a large gathering of faithful.
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
