PATRIARCH SERVES MORNING CHRISTMAS LITURGY AT THE TEMPLE OF SAINT SAVA

BELGRADE, JANUARY 7 /SRNA/ - His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije served the morning Christmas Divine Liturgy at the Temple of Saint Sava in the presence of a large number of worshippers.

Concelebrating with the Patriarch were his vicars - Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo and Bishop Tihon of Moravica - as well as clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church /SOC/.

During the liturgy, the Christmas Epistle of Patriarch Porfirije was read, in which he called on the Serbian people to overcome divisions, emphasizing that Christmas is a holiday of peace.

"We call on everyone to embrace one another, to extend a hand to one another, and to understand that we are necessary to one another," the Epistle states, adding that the Christian faith does not teach us to wait for better times in moments of crisis, but rather to become living signs of the future Kingdom of God ourselves - people who already live differently, who do not heal fear with fear, nor hatred with hatred.

After the conclusion of the morning liturgy, the traditional breaking of the "česnica" bread was held on the plateau in front of the Temple of Saint Sava, organized by the Union of Bakers of Serbia.

The česnica weighs around 200 kilograms and contains 33 gold coins intended for children, who will also receive 4,000 crosses and 2,000 gift packages.

The Christmas česnica breaking ceremony has been organized for the 35th time on the plateau in front of the Temple of Saint Sava.

Earlier, the midnight liturgy at the Temple of Saint Sava was served by Bishop Aleksej of Hvosno, who is also a vicar bishop.