Orthodox Church calls on students to return to universities

Patriarch Porfirije, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), urged students on Sunday 16 March to return to primary and secondary schools, as well as universities, emphasising the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding, reports N1.

“I would like to say, relying on today’s Gospel, that our children should return to classrooms, to primary and secondary schools, and to universities. By blocking everything that is sinful – blocking evil thoughts, evil words and evil deeds toward one another – we can all engage in conversation, learning from and teaching each other to find the best path, a path where there is room for everyone,” Patriarch Porfirije stated after a liturgy at the Church of Saint Sava, according to the SPC Information Service.

Addressing the ongoing student protests, he acknowledged the concerns about their demands, while refraining from making definitive judgments on whether they had been met. His message comes amid ongoing student-led protests in Serbia, which have drawn significant public attention. The patriarch’s appeal is likely to spark further discussions on the role of religious and moral authority in the current social and political climate.
Full report on the N1 site