Podgorica, Montenegro, February 17, 2020
St. Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher is one of the most beloved and highly-venerated saints of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and this year, his feast will be especially joyful for the faithful in Montenegro, as they will be joined by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine and a delegation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
His Beatitude and four other hierarchs will concelebrate the feast on January 29 in the capital city of Podgorica. This was announced by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro, report Radio Television Montenegro.
The feast will be headed by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. The services will be held at Holy Resurrection Cathedral and St. Simeon Monastery.
United in their common Orthodox faith, the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of Ukraine and Montenegro are also united now in their common sufferings coming from their respective governments and fellow countrymen.
In late January, a delegation of the Ukrainian Church participated in the feast of St. Sava in Montenegro and in one of the nightly molebens and processions in protest of the new Montenegrin law that threatens Orthodox Church holy sites.
“The Church of God is invincible, and the gates of hell will not overcome it, neither in Kiev, nor here in Montenegro,” Met. Amfilohije preached at the feast.