On the feast of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius, 24/11.   In May 2024, the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlova celebrated its first baptism in its premises, which are located at the Parish House of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Dorćol.

The celebration cake was consecrated with a prayer by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Porphyry, and then, together with the present priests and members of the Department, broke it. In the continuation, Patriarch Porphyry delivered an inspired sermon, which he started from the event of the Resurrection, the central point of our faith, and emphasized the need to bear witness to the Risen Lord. The Patriarch explained that the Church is missionary in nature, pointing to the Lord's words Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and reminded those present of the different types of church missions. Regarding the establishment of the Missionary Department, His Holiness particularly emphasized the need for a systematic organization of missionary activities in the Archdiocese. 

On behalf of all members of the Missionary Department, presbyter Dr. Oliver Subotić, manager of the Department, thanked the Patriarch. He emphasized the importance of the establishment of the Missionary Department and pointed out that Patriarch Porfirije wrote golden letters in the missionary history of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovica.

The Patriarch spent about two hours in conversation with those present, raising various missionary topics. During the conversation, the previous activities of each department of the Missionary Department were mentioned individually, and several new missionary ideas could be heard. The atmosphere of the conversation with the Patriarch was special and motivated all present to further work and effort in the missionary field.

In addition to today's celebrants, administrator presbyter Oliver Subotic, coordinators deacons Dr. Aleksandar Milojkov and Zoran Luković, secretary Nebojiša Mišević and translator Ljiljana Mutavdžić, the slav gathering was attended by archpriest Đorđe Stojisavljević, head of the Cabinet of the Serbian Patriarch; protodeacon Dr. Dragan Radi, professor at the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Belgrade; protodeacon Radomir Vrućinić, rector of the Seminary of St. Sava in Belgrade; as well as the members of the brotherhood of the temple of St. Alexander Nevsky: elder presbyter Stevan Vukić, archpriest Branislav Jelić, presbyter Milorad Sredojević and deacon Dr. Đorđe Petrović. Members of the Professional Council of the Missionary Department were also present: presbyters Vladimir Marković, Vladimir Radović, Zoran Radojević and Nenad Veličković, presbyters Vladan Vićentijević and Aleksandar Mitrović, as well as many friends, collaborators of the Missionary Department and guests from other countries to whom the Patriarch paid special attention.

Source: Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovačka