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# Patr. Porfirije Announces Orthodox University Initiative
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/87126-patr-porfirije-announces-orthodox-university-initiative/
- Published: 2026-05-13T19:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:09:32.000Z
- Description: Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church formally launched plans for the University of St. Sava, blending Orthodox tradition with modern higher education.
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, St. Sava

**BELGRADE —** His Holiness Patr. Porfirije of Serbia and Serbian Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Đuro Macuta signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 8, 2026, [establishing cooperation](https://spc.rs/sr/news/aktuelno/16611.potpisan-memorandum-o-saradnji-izmedu-drzave-i-srpske-pravoslavne-crkve-na-osnivanju-univerziteta-sveti-sava.html) between the Republic of Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church for the creation of the Serbian Orthodox University of St. Sava.

The signing ceremony, held in the Serbian Patriarchate, was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, hierarchs, clergy, educators, and government officials. Vučić emphasized the historic relationship between education and faith in Serbian society, stating that “a people without education has no future” and pledging state support for the new institution.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2026/05/87063-patr-porfirije-celebrates-feast-of-st-nikolai-velimirovi-at-leli-monastery-1a23bb6082f1.jpg)On this topicPatr. Porfirije Celebrates Feast of St. Nikolai Velimirović at Lelić Monastery](https://uoj.news/news/87063-patr-porfirije-celebrates-feast-of-st-nikolai-velimirovi-at-leli-monastery/)

Patr. Porfirije described the university as a continuation of the Church’s long educational tradition and noted that church-founded universities remain an established part of European academic life. “The establishment of the University of Saint Sava does not represent a precedent, but rather a natural inclusion in an already existing and widely accepted European and world academic tradition,” he said. The future university is expected to include theological, medical, legal, scientific, technical, and artistic studies.

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/86985-patr-porfirije-meets-us-envoy-in-belgrade) that Patr. Porfirije met with the U.S. envoy in Belgrade.