Patriarch Irenaeus: “Montenegro has returned to the right path”
The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej, said he was pleased with the results of the elections in Montenegro.
At the same time, the Episcopal Council of the SOC in Montenegro called on believers to refrain from manifestations of intolerance towards the authorities and mass actions.
“I am very pleased with the election results and the changes in Montenegro,” said Patriarch Irinej. “I’m especially glad that the people who came [to replace the Djukanovic regime] look at problems much more broadly. I think that they will use the right ways to solve the problems in this country, and that Montenegro will return to the right path, that is, to the one where it should be."
At the same time, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and Primorskiy, Bishop Ioannikiy of Budimlya-Nikšić, Bishop Anastasios of Milesevskiy and Bishop Dimitriy of Zakhumsko-Hercegovačiy issued an appeal in which they condemned individual acts of violence, for example, the destruction of the offices of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, which occurred after the news of the victory of the opposition democratic party coalition.
“The latest mass actions throughout Montenegro led to several incidents, whether they were provocations of those who lost power or not, it doesn’t matter, they are completely unnecessary and harmful for all of us,” the appeal said. “Actions like this carry with them the potential for violence inherent in the previous government... we must not forget the risk that still exists as a result of the spread of coronavirus.”
All people are brothers and sisters, because we are all sons and daughters of one God, the Creator of everything. We must spend these post-election days in such brotherly and sisterly love…. Let us not forget that we are all, regardless of ideological, political, national or religious affiliation, brothers and as citizens of this country we have the right to our differences... Neither as Christians nor as civilized people do we have the right to hate others because their views are different from ours. On the contrary, the apostle to the people Paul says: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
According to the hierarchy, the changes that have taken place in Montenegro should not be the reason for the spread of any intolerance.
“Peace and popular harmony are most important for the peaceful formation of a truly democratic government for the first time in 75 years. Lack of interest, someone's joy or dissatisfaction with the election results is not a reason for conflict. That is why we believe that it is best to avoid any mass gatherings in the coming days, in order to show that real changes have taken place in Montenegro,” the Episcopal Council said in a statement.
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