Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia celebrated on Great and Holy Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Monastery of the Peć Patriarchate, the Vespers with the Epitaphios Service, with the prayerful participation of Abbess Haritina, the sisterhood, clergy, and faithful from Metohija and other regions.
Addressing the faithful gathered in the monastery courtyard, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that Great Friday is a sorrowful and tragic day, as “we crucified the Lord,” noting that “we continue to crucify Him whenever we are selfish and when pride rules our being.”
At the same time, he underlined that it is also a blessed day, as Christ became all that we are, experienced all that humans endure, and died on the Cross “to abolish the final barrier that separates us from the Kingdom of God, which is death,” adding that “by His death, He destroyed and conquered death.”
The Patriarch also highlighted the infinite love of God for humanity, noting that even though people often love themselves more than God, “He always embraces us, is always with us, and stands by our side.” He likened humanity to the two thieves crucified with Christ, explaining that while people may mock Him, they can also become like the repentant thief who recognized God’s love.
Patriarch Porfirije called on the faithful to strive to become better, stressing that “this is the message: to do everything we can to become better toward God and toward one another, for only in this way do we not hinder God from saving us.”
Source: spc.rs
