850 YEARS SINCE THE BIRTH OF SAINT SAVA: Patriarch Porfirije served liturgy in the birthplace of the greatest Serbian Saint!

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije served the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy on the occasion of the 850th anniversary of the birth of Rastko Nemanjić, Saint Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop, in the Church of Saint Sava in Deževa.

Alongside the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the liturgy was also served by Metropolitans Ignatije of Braničevo, Fotije of Zvornik-Tuzla, Teodosije of Raška-Prizren, Bishop Gerasim of Gornji Karlovac, as well as clergy and monastics of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

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According to unofficial announcements, Patriarch Porfirije is expected to briefly visit the Church of St. Peter after the liturgy, followed by a session of the Holy Synod of Bishops to be held at the Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery.

According to legend, Rastko Nemanjić was born in the village of Miščići, though historians agree that he was born somewhere in the Deževa Valley, where all Serbian kings and two emperors of the Nemanjić dynasty were born.

The construction of the church began 13 years ago, and as announced, the official consecration of the temple is planned for September of this year.