Serbian Patriarch Porfirije took part in the graduation ceremony for newly commissioned officers of the Serbian Armed Forces at the General Jovan Mišković Barracks in Belgrade, where he offered his blessing to graduates and their families following the official proceedings.

According to the Serbian Orthodox Church, 130 graduates received their first officer commissions this year, including 102 cadets from the Military Academy and 28 graduates of the Military Medical Academy's Faculty of Medicine. The graduating class also included four members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina who completed their military education in Serbia.

Addressing the new officers, Patriarch Porfirije congratulated them on their achievement and encouraged them to carry out their duties with honor, responsibility, and love for their people. He said it was a source of particular joy that young men and women had consciously chosen the path of service to their homeland, continuing the traditions of those who came before them.

"May the Lord strengthen you in every good work and protect you throughout your responsible service," the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church told the graduates.

Following the formal ceremony, many of the newly commissioned officers, accompanied by their families, met personally with the Patriarch to receive his pastoral blessing and take commemorative photographs.

The ceremony was also attended by Military Bishop Dositej, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces.

In keeping with military tradition, the graduation concluded with the symbolic tossing of officers' caps to mark the completion of their training and the beginning of their military careers.