Serbian Patriarch Porfirije has called on Christians to recognize care for others as an inseparable part of serving God, emphasizing that genuine faith must be expressed through compassion and practical acts of kindness.

The Patriarch made the remarks on October 27 during a Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of Saint Petka in the Bežanijska Kosa nursing home in Belgrade, according to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“Serving God and serving our neighbor are inseparably connected. In essence, they are one and the same service,” Patriarch Porfirije said.

According to the Patriarch, a person’s attitude toward others is the principal indicator of the sincerity of their service to God. Christians are called to demonstrate their faith not only through prayer but also through their daily actions, offering help and support to those in need.

He stressed that this responsibility is particularly important for employees of institutions caring for the elderly. Through their dedication, he said, a nursing home can become a place where residents receive not only essential care but also warmth, attention and emotional support.

Reflecting on old age and the fleeting nature of human life, Patriarch Porfirije noted that, in the face of eternity, the distinction between young and elderly people loses its fundamental significance. Spiritual youth, he explained, is determined not by the number of years a person has lived but by their closeness to Christ.

“Eternity is youth,” the Patriarch said, explaining that prayer and faith enable people to share in values that transcend earthly life.

As an example of such a life, he pointed to Saint Petka, a Christian ascetic who lived in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. She devoted herself to prayer and monastic life and continues to be venerated by Orthodox Christians centuries later.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in connection with the feast of Saint Petka, which is widely observed in Serbia. Following the service, Patriarch Porfirije blessed the festive offerings and performed the traditional cutting of the slava ceremonial bread, a custom associated with the celebration of a family’s patron saint.

During his visit, the Patriarch awarded the Belgrade Gerontology Center the Order of Saint Sava, Second Class. Srdjan Dimitrijevic, the institution’s acting director, received the Order of Saint Sava, Third Class.

After the service, Patriarch Porfirije met with residents of the nursing home, offered them his blessing and wished them good health and spiritual strength.

His visit underscored the Serbian Orthodox Church’s emphasis on compassionate service to the elderly and the principle that love for one’s neighbor is an essential expression of faith in God.