Serbian Patriarch Porfirije was solemnly welcomed at the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Ljubljana on September 12, as the Orthodox community marked the 90th anniversary of the beginning of regular services at the church.

The visit was part of the Serbian Orthodox Church primate’s trip to the Slovenian capital. Several hundred worshippers attended the service, alongside hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore, representatives of Serbian state institutions and members of the diplomatic corps.

Patriarch Porfirije was welcomed by Bishop Kirilo of Buenos Aires and South and Central America, who is currently serving as the temporary administrator of the Zagreb-Ljubljana Metropolitanate.

Speaking to the congregation, Patriarch Porfirije said he was particularly happy to return to Ljubljana, recalling his personal connection with the city. It was there that he celebrated his first Divine Liturgy as a bishop of the Zagreb-Ljubljana Metropolitanate.

“When I come here, I truly feel that I am returning home, to my brothers and sisters,” the patriarch said.

He also reflected on the church’s 90-year history, saying the anniversary represented more than a date on a calendar. For generations of Orthodox Christians, the church has been a place where Divine Liturgies, baptisms, weddings and other sacraments have been celebrated.

Patriarch Porfirije highlighted the importance of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the ninth-century missionaries to the Slavs after whom the church is named. He said the two saints were able to overcome linguistic and national boundaries in spreading the Christian faith among the Slavic peoples.

The patriarch urged believers to demonstrate their faith through their actions rather than words alone.

“We are called to be Christ’s, to witness to Christ not only through words, but through our lives,” he said.

According to Patriarch Porfirije, Christ should occupy a central place in every person’s life. When that happens, he said, people become closer not only to God but also to one another.

The Serbian Orthodox primate also thanked the people of Slovenia for their hospitality, emphasizing the bonds that Serbs and Slovenes can find in their shared Christian heritage.

On Sunday, September 13, Patriarch Porfirije is scheduled to preside over a festive Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Ljubljana.