Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro expressed his dissatisfaction with the statement made by Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus regarding the status of the Church of Montenegro.
Specifically, the Metropolitan of Montenegro described the statement made by the Archbishop of Cyprus as at least “inappropriate.” The Archbishop stated that “The Church of Montenegro is not yet autocephalous. I believe that the bond that exists among all Orthodox Churches applies to us as well. When, with God’s help, they achieve autocephaly, our relations will develop further. In any case, we share a common faith.”
However, the Metropolitan stressed that he did not wish to comment further on the Primate of the Church of Cyprus.
As the Metropolitan stressed: “That statement, if the media reported it correctly, is, to say the least, inappropriate. It is not usual for the head of one Church to interfere in the internal order of another autocephalous Church. I will refrain from further comments out of respect for the Church of Cyprus, with which the Serbian Orthodox Church has always had good relations in the love of Christ. I hope it will be like that in the future.”
It is recalled that the Archbishop of Cyprus has already made a clarifying statement, saying: “For the Church of Cyprus, there is no question of the autocephaly of the Church in Montenegro, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Serbia. Such matters do not fall within our jurisdiction.”
