Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia posted this message on social media upon his departure from Montenegro.
“I am leaving this blessed country and people, I hope not for long, with mixed feelings. I am very happy because we have done the work of the Church, enthroned the Metropolitan according to the will of the Church and the people of this diocese, the people who deeply love the Church of Saint Sava.
But I am also more than sad, even horrified by the fact that there were some people in sight who intended to prevent this act of love for everyone with a sniper rifle.
I thank everyone, I feel sorry for everyone who was injured in any way and I ask them for forgiveness. I pray to the Lord for this country, for this people and for all people, and I ask them to pray for me, because they are closer to God.”
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It is reminded that in a rather bellicose… climate, the enthronement of the new Metropolitan of Montenegro took place this morning in the Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos in the town of Cetinje by Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia.
Since yesterday, there was tension in the city and police forces clashed with protesters who have tried to cancel the enthronement ceremony.
Protesters blocked the town of Cetinje with roadblocks to prevent Serbian Orthodox Church hierarchs from reaching the monastery by road.
Throughout the night, as well as this morning, shots were heard constantly while groups of protesters clashed with the police in an effort to invade the monastery.
The Patriarch of Serbia and the newly enthroned Metropolitan arrived this morning at the Monastery by military helicopter and under the protection of the special forces. So the enthronement ceremony took place without any incidents.
Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia officiated the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy with the concelebration of Joanikije, Bishop of Budva-Niksic and the elected Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, and Bishop David of Krusevac, a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in the Cetinje Monastery on September 5, 2021.