Montenegrin Metropolitan Amfilohije: “Free the priests, put me in prison”
The head of the Montenegrin-Litovian Metropolis, Amfilohije, demanded that the Montenegrin authorities release Bishop Ioannikis of Budimlya-Niksic and Orthodox priests, and, if they need to convict anyone, arrest and imprison him.
Montenegrin and Serbian media reported this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Bishop Amfilohije made an appeal to the flock, authorities and people of Montenegro in honor of the feast day of St. Peter of Cetinje (Njegoš), in which he once again called on the authorities to stop persecuting the priesthood of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
“Yesterday, on behalf of the Episcopal Council, we sent a message asking the state authorities to immediately release the innocently imprisoned Bishop Ioannikios and the priests,” the Metropolitan said. “And we expected this to happen.” However, this, unfortunately, did not happen, which caused a reaction from people (active protests and clashes with the police in all major cities of Montenegro - ed.), although in this statement we called on people to stay in their homes, peacefully pray to God for the health and salvation of all sick people from this and other viruses, in order to avoid any civil conflicts and misunderstandings in Montenegro.
Unfortunately, the authorities did not listen to us, and that is why the events happened last night in Montenegro, where believers were beaten, children were injured, they were beaten in Pljevlja, and at the same time, law enforcement officers, which is tragic for all of us, tragic for Montenegro , tragic for the world"
Bishop Amfilohiy recalled that Montenegro had not seen civil conflicts of this kind since 1945, “the time of fratricide and deicide,” when 120 priests were killed and the metropolitan was sentenced to 11 years.
“I ask those in power - I will write this in a letter to the president and prime minister these days - to answer me. And if someone needs to be arrested and tried, let it be the Metropolitan of Montenegro and Littoral, the successor of St. Peter of Cetinje. And if he is guilty, let him be judged... I ask everyone, if someone should be judged for what is happening in Montenegro, then they should judge me first. I am ready to go to court and, if necessary, be sentenced to five or ten years, for as long as necessary,” said the Metropolitan of Montenegro.
At the same time, the bishop called on the authorities to stop mocking themselves and the people, and the believers not to provoke the regime with their actions, to pray and unite in brotherly love. And also remember that the Church was and remains with them.
Read on: Orthodox Christians are being repressed in Montenegro: The bishop and priests of the SOC were arrested.
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