“The Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci was established in April of last year, on the day when we liturgically commemorate one of the Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers from Thessalonica, Saint Cyril,” stated Deacon Dušan Todorović, Secretary of the Missionary Department, in an interview for Radio Svetigora. He emphasised that this is the first department of its kind in our Church, dedicated to missionary work in a systematic and structured manner.
“Similar departments exist in some of the larger Local Orthodox Churches and have proven to be very fruitful. On the other hand, the mission of the Church is its primary duty and essential task. In order for the Church to respond adequately to contemporary challenges, a genuinely systematic and thoughtful approach is necessary. From this need emerged the idea to establish the Missionary Department, whose offices are located at the parish house of the Church of Saint Alexander Nevsky in Dorćol,” he noted.
Speaking about the structure of the department, Deacon Todorović explained that it consists of five sections: the Section for Parish Mission, the Section for External Mission, the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere, the Section for Apologetic Mission, and the Section for Electronic Mission.
“The Section for Parish Mission includes mentoring work primarily with newly ordained parish clergy who have up to three years of pastoral service. This involves thematic lectures and direct guidance related to specific pastoral challenges and dilemmas.
We also have the Section for External Mission. The coordinator of this section is Presbyter Dr Oliver Subotić, who is also the head of the entire Missionary Department of the Archdiocese. This section focuses on missionary work among foreign nationals who temporarily or permanently reside in the Archdiocese and express interest in Orthodox Christianity. Additionally, there is the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere. Its goal is to overcome prejudices against the Church—particularly those held by certain intellectuals or university professors—through social and intellectual dialogue. These are often remnants of historical misconceptions that persist in our society.
Of particular interest is the Section for Apologetic Mission, which monitors sectarian and manipulative activities and provides expert analysis of such destructive phenomena, with the aim of informing the broader public. It is important to highlight that, over the past year, members of this section have received appeals from nearly 30 families and conducted more than 60 advisory consultations as part of their efforts to support victims of sectarian and manipulative influence. Special emphasis is also placed on preventive work, including lectures, workshops, and educational initiatives. Notably, the section collaborates with experts from around the world, given that these phenomena are widespread and continually evolving.
The Section for Electronic Mission is particularly important in today’s digital age. One of the core goals of this section is to develop and enhance the Church’s missionary presence online, in the virtual realm, by promoting Christian values and ways of life. We must be aware that we live in a time when nearly everything is accessible through the internet and social media—essentially with a single click. Therefore, there is a strong rationale for the Church to maintain a meaningful presence in the digital domain,” stated Father Dušan Todorović.
In addition to the coordinators for each section, the work of the Missionary Department includes contributions from expert collaborators in various fields, as well as groups of volunteers whose efforts are invaluable. In the interview, Father Dušan also reviewed the department’s current activities and outlined plans for the future.
