His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia consecrated the newly built Church of St. Sava in the village of Deževa, the birthplace of the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The consecration and the following hierarchical Divine Liturgy were the central events marking the 850th anniversary of St. Sava’s birth — the founder and first Archbishop of the Serbian Church.

In his sermon after the Gospel reading, Patriarch Porfirije reflected on the spiritual importance of Deževa as “the place where the One was born who gave birth to us through the Holy Spirit, who created us as a people bearing the word of the Gospel and a culture washed in Orthodoxy.”

“We live by the word of St. Sava,” the Patriarch said. “That means we live in Christ — by the commandment of love and communion. Man was created as a communal being, directed toward God and his neighbor. If we realize this, there will be no hatred, exclusivity, or selfishness among us, but only love — the love of St. Sava, Orthodox, Christ-like.”

Concelebrating with the Patriarch were hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Metropolitan Theodosius of Raška and Prizren, and other bishops. Numerous clergy, monastics, and faithful attended the service.

During the liturgy, Patriarch Porfirije elevated Fr. Ivan Jeremić to the rank of protopresbyter. At the conclusion, Metropolitan Theodosius expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the church’s construction, emphasizing that “this work became the endeavor of the entire Church, the state, and the people.”

By decision of the Holy Synod, the Order of St. Sava, Second Class, was awarded to benefactor Vuica Ćorović for his support in building the church. Architect Mirjana Slavković received a diocesan commendation, while a group of patrons and donors were presented with certificates of gratitude.

Among those present at the celebration were Serbia’s ministers of culture, education, and agriculture, as well as Vladimir Roganović, Director of the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities.

“The Church is a community with God, but also a community among ourselves,” Patriarch Porfirije concluded. “This is what St. Sava established in our nation — and therefore every church, every prayer, every act of love is a continuation of his gift.”