Your Grace, dear Bishop Heruvim in Christ, Right Reverend Archimandrites, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, dear brothers and sisters!
The Lord has gathered us beneath the sacred vaults of this magnificent and ancient church to share in fellowship and—in the spirit of our theme—to direct our minds, hearts, and entire beings towards the wondrous concept of the Holy Liturgy; a reflection aided by the beautiful, melodious chanting of our dear sisters.
At the outset of my remarks, I must express sincere gratitude to His Grace Bishop Heruvim, for we are blessed by his presence. His Grace will surely forgive me if I momentarily trespass against his humility by mentioning that last year—the day after we celebrated the first anniversary of our web portal—I was delighted to receive a letter from His Grace Bishop Heruvim. In it, he offered prayerful congratulations and blessings, thereby bearing witness that his love is always with us. Regarding the mission of the Church, I have had several opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations with Bishop Heruvim, and I offer him sincere thanks now, for we have his support in the Church’s mission and feel his prayers in our hearts.
I also extend my gratitude to the fathers whose love has graced this gathering today. I also thank all of you, dear brothers and sisters—especially the participants in tonight’s panel discussion—through which we have found inspiration and instruction, and gained new guidelines and tasks for the work that lies ahead. I wish to particularly highlight the tireless efforts of all the media and missionary workers associated with our portal; they invest their love, labour, and knowledge daily, truly transforming their work into a form of prayer. It is written in the *Gerontikon* (Sayings of the Desert Fathers) that any honest labour—any honest deed—is equal to prayer.
This anniversary is an opportunity to thank God for His gifts, but also to make a collective pledge here—in this holy church, before the Holy Table where the bloodless sacrifice is offered—that our future work in tending the Lord’s Vineyard will be even more active, concrete, and tireless. All of this is for the glory of God, who has called us to this apostolic mission. Every missionary walking this path should know that they have been called just as the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the Apostle Peter, and all the other apostles were called—those who bore witness to their faith through their words, deeds, and lives.
Although they often call me „Editor,“ I prefer to be their brother and friend; that is the kind of relationship I share with everyone labouring in this mission. I often like to remind both myself and all my colleagues that it is crucial to back up everything we write and say with our actions. In Novi Sad, where I teach Religious Education and serve as a media professional for *Radio-Beseda* (the station of the Eparchy of Bačka)—frequently addressing audiences both over the airwaves and from the teacher’s lectern—I strive to ensure that every word of mine is confirmed by deeds. I also ask and urge the contributors to our portal to ensure that their words are always crowned with action; only then can we be certain that our mission is blessed. Archimandrite Hrizostom reminded me of this just a few days ago, emphasizing the importance of bearing witness through our actions to the things we speak about.
Since this gathering is an occasion for us to offer thanksgiving, we wish for you to take with you a tangible token of the love we feel for you all. Above all, we wish to actively demonstrate our love for our Bishop Heruvim by presenting him with an icon of Saint Basil of Ostrog—the patron of all the missionaries working on our portal—as a memento for prayer; we ask that you pray for us all before this icon and remember us in your holy prayers. We also offer a beautiful gift—an icon crafted by the sisters of the Monastery of the Resurrection of Christ in Kać, near Novi Sad—to Father Slobodan as a memento for prayer. Since Father Aleksandar Jevtić mentioned the teachings of Elder Porphyrios Kavsokalyvites during his presentation—and knowing from my acquaintance with him of the great love he bears for this great luminary of our Church—we present him with an icon of the Venerable Porphyrios. To the esteemed Dr. Aleksandra, who has so wonderfully instructed us, we gift an icon of the Holy Martyrs of Bačka, that she may pray before it and remember us all in her prayers. Given the great mission carried out by Hram Television in support of the missionary endeavours of our Holy Church—and specifically our web portal—and noting the absence of an icon of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Bačka and Confessor of the Faith, in your premises, I present you with this icon so that Saint Irenaeus may offer you his prayerful protection and guidance in the great mission you undertake. Finally, an icon of our Lord Jesus Christ—who said, „I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life“—is gifted to the Savić sisters, that the Lord may lead, guide, and inspire them on their path.
Thank you for your attention.
Address by Catechist Branislav Ilić, editor of the „Kinonia“ portal, at a gathering held on September 14, 2026, marking the second anniversary of the „Kinonia“ portal.
Source: Kinonia Portal
Photo: Hram Television Archive
