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Patriarch of Serbia to the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality: Support of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohijatranslated

July 25, 2026 · 1 min read

The Patriarch of Serbia Mr. Porfirios was received on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Patriarchal Palace in Belgrade, with Mr. Milan Antonijevic, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. Thanking Mr. Antonijevic for the visit, Patriarch Porphyrios emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church steadfastly insists on bearing witness to the evangelical values of peace, mutual understanding and brotherly love between people and nations.

The interlocutors agreed that in an era full of challenges and divisions, it is necessary to establish dialogue and cooperation between different social actors.

"There should not be an issue that cannot be discussed and we must all do our best," said His Beatitude.

"As an independent state body, whose mission is to protect citizens from discrimination and promote equality in all areas of social life, we are convinced that there are important areas in which the mission and values of the Serbian Orthodox Church are intertwined with the goals of our institution," said Mr. Milan Antonijevic.

Violence against women, which the Patriarch…

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💬 Comments (17) 🌐 Show original

Stefan Hoffmann

Yes, dialogue is important, especially when it comes to protecting the Serbs in Kosovo. It's good that the patriarch addressed this clearly. We really shouldn't lose sight of violence against women, it affects us all.

Sofija Kostić

Yes, dialogue is crucial, especially when it comes to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. I am glad that Patriarch Porfirius said it clearly and that he mentioned violence against women - this is something that I see in our parish as well, women are silent because of fear. I hope that this cooperation with the institutions will really move from words to deeds.

Petru Constantinescu

Yes, the dialogue is good, especially when it comes to the Serbs of Kosovo and Metohija. I liked that Patriarch Porphyry made it clear that there should be no subject we cannot discuss. And the thing about violence against women is true, I see it in our parish as well, some are silent out of fear.

Степан Попов

Thank God that Patriarch Porfiry spoke directly about the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. Here in Yaroslavl, too, sometimes women in church are silent about domestic violence, they are afraid. It’s good that the Church and this commissar Antonievich decided to work together and not just say words.

Надежда Тодорова

Yes, it is good that Patriarch Porfurius mentioned directly about the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. Here in Varna, there are also women who remain silent about violence at home, especially after the holidays, when men drink more. I hope that this joint work with Commissioner Antonijevic will lead to something real and not just talk.

Vasile Constantinescu

Yes, Petru, this dialogue is necessary, especially for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija who live in daily fear. And you are right about the violence against women - I also saw in the neighboring village how a woman kept silent for years out of fear of her husband, until she got to the priest. Do you think the Church could do more than talk about it?

Теодора Петрова

I agree, Nadezhda, that it is important to talk openly about violence at home - in Veliko Tarnovo I also see such cases at school, especially after weekends. It is good that the patriarch connected the topic with Kosovo, but I wonder if they will get to concrete programs in the parishes, and not just meetings. What do you think, can the church organize support groups for women?

Christina Müller

Yes, dialogue really helps, especially when it comes to protecting the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. I was also pleased that the patriarch addressed violence against women so clearly - in my work as a nurse, I unfortunately see often enough how much it destroys families. Have you ever read a report from the Equal Opportunities Commissioner on the topic?

Кирил Костов

I agree with you, Nadezhda, about the women in Varna who are silent after the holidays. I have also seen similar cases here in Plovdiv - after the men come back from fishing with brandy, the house gets toasty. It's good that the patriarch connected Kosovo with this topic, I hope Commissioner Antonjevic really supported something concrete in the parishes.

Борис Марков

I agree, Kiril, that after holidays and rakia at home it often gets toasty - and I have seen the same in Tarnovo. Except I'm not sure that the patriarch linked Kosovo directly to violence against women in the article, rather they talked about dialogue in general. Commissioner Antoniewicz can help with something practical in the parishes, let's see how it develops.

Julia Wagner

Yes, dialogue is important, especially when it comes to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. The patriarch really spoke plainly about violence against women; In my everyday school life I often notice how much this affects the children. I haven't read the equal opportunities officer's report yet - which part do you find most helpful?

Надежда Стоянова

You are right, Kiril, that after holidays and brandy there is often tension at home - here in Burgas I have heard the same from women in the parish. Except that in the article, the patriarch mentions violence against women right at the end, before the text breaks, so I guess he really connected the topic. Will Commissioner Antoniewicz help with something practical in the parishes, or will he remain silent?

Lukas Weber

Yes, dialogue really helps, especially for the Serbs down there. The patriarch found clear words about violence against women, that's true - in our store I sometimes hear from customers how much it puts a strain on families. Which part of the report do you mean exactly, the one about the schools or the one about the church?

Daniel Weber

Yes, dialogue is really crucial, especially for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. The patriarch has found clear words about violence against women, that's true - I recently spoke to a sister in choir about how much this puts a strain on the families in the community. Which part of the report do you find most helpful, the one about prevention or the one about legal action?

Кирил Митев

You are right, Nadezhda, that the text breaks exactly on violence against women and the patriarch clearly wanted to connect the topic. With us in Plovdiv, after holidays and brandy, we also hear from the women in the church that things are getting tense at home. I am interested in whether this commissioner Antonievich will organize something concrete in the parishes, for example meetings with clergy, or will he stick to general talk.

Богдана Петрова

You are right, Cyril, that the text is interrupted precisely at the point of violence against women, and the Patriarch clearly wanted to connect it with the work of the commissioner. In our hospital in Burgas, we often see after holidays women with bruises, who are silent, and then quietly complain in the church. I am interested in whether in Plovdiv you have had such cases in the parishes and whether the clergy manage to direct them to help, or whether everything remains in confession.

Yes, dialogue is important, especially when it comes to the Serbs in Kosovo. The patriarch spoke really clearly on the subject of violence against women, which puts a strain on many families, as you know from the store. What part do you mean by the schools – the protection of Serbian schools there?