On Wednesday, 11 June 2025, the guest of the Morning Programme on Hram Television was Catechist Branislav Ilić, editor of the portal Kinonia of the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci. The topic of the programme, hosted by journalist Mirjana Jelić, was the role of holy mothers in the life of the Church, and on the significance of maternal faith and love in the upbringing of children.
Catechist Branislav Ilić addressed the topic in the light of a decision made at this year’s regular May session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church—the canonisation of Saint Blessed Ana, the mother of Saint Basil of Ostrog, whose feast will be celebrated on 30 April (Old Calendar), or 13 May (New Calendar). As someone who has dedicated many years to the study of the cult, hagiography, and hymnography of Saint Basil of Ostrog, Catechist Branislav has also paid particular attention to the veneration of the saint’s mother, as documented in the film Saint Basil of Ostrog – Witness of the Resurrection, authored by Ilić himself.
At the beginning of the interview, the editor of Kinonia spoke about the importance of the Most Holy Theotokos as the Mother of all mothers, about the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, and about both spiritual and physical motherhood. According to Catechist Branislav Ilić, the Theotokos is a model for every mother, for in following the example of the Mother of God, every mother finds her true fulfillment and directs her steps along the right path. The conversation also touched upon the importance of the prenatal period, and in this context, the guest reminded the audience of the words from one of the prayers of the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, which affirms that the Lord knows every person even from their mother’s womb.
Speaking of holy mothers throughout the history of the Church to the present day, Catechist Branislav emphasized that the strength of faith and the unwavering gaze toward Christ are the defining traits of all holy mothers who have pleased God. In this part of the conversation, particular attention was given to the significance of maternal prayer in a broader sense, for the prayerful ethos of mothers is a precious gift in the raising of children.
In the second part of the interview, Catechist Branislav Ilić spoke with inspiration about the significance of the newly-glorified saint—Saint Blessed Ana, the mother of Saint Basil of Ostrog. Viewers of Hram Television were given the opportunity to hear valuable—yet regrettably not widely known—details concerning the development of the cult of Saint Blessed Ana. The conversation included mention of the miraculous discovery of the saint’s forgotten grave, the miracles that occurred at her tomb through God’s love, the uncovering of her holy relics, and the spiritual importance of her canonisation.
At the conclusion of the conversation, Catechist Branislav Ilić addressed a message to the viewers of the only Church-run television station of the Serbian Orthodox Church, calling them to follow the example of the newly-revealed Saint Blessed Ana. In her saintly person are gathered all the virtues that adorn the Christian soul—above all, the virtue of Christ-like love.
