On January 9, 2025, the feast day of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr and Archdeacon, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Saint Stephen is considered the patron saint of Bosnian Serbs, making his feast day the "Slava" (patronal feast) of the region.

Joining the Patriarch were Metropolitan Ephraim of Banja Luka, Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, and Bishop Sava of Marca. The event gathered numerous clergy and faithful who came to share in the joy of the celebration, as noted by the Serbian Orthodox Church. Among the attendees were high-ranking officials of Republika Srpska, including Željka Cvijanović, Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Radovan Višković, Prime Minister; and Aleksandar Vulin, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia.

In his sermon, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized the profound mystery of Christ’s Nativity, which bridges the divide between humanity and God. He stated:

"We are blessed to continue rejoicing in the miraculous birth of the Son of God. Through Christ, an unbreakable bond between God and humanity has been established, calling each of us to respond with an open heart to His love."

The Patriarch also reflected on the legacy of Saint Sava, the first Archbishop of Serbia, whose 850th anniversary is being commemorated this year. He described Saint Sava as the founder of Serbian spiritual identity and remarked:

"The Gospel of Christ is the infallible measure of all laws and principles. Faith in Christ and His love shape our people, urging us to extend love to everyone."

Following the liturgy, a reception was held, attended by religious leaders and government officials.

About Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of the two administrative entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina, established in 1992 during the breakup of Yugoslavia. Its capital is Banja Luka, and it is home to approximately 1.3 million people, predominantly of Serbian ethnicity. Following the Bosnian War, the Dayton Agreement of 1995 granted Republika Srpska official status as part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with significant autonomy in domestic governance, economics, and culture. The official languages are Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian, with both Cyrillic and Latin scripts in use.