Serbian Patriarch Porfirije served a holy liturgy today to celebrate the feast of the holy apostles Peter and Paul at a church built in the Belgrade neighborhood of Kotež. In his sermon, the patriarch emphasized that the apostles Peter and Paul show that the meaning of the church is not in uniformity, but in unity of heart. “Whoever has faith, true, real, deep faith, holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven,” the patriarch said. He highlighted that the apostles are an example of how different people can have different opinions and even disputes over important matters, but this does not mean dictatorial uniformity; rather, people of faith and repentance are connected by unity of heart. The patriarch also ordained deacon Nemanja Radovanović to the priesthood, marking this significant religious event. This message comes at a time when the church is often expected to be a place of uniformity, but Patriarch Porfirije clearly states that faith is much more complex and richer than that. The apostles Peter and Paul, as pillars of Christianity, show that the strength of the church lies in diversity and togetherness, not in uniformity of opinion. This event and the patriarch’s message provoke reflection on how faith and community can be built on respect for differences, not on forcing unity at any cost.
