His Holiness Pope Tawadros II visited the Saint Sava Theological School in Belgrade, where he was welcomed by Father Radomir Vrušinić, the Dean of the school, His Grace Bishop Ilarion, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch of Serbia, as well as a large number of the school’s professors and students.
The Dean warmly welcomed His Holiness, saying:
“Welcome, Your Holiness, to the oldest secondary school in Belgrade, the Saint Sava Theological Seminary. It is an honor for me, the professors, and the students of this institution to receive you today as a dear guest in our hearts, representing the ancient and glorious Coptic Orthodox Church.”
Father Vrušinić then gave a brief history of the school, founded in 1810, noting that throughout its history, it has sought truth and understanding in a world filled with inequality, violence, forced migration, discrimination, and poverty. The school has remained a steadfast foundation for spirituality, culture, and knowledge. Many great minds have emerged from it, bearing witness to the faith in the Resurrection—a faith that dispels fear and brings hope amid suffering.
Addressing His Holiness, he continued:
“Your Holiness, your lecture today represents another bridge of sincere openness and brotherly love between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church. Welcome to Saint Sava Institute. We are honored to give you the floor.”
His Holiness Pope Tawadros then delivered his lecture titled: “The Spiritual System of the Christian Human Being”, beginning with:
“I am delighted to be with you in this distinguished place, speaking to youth like you who are building the future. I would like to speak about the spiritual system of the Christian human being. Spiritually, this system consists of three components: the ear, the eye, and the heart.”
(1) The Ear: An external and internal organ. What matters is not what or whom we hear, but how we hear.
Hearing comes from the virtue called obedience, a beloved word that represents the life of a successful person. The Bible says:
“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35).
There are people who hear but do not understand:
“Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13)
Examples of people who attentively listened to God’s voice:
Prophet Moses (at the burning bush)
Saint Anthony (through the Gospel)
Saint Augustine (through the Life of Anthony)
Seven ways to hear God’s voice:
Voice of conscience – Keep it awake and alive, listen in quiet not noise.
Voice of the commandment – Through regular reading of the Word of God.
Voice of the spiritual guide – Through confession and spiritual guidance sessions.
Voice of nature – Earthquakes, pandemics, disasters—heavenly calls for repentance.
Voice of life – Through events and the stories of others.
Voice of the Church – Through the fathers and oral tradition.
Voice of others – God speaks through those around you.
(2) The Eye: The organ of light in a person.
A simple eye lights the body: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22–23)
A good eye brings light, an evil one brings darkness. Sight is external; insight is internal.
The devil tempted Eve with a fruit pleasant to the eyes, and David looked and sinned.
A pure eye sees things rightly: “The commandments of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8)
How to have a pure eye:
Contemplate Christ’s face – in prayer and the sacraments.
Read the Gospel – through study and meditation.
Befriend the saints – through their names and biographies.
Visit sacred places – through retreats and pilgrimages.
Serve the needy – by caring for orphans and widows.
(3) The Heart: The organ of life, the center of love and divine knowledge.
A pure heart sees God: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Purity of heart is achieved through good company, good readings, good viewing, and good listening.
If you seek a pure heart, dive deep within yourself, pray with repentance, rest in the Church’s embrace, and make purity your life’s goal.
Keep your heart circumcised: if you notice hatred, envy, or lust—cast it out immediately, so your heart remains pure and sees God both now and eternally.
After the lecture, His Holiness answered students’ questions on God’s authority in nature, communal coexistence, and balancing listening to others with one’s conscience. He said:
“God has authority over all creation—from the smallest cell to the greatest planet. The Church is the place where man finds freedom and salvation. It is the only house of salvation, where the Body and Head of Christ dwell. Balance is achieved through God’s love poured into our hearts, through prayer, the commandments, and a life of obedience and love.”
The visit concluded with words of thanks and appreciation to His Holiness amid enthusiastic applause from students and faculty, who expressed deep gratitude for this historic visit and for the lecture they described as a sign of love and connection between the two peoples and Churches.
Earlier, His Holiness Pope Tawadros had visited the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the Zemun district, where he was received by His Grace Bishop Ilarion, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch of Serbia, and several priests. The atmosphere was filled with love, and His Holiness was briefed on the church’s rich history and unique architectural style.
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