On the feast of the Equal-to-the-Apostles, Saints Cyril and Methodius on May 24/11, 2024, the Missionary Department of the Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovci celebrated its first patron’s day on its premises, within the parish house of the St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Dorcol. His Holiness, the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Porfirije, blessed the festive bread with prayer and then broke it with the attending priests and members of the Department.
The Patriarch then gave an inspired sermon, which he began by recounting the event of the Ressurection, the principal tenet of our faith, and emphasised the need to bear witness to the Risen Lord. The Patriarch explained that the Church, by its very nature, is mission-oriented, pointing to the Gospel message of our Lord: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…” He also reminded those present that there are different forms of church mission. With regards to the founding of the Missionary Department, the Patriarch put a special emphasis on the need for the systematic organisation of the missionary activities within the Archbishopric.
Presbyter Dr. Oliver Subotic, the head of the Department then expressed his thanks to the Patriarch, on behalf of all the members of the Missionary Department. He pointed out the significance of the founding of the Missionary Department and declared that the contribution of Patriarch Porfirije in this regard will be inscribed in gold in the Archbishopric’s missionary historical records.
The Patriarch spent around two hours conversing with the guests, discussing various mission-related topics. The activities of each of the Missionary Department Sections were addressed individually, and many new mission-related ideas were considered. The atmosphere was special, and it inspired all those present to continue with their work in the missionary field.
In addition to the celebrants, which include the head of the Department, Father Oliver Subotic, the coordinators Deacon Dr. Aleksandar Milojkov and Zoran Lukovic, the secretary Nebojisa Misevic and the translator Ljiljana Mutavdzic, the celebration was also attended by Archpriest Djordje Stojisavljevic, the head of the Cabinet of the Serbian Patriarch, Archdeacon Dr. Dragan Radic, a professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade, Archdeacon Radomir Vrucinic, the rector of the Seminary of St. Sava in Belgrade, the members of the brotherhood of the St. Alexander Nevsky Church, including its head priest Stevan Vukic, Archpriest Branislav Jelic, Priest Milorad Sredojevic, and Deacon Dr. Djordje Petrovic. Also present were the members of the Expert Council of the Missionary Department of the Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovci – priests Vladimir Markovic, Vladimir Radovic, Zoran Radojevic, Nenad Velickovic, Vladan Vicentijevic and Aleksandar Mitrovic, and many friends and collaborators of the Missionary Department of the Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovci. There were also guests from other countries, to whom the Patriarch paid special attention.
Photo: Missionary Department of the AEM You can view the selected photos from the celebration of the Department’s patron saint’s day below:
