On the Orthodox Day of Remembrance of the Departed, His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia led a solemn memorial service in Belgrade’s Church of Saint Sava for the victims of the tragic train station accident in Novi Sad, which claimed 16 lives.

Thousands of faithful attended the liturgy, together with President Aleksandar Vučić, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister Đuro Macut, members of the Serbian government, and representatives of the public.

Patriarch Porfirije prayed for the repose of the victims — Nemanja, Anđela, Sara, Valentina, Đorđe, Milica, Miloš, Stefan, Sanja, Goranka, Vukašin, Mileva, Đura, Vasjka, Ana, and Vukašin — saying:

“May the Lord grant rest to the souls of those whose names we have remembered, and may He bestow eternal life upon each of them.”

In his homily following the service, the Patriarch reminded the faithful that true comfort is found only in the hope of resurrection and eternal life, calling for unity, peace, and love among the Serbian people:

“May the Lord grant peace first to each of us, and then among us all. Only in this way will we preserve the blessing of Saint Sava. Let each of us strive to become better than we were.”

Commemorative gatherings were held across Serbia. In Novi Sad, a memorial liturgy and requiem service took place at the Cathedral Church, attended by Mayor Žarko Mičin, Provincial Government Chair Maja Gojković, city council members, and many residents.

Citizens of Novi Sad gathered at 16 locations — one for each victim — to lay flowers and light candles at the railway station. The main memorial concluded with 16 minutes of silence on the Embankment of the Raid Victims, as wreaths were set afloat on the Danube River, and 16 lanterns were released from the Petrovaradin Fortress into the night sky.

Similar memorial events took place in Belgrade, Niš, Kraljevo, Kruševac, Šabac, and Leskovac. In the capital, people laid flowers at Republic Square, while moments of silence were observed at several intersections. In Leskovac, a mourning procession ended in front of the Faculty of Technology.

The governments of Serbia and Republika Srpska declared a national day of mourning, and the Serbian diaspora organized remembrance events abroad to honor the victims.