Bsp. Hilarion: Serbian Church Stands with Republika Srpska

Bishop Hilarion. Source: Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

BELGRADE — The Serbian Orthodox Church is deeply concerned about the potential delegitimization of the institutions of Republika Srpska, according to Bsp. Hilarion of Novobrd, reports the UOJ's Serbian bureau.

Bsp. Hilarion conveyed the blessings of Pat. Porfirije at the “Days of Srpska in Serbia.” He also expressed the Serbian Orthodox Church’s solidarity with its faithful in Republika Srpska.

The Bishop emphasized that the Church is deeply troubled by processes undermining the institutions of Republika Srpska and its president, urging all parties to work toward maintaining peace and stability.

“With St. Sava as a spiritual model and the Church as a foundation, our people have always found the strength to rise again and testify that freedom is priceless,” Bsp. Hilarion stressed.

He added that today, more than ever, it is crucial to preserve unity and solidarity, as only through these can the Serbian people ensure their survival and a peaceful future for generations to come.

Republika Srpska is one of two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, established under the 1995 Dayton Agreement, with significant autonomy in governance, economy, and security.

It primarily represents Bosnian Serbs and maintains a complex relationship with the central Bosnian government, often marked by tensions over sovereignty and national identity.

The Serbian Orthodox Church had previously noted that the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National Flag is a national holiday in both Serbia and Republika Srpska.

In August, Pat. Porfirije protested the arrest of Republika Srpska president Milorad Dodik.

His Holiness also warned that, without faith, religion is reduced to mere ideology.

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