Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic extended Christmas Eve and Christmas greetings to Orthodox believers who observe the Julian calendar on Tuesday.
Serbian Patriarch Porfirije also called for unity in his holiday message, warning that internal political tensions have fuelled deep divisions and distrust in Serbia.
Vucic said he believed Serbs would show the best of themselves “so that we can build a safer and fairer future”.
“The strength of a country is measured not only by its economy and power, but also by its ability to keep its dignity, unity and hope in difficult times,” Vucic said.
In his holiday message, Porfirije said Christmas Eve and Christmas were a celebration of peace, “when we must overcome divisions and reach out a hand”.
He said the situation in Serbia was currently complex and difficult because, as he put it, internal political tensions had led to deep divisions in society and distrust among people, while differences of opinion were increasingly turning into “irrational hatred”.
“The loss of national and cultural identity is especially worrying, which calls into question the continuity of our people’s historical and spiritual self-confidence and cannot be explained only by external influences,” Porfirije said in his address, published on the Serbian Orthodox Church website.
Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Chair Milos Vucevic brought a large oak log (badnjak) into the Presidency building in Belgrade, in line with the Christmas Eve tradition for Serbs who follow the Julian calendar, photos on Vucevic’s Instagram profile showed.
“May the joy of Christmas strengthen us and inspire us to preserve even more peace, tolerance, brotherly love and harmony. Let us continue to strengthen, protect and defend our homeland Serbia,” Vucevic wrote.
He also brought a badnjak to the SNS headquarters, saying that “everyone must carry their cross”, referring to his resignation as prime minister under pressure from anti-government protests in January 2025.
The badnjak is a symbol of the Christmas holidays in Serbia and, by tradition, the tree cut from the forest is placed in the fireplace to burn.
Its burning is accompanied by prayers that the coming year will bring happiness, love, good luck and prosperity. Under Serbian tradition, the badnjak should burn throughout the day on January 6.