On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije led the Divine Liturgy at the Pokrovsky Church in Belgrade, accompanied by clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Addressing the congregation, the Patriarch emphasized the vital role of prayer as the foundation of Christian life.

“Prayer and labor are what distinguish the image of God in man; they make a person a disciple of Christ,” the Patriarch said. “But it is important to remember that prayer comes first: it unites us with Christ and makes the foundation of life strong. Even when we stumble or stray, if we remain connected to Him, everything will be as it should.”

Patriarch Porfirije paid special tribute to the Most Holy Theotokos, describing her as the exemplar of true faith and trust in God:
“She was, in her very being, prayer and Christ. Through her, the Lord became one of us while remaining God. The Most Holy Theotokos is the Mother of all humanity, who gave birth to the True Man — the goal and measure for each of us.”

At the conclusion of the service, the Patriarch followed Serbian tradition by blessing the festive bread (slava) and encouraged the faithful to emulate the Theotokos in her faith and trust in God. He warned against the spiritual temptations of the modern world, “where the forces of darkness act in the guise of light,” urging the faithful to remain steadfast in Christ and His Church.

“We live in turbulent times, when spiritual enemies try to seduce souls with beautiful words and false promises. Only those who stand on the firm foundation of Christ will be able to discern spirits and keep the faith,” the Primate of the Serbian Church said.

The Pokrovsky Church in Belgrade, built in 1933 by architect Miomir Korunović, is renowned for its intricate iconostasis crafted by Ohrid master Cvetan Nikolovski and is considered one of the most beautiful parish churches in the Serbian capital.