Serbian Armed Forces St. Patron’s Day: St. Despot Stefan, the Tall
Saturday, 1.8.2026 | Culture and traditions
The Serbian Armed Forces have solemnly marked their saint patron’s day today—Saint Despot Stefan, the Tall.
To mark the occasion, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was performed at the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark in Belgrade—which holds the status of a military church—followed by a solemn slava banquet at the Guard’s House in Topčider.
The Liturgy was performed by His Grace Dositej, Vicar Bishop of Lipljan—the hierarch responsible for military chaplains in the Serbian Armed Forces—assisted by military clergy, in the presence of Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff General Milan Mojsilović, and numerous officers, NCOs, and civilian personnel serving in the Serbian Armed Forces.
The host of the saint patron’s day celebration, Chief of the General Staff General Milan Mojsilović, at the church, extended his congratulations to members of the Serbian Armed Forces and all citizens celebrating the feast of Saint Despot Stefan. Emphasizing that Despot Stefan Lazarević serves as an enduring role model for the Serbian soldier—embodying both the wisdom of a military commander and knightly honor—he highlighted the duty to preserve and pass on to future generations the values that have long defined the Serbian soldier: service to the fatherland, courage, and humanity. At the same time, he underscored the importance of strengthening the Serbian Armed Forces’ capabilities to fulfill their constitutional role.
The Serbian Armed Forces have been observing their saint patron’s day since 2023, following the decision by the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church to designate Saint Stefan the Tall—remembered as a wise statesman, a successful military commander, a powerful guardian of his people, and, after his death, a miracle-worker—as the heavenly patron of the Serbian Armed Forces.
