Patron saint's day celebrated at Banjska Monastery: Let us be those who build, not those who destroy

The patron saint's day of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen was celebrated today at Banjska Monastery in the presence of a large number of worshippers. The Divine Liturgy was officiated by Bishop Pajsije of Dioclea, Vicar Bishop to the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.

In his sermon, Bishop Pajsije told the faithful that the goal of every Christian was for God's goodness and love to dwell within them.

"Through our lives, we should not drive Christ away from us, but allow Him to dwell within us and submit in all things to the will of God. Today we celebrate the Holy Archdeacon Stephen, who is said to have been filled with wisdom and the goodness of God. This was evident when he was innocently condemned to death. He said, 'God, do not hold this sin against them.' Today, as we celebrate the patron saint of this ancient Nemanjic holy monastery, we pray that God may grant us, with one heart and one soul, the wisdom and goodness that He bestowed upon him. We glorify our God and hope that He will grant us eternal life," Pajsije said, extending greetings on the feast day on behalf of Metropolitan Joanikije, the brotherhood of Cetinje, and the people of Montenegro.

Addressing the faithful, Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo said that people should forgive even those who hate them, although this was not easy.

"We are gathered here at a place where the glory of God has been revealed, but also at a place of our suffering. Let us not forget all those who suffered innocently. It is important that the earth reveal everything it holds beneath it, that nothing remain hidden, so that no one's blood cries out to the heavens. Particularly in these days, we should pray for our brothers and sisters whose homes are being demolished, who are being beaten, humiliated, and intimidated. This is not the first time this has happened, and on behalf of the Serbian Patriarch, I tell you that we must remain and build peace with all people of goodwill. That is the only message of our love. We are servants of the Gospel, the Good News—we must be those who build, not those who destroy, those who speak the truth to the entire world. What we sing at Easter, we should practice every day: we should say 'brother' even to those who hate us. I know that is not always easy, but that is our faith," Ilarion said.

Following the Liturgy, Milena Parlic, Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, said that it was an honor to spend the day among so many worshippers who demonstrated their love for their faith and their people every day.

"It is a great day for the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people when we celebrate a feast that is particularly important because it carries special strength and significance for the Serbian people and the Church, especially in view of the beatings of our people, forcible entries into homes, people being forcibly taken away without explanation, detentions, and trials without a single piece of evidence. These are difficult times, but a large number of people from Zvecan have gathered here today without fear, with dignity, their heads held high and filled with hope that God will bring justice, because there is no earthly, international, or European justice for the Serbian people," Parlic said.

She also emphasized the significance of Banjska Monastery, the endowment of King Milutin.

"Our holy King Milutin left us this place, which throughout history has been a place of gathering, strength, and resistance, a place of love and prayer, and with God's help, that is how it will remain. Our ancestors left us roots that cannot be torn out and cannot be arrested. Those roots sustain us, and we gather here because our ancestors left them to us for difficult times such as these, so that those roots may be the source from which our strength and spirit are renewed and through which we rise again. On behalf of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and its Director Petar Petkovic, I wish all worshippers a blessed feast day. God willing, we will continue to gather in ever greater numbers, in peace and in the joy of God," Parlic said.

She noted that the state of Serbia and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija were always there for the Serbian Orthodox Church, the faithful, and their legitimately elected representatives.

"The Office for Kosovo and Metohija has stood by its people and its Church from the very first day, even when we are not physically present. The people know that we are with them in spirit and through our actions, that we communicate with them every day, and that we strive to stand by them and the Church even beyond what our resources allow," Parlic concluded.

Following the Liturgy, worshippers filled the monastery grounds in large numbers and told the media that prayer was what gave them strength, while faith in God sustained them in the region. They said that God answered their prayers because, no matter how difficult the times might be, Serbs remained and endured there.

"It means a great deal to us. We traveled from Nis, through Germany and Greece, and came here. We return here every year," said a mother of five who attended today's Liturgy with her husband.

An elderly resident of Zvecan said that the church had gathered Serbs around it for centuries and would continue to do so.

"We were born here, baptized here, married here, celebrated victories here, and prayed to God here when we were in trouble. And so we bear witness today, and since the 14th century we have gathered around this holy place. We pray for our health, our families, and our homeland, Serbia," he said.

One worshipper said that everyone should pray to God for better times.

"Gathering around our holy sites means a great deal to us. We pray to the Lord, each in our own way, as best we know how. God willing, things will get better for all of us," she added.