Metropolitan Amfilohije: Montenegrin nation is having new birth

Metropolitan Amfilohije and Bishop Victor during the cross procession in Budva. Photo: Facebook

On January 27, 2020, during the cross procession of many thousands in Budva (Montenegro), the Head of the Montenegrin-Littoral Metropolis of the SOC, Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radović), stated that the Montenegrin people are now experiencing their rebirth. This was told by Bishop Victor of Baryshevka in his Telegram channel.

The Head of the UOC Representation to European International Organizations shared: “After the end of the solemn worship, dedicated to the day of St. Sava the Serbian, I go out together with Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and say along the way, ‘Your Eminence, a grandiose event has occurred today.’ The Metropolitan replies to me, ‘This is a miracle of God. This is the rebirth of the people in Montenegro’."

According to the UOC Bishop, he was struck by the fact that the majority of participants in the religious procession in support of the SOC in Montenegro are young people, "from time to time simultaneously shaking the air with the chant "We will not give up shrines!"

“It is not difficult to understand that with these words the people are protesting against the unlawful seizure of their holy shrines by the state,” the hierarch explained. “At first it seemed that not many people left the church for a cross procession, but as it turned out later, along the entire route there were men, women and small children on both sides who were flowing into this “human stream” to turn very soon into a "full-flowing river". On the next morning it became known that it was a whole sea of people, as the media reported that about 60-70% of the population of Budva joined the prayer procession.”

His Grace Victor noted that he did not know with what words the processions in Ukraine were described by representatives of other Local Churches, but he himself could confidently say that living faith flourished in the hearts of the people of Montenegro.

“Looking at the quiet and pacified elder-metropolitan, followed by his flock of thousands, at some point it came to my mind that he could now give an answer with a clear conscience to our True Shepherd: ‘Here I am, and the children the God has given me’ (Isa. 8:18).”

As reported by the UOJ, on January 27, with the blessing of Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and all Ukraine, Bishop Victor (Kotsaba) of Baryshevka concelebrated with Metropolitan Amfilohije, Head of the Montenegrin-Littoral Metropolis of the SOC, during the festive liturgy at Savina Glavica nunnery.

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