On the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Rakovica Monastery. In his homily to the faithful, the Patriarch emphasized the role of the Theotokos as the Mother of all believers and the “Ladder uniting heaven and earth.” He highlighted that through humility, faith, and trust in God’s providence, the Virgin Mary became “the holiest throne” and the highest example of a human being through whom God speaks to humanity, and through whom humanity speaks to God.
Reflecting on Christ’s example of care for His own Mother, Patriarch Porfirije urged the faithful to take responsibility for their mothers, sisters, and daughters, with particular concern for single mothers and women suffering from violence in Serbia:
“The prayer of the Most Holy Theotokos reaches the ear of God, and in her intercession she embraces every one of us. That is why we pray to her and to her Son, who loved His Mother so deeply that He should be an example for us all. Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us how we ought to treat our mothers and women in general. Even as He was crucified, carrying the burden of the whole world, He placed special emphasis on the care of His Mother, entrusting her to Saint John the Theologian. This example of the Lord must be an inspiration for every one of us to care for our mothers and for every woman.”
The Patriarch also drew attention to alarming statistics and social realities in Serbia:
“We must especially care for our mothers here in Serbia, for if the information I have heard is correct, there are 320,000 single mothers in our country. Where are the men, the fathers, and the brothers? Today, as we turn to the Most Holy Theotokos, we must open our hearts to our mothers, sisters, and daughters. Not only is there such a high number of single mothers among us, but there are also countless women—whose number we do not know—who endure various forms of violence,” he said.
Patriarch Porfirije’s heartfelt message called for gospel-inspired responsibility and compassion in addressing these pressing social issues, reminding the faithful that honoring the Virgin Mary must also mean supporting and protecting women in their own communities.
