Patriarch of Serbia marks 150th anniversary of the Battle of Vučji Do

Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia presided over the Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, marking the 150th anniversary of the historic Battle of Vučji Do.

The service was celebrated on the feast of Saint Athenogenes at the church dedicated to the Hieromartyr, built at the site where, exactly 150 years ago, Serbian and Montenegrin forces won a major victory over the numerically superior Ottoman army.

In his homily, Patriarch Porfirije reflected extensively on faith, love, sacrifice and the Christian understanding of freedom, linking these themes with the legacy of those who fought at Vučji Do.

The Serbian Patriarch began by stressing that God created the world in perfection and humanity in His image and likeness, placing love at the heart of creation and human existence.

He said that Christians, despite their individual differences and gifts, become one through Christ and participation in the life of the Church. He also emphasised the central place of Saint Sava in the spiritual identity of the Serbian Orthodox people, describing him as the root from which their spiritual tradition has developed through the centuries.

Turning to the significance of Vučji Do, Patriarch…