Moscow, October 17, 2022
Photo: mitropolija.com
His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Metropolis of Montenegro, is currently in Moscow to host and bless the “Serbian Comfort for the Russian Heart” festival tomorrow, which will include an evening in honor of his predecessor, the ever-memorable Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro.
Having arrived in Moscow over the weekend together with His Grace Bishop Jovan of Pakrac and Slavonia (Croatia), the Montenegrin primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Moscow’s Sretensky Monastery yesterday morning, reports the Metropolis of Montenegro.
Expressing his great joy at having the chance to serve with the Sretensky brethren, the Metropolitan said in his address after the service that in this difficult time, it’s very important that we pray together and feel the sufferings and tribulations that we all experience in our own way:
We know from our Christian experience that prayer can help the most, especially when we’re experiencing difficulties and troubles. Prayer brings us closer to God, brings us back into God’s arms, and when we’re close to God we think completely differently than when we’re far away; we feel and see reality completely differently from God’s proximity than when we distance ourselves from God. Of course, when we move away from God, the source of life and eternal light and joy of eternal life, we sink into darkness and everything we see is dark, sad, and difficult. And when we return to God, Who is the source of light, the whole of reality is transformed, and it’s especially important that we see the face of our neighbor in a more beautiful light.
Met. Joanikije also noted that the day marked the feast of St. Paisije the Patriarch of Peć, who was the first to establish close ties with fraternal Russia as a program of the Serbian Church. He especially emphasized that Montenegro and the Church there managed to survive the times of the great Turkish yoke because of its close ties with Russia.
Photo: mitropolija.com
“When we’re gathered together around Christ, then we’re safe and strong and we look with hope and with a bright view to our future,” His Eminence said, underlining the importance of Church unity.
He also expressed gratitude for the comfort and encouragement that Russian Patriarch Alexei II and Metropolitan Kirill (the current Patriarch) showed to the Serbian people when Yugoslavia was falling apart. And now that Russia is facing a difficult time, “I can pray for you and for peace,” Met. Joanikije said, “for overcoming the temptations and for a just solution in these temptations that today affect the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian people and the Russian state.”
Met. Joanikije then presented Sretensky Abbot John (Ludischev) with a pectoral cross, and Fr. John presented him with an icon of New Martyr Hilarion (Troitsky), whose relics are treasured at Sretensky.
Met. Joanikije and Bp. Jovan will ceremoniously open the “Serbian Comfort for the Russian Heart” festival in Moscow tomorrow.
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