Serbian Patriarch Porfirije has urged believers to embrace repentance and humility while also supporting a nationwide campaign of voluntary blood donation, according to a statement published by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Speaking during a divine liturgy at the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade, the Patriarch said that the path of repentance and the struggle against inner pride remain essential guidelines for modern life. His sermon was delivered as part of preparations for Great Lent.

Reflecting on the Gospel parable of the Prodigal Son, Patriarch Porfirije noted that outward well-being does not necessarily signify spiritual fulfillment. He warned that a person may lose their connection with God when gratitude is replaced by self-satisfaction and when faith is reduced to the formal observance of religious rules. Repentance, humility, and mercy, he emphasized, form the foundation of Christian life.

Following the service, the Patriarch blessed participants of a voluntary blood donation drive held on the grounds of the Church of Saint Sava. The initiative comes amid an acute shortage of donor blood reported in Serbia in recent weeks.

The Serbian Orthodox Church announced that, with the Patriarch’s blessing, a large-scale blood donation campaign is taking place in Belgrade over the weekend. Donation centers are operating on February 7 and 8 in seven churches across the capital, including the Church of Saint Sava, the Church of Saint Mark, and the Church of Saint Alexander Nevsky. The campaign is being conducted in cooperation with the Institute for Blood Transfusion and the Red Cross.

Church officials stressed that participation in blood donation campaigns is seen as a practical expression of the commandment to love one’s neighbor and as tangible support for people undergoing medical treatment, recovering from serious injuries, or preparing for surgery.