Serbian authorities, together with the Serbian Orthodox Church, have announced plans to establish a new university named after Saint Sava, according to the Tanjug news agency.

A memorandum of cooperation outlining the initiative was signed at a Serbian government session on April 2. The document sets out a framework for joint work on the project, which aims to combine state educational standards with spiritual and moral principles.

Church representatives emphasized that the memorandum does not mean the university has already been created. Instead, it marks the initial stage of development, focusing on designing the institution’s concept, structure, academic programs, and legal framework—a process expected to take considerable time.

The idea of establishing such a university has been discussed in Serbia for several years. According to its proponents, the institution would primarily focus on humanities and social sciences, with a strong emphasis on the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

Currently, theological education in Serbia is offered through individual faculties and religious schools affiliated with the Church. One of the main academic centers is University of Belgrade, where an Orthodox theological faculty operates within the broader state system. The proposed university would represent a more comprehensive structure, bringing together ecclesiastical and secular approaches under one institution.

The initiative has already sparked public debate and media discussion, particularly regarding the role of the Church in higher education and the broader concept of the будущего университета. Some observers see it as a significant shift from the existing model, in which theological education is integrated into state universities.

At present, Orthodox education in Serbia follows a combined path: future clergy typically begin their training in seminaries before continuing their studies at secular universities. Seminaries provide foundational religious education but are not considered full higher education institutions. Advanced academic training is then pursued at universities, where programs follow the standard European system of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies.

Officials and Church leaders have urged caution in drawing conclusions, stressing that the project remains in its early stages and that key decisions about its structure and role are yet to be finalized.