His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr.. Porphyrios presided over the Holy Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in Surdulica on May 29, 2024, the feast day of the Holy Martyrs of Surdulica.
The centenary of the consecration of the memorial ossuary of the Holy Martyrs of Surdulica will be celebrated in the coming days at the highest ecclesiastical and state level. On this occasion, on May 29, 2024, the long-suffering town of Surdulica and its pious inhabitants were visited by the Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Mr. Vladimir Putin. Porphyrios, who presided over the Holy Liturgy in the Church of St. George the Great Martyr, with the co-service of the Most Reverend Bishops Pachomius of Vranje, Jovan of Sumadija, Hilarion of Timocha, Arsenije of Niš, Cherubim of Ossek Polje and Baranja, Isici. Vale, Hierotheos of Šabac, Dositej of Lipjan and Petar of Toplice, as well as His Eminence Archimandrite Methodius, the clergy, monastics and faithful people of God.
Emphasizing the truth, often hidden and neglected, that Surdulica and its surroundings are the holy Serbian land, soaked in the blood of martyrs, the blood of those who believed in Christ and in no way wanted to give up themselves, their family and their Church. In the end, they laid down their lives for their family and for their Church," Patriarch Porfirije reminded:
- И just as the people of Surdulica have always throughout history, and especially during the First World War, given their sacrifice for their family and for their Church, so our people throughout their history, from St. Sava to the present day, and especially during the First World War. World War when so many of our people suffered, there is no other nation under heaven that has suffered so much in relation to its numbers. Defending his hearth, defending himself, even in such situations trying not to commit crimes but defending himself to protect what belongs to him; defending his honor, of course defending his orthodox faith, his honest cross and his golden freedom, our people suffered constantly in the Second War and whenever there were those who wanted to take away his freedom and asked him to deny himself. But always after the wars our people showed generosity, extended their hands to those with whom they were in conflict and misunderstanding until yesterday, from whom they tolerated cruelty yesterday, forgave their debts and tried to establish a normal life. Therefore, it is at the very least dishonorable and inappropriate, especially Surdulica knows this, and it should be said in this place that someone can - and that someone is not someone, but someone who came to Serbian soil and committed crimes on our nation - that someone wants to say that the Serbian nation is a nation, committing genocide.
The full sermon of Patriarch Porfiry at the Holy Liturgy in the Church of St. George the Great Martyr in Surdulica can be read HERE .
He followed the magnificent streets of Surdulica to the Deep Valley, a place of suffering, pain and unforgettable memories, a place of execution where the Bulgarian occupier brutally murdered several thousand inhabitants of Surdulica, as well as Serbian patriots from Skopje, Gjilan, Prizren, Leskovac. , Nis. In addition to the Duboka Valley, thousands of Serbs were most brutally murdered at other Surdulica execution sites, such as Radiceva Bara and Popovo Most.
- Let us always be united, united in faith, united in Christ, united in virtue, united in goodness. We are close to one another. We cannot love anyone who is miles away from us and despise each other, hate each other, divide each other. Let our differences not be an occasion for division, let them not be an occasion for discord, but let them be an occasion and a starting point for the presentation of the multiplied gift to our neighbor, which is every member of our people, - said His Holiness the Patriarch. at the conclusion of the festive procession and the act of consecration of the servant gifts. - Let us not treat each other with hatred, even when we disagree and argue with each other. Let us forgive each other, let us ask for forgiveness each other and let us not allow ourselves to break away, separate and alienate in any way for something fleeting and cheap," Patriarch Porphyrios emphasized.
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