Zlatica, Montenegro, April 13, 2020
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro (Serbian Orthodox Church) and his concelebrating clergy were detained by police yesterday, Sunday, April 12, after celebrating Liturgy for the Great Feast of Palm Sunday at a monastery in Zlatica, a suburb of the capital city of Podgorica.
Several priests were also detained after celebrating Liturgy in the city’s Cathedral of the Resurrection, although no parishioners were present for the service.
According to the Montenegrin outlet Vijesti, the hierarch and his clergy were taken by police to a security center in Podgorica to gather information about a “gathering of people in front of religious sites.”
His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlja and Nikšić commented that it was unclear if Met. Amfilohije was under arrest or only detained for questioning.
“This act has shown that it is a bad intention and not a concern for preserving the health of the people. This is obviously another in a series of attacks on our Church,” commented Fr. Mirčet Šljivančanin.
Fr. Mirčet also emphasized that after the Liturgy in Podgorica, when the faithful were allowed in for personal prayer, all of the relevant requirements and sanitary standards were strictly observed.
