Serbian Foster Mother Honored for Lifetime of Care for Orphaned Children

Milena Todorović. Photo: politika.rs

BELGRADE — Milena Todorović of Jadranska Lešnica has received the “Milunka Savić” award in recognition of her lifelong dedication to caring for children without parents. The honor, presented by Serbia’s Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs as part of the “Seven Magnificent Women” program, acknowledges decades of foster care that defined her life.

Born in 1938, Todorović opened her home to dozens of orphaned children beginning in 1967, becoming one of the first foster parents in her region. Alongside raising her own three children, she welcomed foster children as equals, offering them a stable family environment. Some children from state care facilities also spent summers in her home.

Due to her age and health, Todorović was unable to attend the ceremony at the Presidency of Serbia, and the award was accepted on her behalf by her son, Zoran. Local officials praised her “quiet but immense” contribution to society and a foster-care tradition that remains a defining feature of Jadranska Lešnica.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Longin had been forbidden by Ukrainian authorities from caring for the orphans in his care. 

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