Patr. Porfirije Served Funeral for General Ratko Mladić

KOŠUTNJAK, SERBIA — As reported by UOJ-Serbia, thousands of people gathered in Belgrade on September 7, 2026, to attend the funeral of General Ratko Mladić, former commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska. The funeral service was held at the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke in Košutnjak, followed by burial at Topčider Cemetery.

The church opened its doors at 7 a.m., allowing Mladić’s son Darko, family members, comrades, and mourners to gather around the bier. After a requiem liturgy celebrated by Archpriest Đorđe Stojisavljević, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije led the funeral service at noon. Numerous bishops, clergy, and monastics concelebrated.

The area surrounding the church became crowded with thousands of mourners from Serbia and Serbian communities abroad. The gathering included many young people and families with children, with attendees carrying candles as they paid their respects to the former military commander.

During his sermon, Patr. Porfirije spoke about death, human destiny, and divine judgment. He described death as the “last enemy” defeated through Christ’s Resurrection and emphasized that earthly courts do not have the final say over a person’s destiny, saying that true justice rests in God’s hands. He also spoke of Mladić’s historical place in the collective memory while calling for prayer for all victims of the past war.

The funeral at Topčider Cemetery began at 2 p.m. and was conducted with the highest military honors. Darko Mladić and Bp. Dositej addressed the mourners at the cemetery, where the former commander was laid to rest following the funeral service.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Porfirije appeared in a new documentary on St. Sava.