Your Grace, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, dear brothers and sisters—may God bless you all! Thank you for being with us this evening.
As I came to deliver the opening remarks for this gathering, I reflected on what concise message I could convey—one that would be memorable, clear, impactful, and inspiring.
I recalled the words of John F. Kennedy: „Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.“ Today, we often hear the question: „What can the Church do for me?“ Yet, we rarely hear: „What can I do for my holy Church—for the mother who gave birth to me and nurtured me within her spiritual bosom? What can I do for the mission of my Mother Church?“ Very few people voice this.
Tonight, we are witnessing the results of a project that has been running for two years—a project born precisely from that very question: „What can I do for my Mother Church? How can I contribute to her mission?“—rather than merely asking what the Church can do for me. Two years ago, Mr. Branislav Ilić submitted a proposal to the Missionary Department to create this web portal; we immediately adopted the proposal and set to work. In these two years, the portal has borne abundant fruit, and it is set to grow even further in the years to come. This portal stems from the enthusiasm and questioning spirit of one man who asked himself: „What can I do to contribute to the mission of our holy Church?“ He gathered around himself a great number of collaborators—both clergy and members of God’s faithful people—demonstrating just how much the enthusiasm of a single individual can achieve. I would invite everyone present tonight to join in the mission of their Mother Church and ask themselves: „What can I do for the work the Church has been carrying out for centuries?“—for there is something each of us can do. Perhaps not every one of us possesses the oratorical brilliance of Saint Bishop Nikolai, nor the theological depth of Saint Gregory the Theologian, nor the gifts of a spiritual builder and gatherer; yet, each of us can support those who are active in these fields. This portal stands as a symbol of this—a symbol of unity around a shared idea: the idea of active participation in the Church’s mission.
I thank you all—above all our brother Branislav, as well as our host, Father Radomir, who was involved in a similar missionary project called Verujem („I Believe“) two decades ago. With God’s help, this electronic mission of ours is branching out, and I hope it will continue to do so in the future.
May you be well.
Thank you.
Opening remarks by Presbyter Dr. Oliver Subotić, Head of the Missionary Department of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovci, at the gathering held on September 14, 2026, marking the second anniversary of the „Kinonia“ portal.
Source: Kinonia Portal
Photo: Hram Television Archive
