On September 7, 2026, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia officiated the funeral service for the recently deceased General Ratko Mladić at the Holy Church of the Apostle Luke in Košutnjak.
Before the coffin of the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, with the prayerful participation of General Mladić’s family members, his fellow soldiers, representatives of the state, and many tens of thousands of people who arrived in the capital from Republika Srpska and from all Serbian regions, the following concelebrated the liturgy with the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Vasilije of Srem, Metropolitan Nikanor of Banat, Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka, Metropolitan Fotije of Zvornik and Tuzla, Metropolitan Atanasije of Mileševa, and Metropolitan Metodije of Budimlja and Nikšić; the Right Reverend Bishops Isihije of Valjevo, Jerotej of Šabac, Sava of Marča, Dositej of Lipljan and the Military Bishopric, and Nikon of Jenopolis; along with numerous clergy and monastics from various dioceses of the Church of Saint Sava.
Addressing those present, the Patriarch stated: “Today we stand before the coffin of the servant of God and our brother, General Ratko, of whom we know that he was a Christian, and to whom the priests who visited him bear witness that, in his final years, he confessed with humility and partook of the Body and Blood of Christ, believing and hoping in the mercy and love of God; and who, in the end, fell asleep holding the Cross of Christ to his chest.
We know that his name will remain deeply etched in the memory and prayers of the greater part of our Serbian Orthodox people, who feel and hold toward him deep gratitude, because they see him as the soldier and commander who, in a difficult and tragic time, stood at the head of his people’s army, took on great responsibility and a heavy burden, endured sacrifices, and gave his life for the freedom, defense, and survival of his nation.
Today we stand before a life that cannot be separated from a terrible era, from a horrific war, from great sufferings, deep wounds and traumas, from lost homes, lost lives, and graves.
And so, as we pray today for the soul of the departed, for the soul of General Ratko, following the example of Christ the Lord, we pray also for all those whose lives were extinguished in that war.
We pray with one soul, one mind, and one heart for the repose of the soul and the salvation of the servant of God Ratko; we pray that the Lord forgive him every sin, voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown, and grant him a place of light, a place of green pastures, a place of rest, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.
We pray also that the Lord grant his family and relatives comfort and hope in eternal life; and that our Lord Jesus Christ grant all of us repentance, peace, harmony, repentance, mutual understanding, and the strength to see one another always and everywhere through the eyes of Christ.
May the Lord forgive the soul of our brother, General Ratko, and may his memory be eternal. Amen.”
