Serbian Patriarch Porfirije has urged students at the St. Sava Orthodox Seminary in Belgrade to view their education primarily as preparation for service to the Church.

The patriarch made the remarks on September 1 during a Divine Liturgy marking the beginning of the new academic year.

According to Patriarch Porfirije, faith in Christ and prayer should remain the foundation of human life. Knowledge, information and personal achievements cannot replace spiritual life, he said, emphasizing that without faith it is impossible to attain the fullness of meaning, joy and God's love.

Addressing the seminarians, Patriarch Porfirije described their decision to enter a theological school as a special calling from God. He stressed that future clergy should first and foremost prepare themselves to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and serve the Church.

“Everything else should flow from this service,” the patriarch said.

He urged the students not to place personal comfort, leisure or individual plans above their future ministry. Patriarch Porfirije encouraged them not to spare time or effort in preparing for their vocation, stressing that a spiritual calling requires dedication and self-sacrifice.

The patriarch identified seeking to understand God's will and building up the Church as the principal goals for the new academic year. He also offered his blessing to the seminary's faculty, staff and students.

Patriarch Porfirije further emphasized that, despite external crises and upheavals, the Church cannot be destroyed, according to Christian teaching. He said that faith in this truth should remain a source of strength for those preparing for the priesthood.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a service invoking the Holy Spirit was held at the seminary to mark the start of the academic year. The patriarch also toured the institution's renovated facilities and met with the students' parents.