Serbian Patriarch Porfirije urged the faithful to follow the example of the Mother of God and learn to accept God’s will, even when it exceeds human understanding, during celebrations of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Patriarch Porfirije presided over the Divine Liturgy at Rakovica Monastery in Belgrade on August 28, according to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“The Most Holy Mother of God is a sign on our path, showing us where to go,” the patriarch said.

He pointed to the words spoken by the Virgin Mary after the Annunciation as the clearest example of such faith: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).

According to Patriarch Porfirije, the foundation of a Christian approach to life lies not in trying to arrange everything according to one’s own wishes, but in the ability to accept God’s will.

“The whole mystery is whether we will hear the word of God and the word of His Mother and say once and for all: ‘Thy will be done,’” he said.

The patriarch emphasized that Christian prayer should not consist solely of requests for relief from difficulties. More important, he said, is to pray for inner transformation—for the ability to become better, grow in virtue, and make decisions while trusting in God.

Patriarch Porfirije connected the Gospel image of the Mother of God with the daily lives of believers. He said the Christian path begins not with a demand that external circumstances change, but with a willingness to change oneself.

“When we are on the true path and our main task is to become better, then things will also become better,” the patriarch said.

Rakovica Monastery is dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Local tradition associates its origins with the reigns of Serbian Kings Dragutin and Milutin, while the earliest known written reference to the monastery dates to the beginning of the 16th century. It was mentioned in the travel notes of Felix Petančić in 1502.

Following Ottoman raids at the end of the 16th century, the monastery was moved from its original location to a more secluded site, where it stands today. Over the centuries, it suffered repeated damage during wars and periods of destruction but was rebuilt each time.

Rakovica gained particular importance in the 19th century. Prince Miloš Obrenović supported its restoration and financed the construction of monastic cells and a refectory in 1822. The monastery is also linked to the history of the Serbian Obrenović dynasty: members of the dynasty, as well as Vasa Čarapić, a hero of the First Serbian Uprising, are buried there.

In the 20th century, Rakovica became an important spiritual center of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Belgrade Orthodox Theological Seminary operated at the monastery, and Serbian Patriarchs Dimitrije and Pavle were buried in its grounds.