Pope Tawadros II Addresses Students at Belgrade’s Saint Sava Theological School

OCP News Service – 07/05/2025

Belgrade-Serbia: His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church made a significant visit to the Saint Sava Theological School in Belgrade, where he delivered an insightful lecture on “The Spiritual System of the Christian Human Being” to a welcoming audience of faculty and students. He was greeted by Father Radomir Vrušinić, the Dean of the school, and His Grace Bishop Ilarion, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch of Serbia.

Dean Vrušinić warmly welcomed Pope Tawadros, highlighting the honor of hosting the representative of the ancient and glorious Coptic Orthodox Church at Belgrade’s oldest secondary school, founded in 1810. He emphasized the school’s enduring commitment to truth, spirituality, culture, and knowledge amidst global challenges, noting that Pope Tawadros’ lecture would serve as “another bridge of sincere openness and brotherly love” between the Serbian and Coptic Orthodox Churches.

In his lecture, Pope Tawadros outlined a spiritual system comprised of “the ear, the eye, and the heart.” He stressed the importance of hearing with understanding and obedience, identifying seven ways to discern God’s voice, including conscience, scripture, spiritual guides, nature, life events, the Church’s tradition, and the voices of others. Regarding the eye, he spoke of the contrast between a simple eye that brings light and an evil one that brings darkness, urging the students to cultivate a pure eye through contemplation of Christ, reading the Gospel, befriending the saints, visiting sacred places, and serving the needy. Finally, concerning the heart, Pope Tawadros described it as the center of love and divine knowledge, emphasizing that a pure heart, achieved through good influences and a commitment to casting out negative emotions, is essential to seeing God.

Following his address, Pope Tawadros engaged with the students, answering questions on topics such as God’s authority in nature, communal coexistence, and balancing external voices with one’s conscience. He emphasized God’s overarching authority and the Church as a place of freedom and salvation, advocating for a life balanced by God’s love, prayer, the commandments, and a spirit of obedience and love.

The visit concluded with enthusiastic applause and expressions of deep gratitude from the students and faculty, who recognized the event as a historic moment and a testament to the love and connection between the Serbian and Coptic Orthodox peoples and Churches.