Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia over the weekend officiated at a Holy Hierarchical Liturgy with the con-celebration of the newly enthroned Metropolitan-Bishop of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Eminence Joanikije, along with Bishop David of Krusevac, at the historic Cetinje Monastery.
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro was inaugurated in the Montenegro nation’s old capital on Sunday despite organized attempt by extremist opponents of the canonical Orthodox Church in the Adriatic country. The protestors also engaged in violence in their failed attempt to prevent the enthronement.
Metropolitan Joanikije arrived in Cetinje by a helicopter along with His Holiness Porfirije.
In a later statement, His Holiness noted that “Brothers and sisters, may this beautiful city be blessed, this God-gathered, beautiful country that has everything from God!
Here, dear Bishop, Metropolitan, I entrust to you this flock, sure that you will take it in your arms and offer it to God with dignity. May you all be blessed and live for many years! I congratulate you on the new Metropolitan whom we enthroned this morning in the Cetinje Monastery, by the providence of God, the Holy Spirit, the prayers of the Holy Assembly Fathers and the prayers of all of you.”
A subsequent reception was also attended by Zdravko Krivokapic, Prime Minister of Montenegro, as well as representatives of political and public life in Montenegro.
On his part, Metropolitan Joanikije also addressed the gathered, saying that an enthronement is a biblical event, with the arrival of the Serbian Patriarch and 40 hierarchs from the holy Churches.