Serbian Patriarch Porfirije participated in a ceremonial academy at the Church of St. Nicholas in Kotor’s Old Town to commemorate the 185th anniversary of the Serbian Singing Society “Jedinstvo.” During the event, he delivered a moving speech:
“Forgive me for saying this, but tonight I feel just as Saint Stephen the First-Crowned once described himself: I have returned to my ancestral home. In the deepest sense, beyond all political considerations, wherever Saint Sava walked, wherever his scepter touched, wherever prayers were lifted to the Most High God, there lies not only my heritage but the heritage of every saint and every Serb who believed in Christ and followed in His footsteps,” said the Patriarch, expressing a profound sense of spiritual connection.
He stressed that Kotor, often known as the “pearl of the Adriatic,” has been and still is a place of unity and convergence throughout its extensive history, especially during the rule of the Nemanjić dynasty:
“Kotor, the royal city, the city of Saint Sava, the city of the Nemanjićs, is a city surrounded by walls—not walls of isolation, but walls of faith in Christ. Just as the Nemanjićs solidified their state, they fortified their imperial city with impenetrable defenses. These walls were not meant to separate the space but to serve as meeting points, bridges of exchange, creativity, and connection. In Kotor, there is no division between East and West, in any aspect—materially, culturally, or spiritually.”
Patriarch Porfirije’s words underscored the lasting importance of Kotor as a hub of faith, unity, and cultural interaction, reaffirming its position in the spiritual and historical legacy of the Serbian people.
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
