Address of His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Porfiria to the participants of the Scientific Meeting "Legal Aspects and Consequences of the Law on Gender Equality", organized by the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Matica Srpska, on March 14, 2024 in the National Library of Serbia

Your Eminences, Reverend Fathers, Mr. President of Matica Srpska, respected law professors, lawyers, scientists, participants of the previous scientific meeting, dear guests,

Instead of the usual greeting, I am obliged to inform you that for reasons you have probably already heard about, I am unable to participate in a conversation with you about the topic we have been dealing with for three years. Namely, Our Vicar, Bishop Antonije, who was the elder of the courtyard of the Serbian Church in Moscow, has passed away. Since his last wish was to be buried at the temple of Srpski dvorje where he served since 2002, I consider it my duty to see him on his way from this perishable to eternal life. Thank you for your understanding.

The topic that brings us together and that brought us together today is too important, because the consequences of the Law on Gender Equality do not only concern our generation. The wise Serbian jurist Valtazar Bogišić at the end of the 19th century, when he coined the phrase "When a crest is born, time does not correct it" was as if he was warning us not to give up and not give up on this work. And indeed, the almost acclamation support of the entire public after our meeting held in this place two months ago, especially its Conclusions, strongly manifests that our Serbian Orthodox people, as well as other peoples with whom we share the sun's rays and the air we breathe, will not let the next generations come to the world hums ahead. Dozens and dozens of media appearances, letters, comments and messages that have reached us testify to this.

The people who live here do not agree to mothers and fathers being parent numbers - 1 and 2, and maybe 3 and 4. We don't want our children not to know who their mother is and who their father is, and in the end they don't even know who they themselves are. We do not speak and will not speak a gender-sensitive language, but the Serbian language. We do not agree that anyone should be denied human rights because they speak the Serbian language, and especially that they should be punished for that. Our people especially express their displeasure at the fact that from kindergarten, through primary and secondary schools and universities, a change in the consciousness and way of life of the individual and society as a whole is imposed by promoting gender, more specifically LGBTQIA+ policy and practice. It is contrary to every democratic principle that the personal preferences of a minority, which no one threatens in any way, and cannot threaten, become generally binding for the majority. This gathering: law professors, scientists, lawyers and other participants, I ask that today and in the following days propose what legal measures we need to take, so that in the near future we can stop dealing with this Law that tries to change the way of mutual communication, in fact completely change our way of life, our ethos.

I want to express my gratitude to Ms. Peters, one of the world's leading experts on the problems induced by gender ideology and politics, and a like-minded person of course. She traveled from Brussels to give us support, and there are many intellectuals like her in Europe and the world, which proves that we are not against democratic principles and human rights and freedom, but quite the opposite. The Church, Matica, the professional public, the entire nation, defend human rights and freedoms.

And just to once again thank Matica Srpska, who sails with the lifeblood of her people, strongly fighting for their rights, their identity and their unique recognition in the gallery of European nations and cultures.

Have a happy and blessed work.

Serbian Patriarch
+Porphyria

Source: SPC