In response to the Serbian Orthodox Church’s (SPC) statement, students have declared that their protests are grounded in the values of Saint Sava. Du\u0161an S. and Nikolina Sin\u0111eli\u0107 criticized the generalization of students as unjust and urged the Church to support young people striving for a better society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the SPC’s condemnation of protesting students, labeling them as “living in parallel universes,” the first reactions from students have emerged. A reporter from Vreme<\/em> covering the blockade at Autokomanda noted that the protesting students met this statement with strong criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the students actively participating in the blockade is Du\u0161an S. from Ni\u0161.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He chose to honor Saint Sava’s Day by supporting his colleagues in Belgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Du\u0161an described the SPC’s statement as “shameful” and argued that a religious institution should not ignore pressing societal issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I believe that the vast majority of students blocking the faculties will distance themselves from such behavior. This holiday, Saint Sava\u2019s Day, is extremely important, and I think it is irresponsible of the Serbian Orthodox Church to generalize students’ actions and associate all those gathered at Autokomanda with that smaller group of people who very likely are not even students,” Du\u0161an said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that the Serbian Orthodox Church should stand in solidarity with the students’ demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “They criticize us based on the actions of a few individuals, failing to understand that most students are simply fighting for their demands to be met. These actions do not align with the values we uphold.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nREAD MORE: <\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n