Father Rafail’s Lecture at Draganac Monastery

At the Draganac Monastery, in the heart of Kosovo Pomoravlje, a spiritual lecture was held by Archimandrite Rafail (Boljević), abbot of Podmaine Monastery, as part of the series “Morava Spiritual Evenings”, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

God’s Will and Man’s Inner Struggle

In his inspired and deeply spiritual sermon, Father Rafail spoke about man’s relationship with God’s will, the meaning of life in Christ, and the importance of patience as the path to salvation. He especially emphasized the need for self-denial in order to experience the fullness of life in God:

“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Christ cannot be His disciple.”

Father Raphael’s lecture

God’s Will as an Invitation, Not Force

At the center of the lecture was man’s inner struggle between his own often weakened will and the quiet, gentle call of God’s will. As Father Rafail explained:

“God’s will does not impose itself—it is offered, just like holiness. It does not force its way, but waits for us to receive it, like Holy Communion.”

He reminded the faithful that true spiritual peace comes not when life unfolds according to our own plans, but when we say: “Amen. Thy will be done.”

Father Rafael

Kosovo and Metohija as a Spiritual Space

Reflecting on the place where the sermon was held, Father Rafail highlighted the spiritual significance of Kosovo and Metohija:

“To be honest, here in Kosovo that is no small privilege. It feels as if there is a quiet joy in the very air. Something good is happening. The sky seems freer, and our thoughts rise more easily toward the Heavenly Kingdom.”

This sense of spiritual lightness, he said, is not abstract but tangible:

“There is no tempting noise here that distracts, provokes, or seduces. Things are clearly defined, and for that reason, conditions are favorable for turning toward eternity. We see this here, in this holy place, as in all other sacred sites in these lands, which bring great comfort and encouragement. Truly, there is life here.”

Patience as Victory

One of the central themes of the lecture was patience. Father Rafail reminded the faithful:

“Patience is not defeat. Patience is victory. It is the key, the code for understanding the mystery of life.”

He invited everyone to return to the Gospel way of life, recalling the words of Saint Ignatius Bryanchaninov that salvation is gained through the narrow path:

“Suffering cannot overcome the one armed with this teaching.”

Pointing to the challenges of modern man—accustomed to comfort and avoiding pain—he warned that many are unprepared for real life because they have not learned to carry their cross. He echoed the words of Christ:

“Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. But whoever clings to it by his own will has already lost it.”

Artistic Program

Before the lecture, participants of the Summer Prizren School—Natalija, Damjan, and Angelina—performed traditional songs. The evening concluded with a moving performance by the Stojković brothers, who sang a song dedicated to Patriarch Pavle, giving the event a spiritually uplifting ending.

Father Rafail Boljević’s lecture at Draganac Monastery was a profound spiritual lesson on God’s will, patience, and living by the Gospel. The faithful gathered in Draganac heard the message that true peace is found when man, with faith, accepts the words: