Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitanate of Montenegro is the largest diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church
in Montenegro
. Founded in 1219 by Saint Sava
, it is now one of the most prominent dioceses in the Serbian Orthodox Church. The current Metropolitan
is Amfilohije. His current title is "Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral".
. It was founded in 1219 by St. Sava (Nemanjić), who also became the first Archbishop
of the Serbian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. After the status of an autocephalous Orthodox church was granted to the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219 in Nicaea by the Ecumenical Patriarch Manuel Sarantenos
and confirmed by the Emperor
Theodore I Laskaris
, St. Sava decided to divide the area under his ecclesiastical jurisdiction into nine diocese
s. One of these was the diocese of Zeta (the southern half of modern Montenegro). The seat of the Zetan bishops at that time was the Monastery
of St. Michael the Archangel in Prevlaka (near today's city of Tivat). The first Zetan bishop was to become St. Sava's disciple Ilarion Šišo(je)vić from the Serbo-Montenegrin clan
of Građani.
The Zetan diocese was elevated to the status of a Metropolitan
ate by the decisions of the state-church council of Skopje in 1346, presided over by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan.
The fall of the Serbian medieval state in 1389 to the Turks
after the Battle of Kosovo
and the gradual disintegration of its parts in the 15th century, together with the Venetian
conquest of the coastal cities of Kotor
, Budva
and the Paštrovići
region in 1420–1423, endangered the Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate. In 1452 the Venetians destroyed the Orthodox Monastery of St Michael the Archangel in Prevlaka to facilitate their plans for the forceful conversion of the Orthodox Christians from these parts of the coast into the Roman Catholic faith. From 1452 the seat of the Metropolitanate several times (variously to St Mark's Monastery in Budva, to the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in the mountains close to the city of Bar
, and St Nicholas's Monastery on Vranjina
(Skadar Lake), and then to St Nicholas's Monastery in Obod (Rijeka Crnojevića
) ) moved to Cetinje
Monastery, built in 1484. When the Zeta plains finally fell to the advancing Turks, the Grand Duke of Zeta Ivan Crnojević, along with part of his people, moved to the Montenegrin mountains, which had once been just a part of the medieval state of Zeta.
The history of Montenegro
begins at this point. Ivan Crnojević bought a printing press in Venice a few years before his death in 1490. His son Đurađ became the next Grand Duke, and in 1493 he, with the help of Hieromonk Makarije
, produced the first ever book to be printed among the south Slavs. It was the "Oktoih
", a Serb-Slavonic translation from the original Greek
of a service book that is still used to this day in the daily cycle of services in the Orthodox Church. Montenegro in 1499 finally fell to the Turks, and coinciding with the disappearance of the Crnojević
family from the historical scene. From then on, the name "Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro" was used instead of the old name "Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate".
The destruction of the old Cetinje Monastery perpetrated by the Venetians and the Turks in 1692, together with the emergence of the Petrović family on the historical scene (1697), marked the beginning of a new phase in Montenegrin history. Montenegro, led by Metropolitan Bishop Danilo I Petrović, turned completely towards the Russian Empire
, which, through its power and authority, strengthened the institution of etnarchy, under which the Metropolitans were at once both Heads of the Church and rulers of the state. The Petrović dynasty ruled Montenegro for 220 years, from 1697 to 1918. The Metropolitans of Montenegro, all members of this family, were: Danilo I Petrović Njegoš (1697–1735), Sava II Petrović-Njegoš
(1735–1781), Petar I Petrović-Njegoš
(1784–1830), and Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
(1830–1851). After the death of Petar II, the state of Montenegro was no longer ruled by the Metropolitans, since his successor, Grand Duke Danilo Petrović, did not wish to become a Metropolitan.
In the time of the Grand Duke and (from 1910) King of Montenegro Nikola I Petrović
the geopolitical idea of unifying the Serbian nation came to the fore, as well as a perceived spiritual need to unite the Serbian church. The territory of Montenegro was almost doubled in size, and the church spread into three dioceses. In these circumstances, expressing what was felt by some to be the inner need of all inhabitants of Montenegro, the President of its Government, Dr Lazar Tomanovic, said the following in his speech at the historic coronation of King Nikola I Petrović: The Metropolitanate of Montenegro is the only diocese founded by St. Sava which was preserved without interruption to this day, and as such it represents the lawful throne and a descendant of the Patriarchate of Peć.
Following the First World War, Montenegro was absorbed at the end of 1918 into Serbia under the Karađorđević dynasty. This resolved the long-standing dynastic rivalry between the two royal families, the Petrović family and the Karađorđević family.
The unification of the Serbian church was, however, quite a different matter, and was supported by both sides in the dispute, the Greens (federalists) and the Whites (centralists). The dethroned King Nikola I Petrović never opposed the unification of the church. The decision to unify the Metropolitanate of Montenegro with the other Serbian dioceses was reached on 16 December 1918 by the Bishops Council of the Montenegrin Metropolitanate as the only institution empowered by the church law to do so.[4] The Bishops' Council unanimously accepted the following proposal: "That the independent Serbian – Orthodox Holy Church in Montenegro unites with the autocephalous Orthodox Church in The Kingdom of Serbia
." (Decision of the Bishops Council No 1169, 16 December 1918, Cetinje). This decision was signed by all diocesan bishops in Montenegro: the Metropolitan of Montenegro, Mitrofan Ban; the Metropolitan of Pec, Dr Gavrilo Dozic; and the Bishop of Niksic, Kiril Mitrovic. All accepted unification of the church in Montenegro. The decision of the Church regarding the unification was accepted and confirmed by HM King Aleksandar I Karadjordjevic in 1920. His declaration of the unification of the Serbian Church came two years after the Church reached the decision to unify.
The Communists in 1972 seriously damaged the "spiritual veil" of Montenegro by destroying the church dedicated to St. Petar I Petrovic (St. Petar of Cetinje), and desecrated the tomb of the world famous poet Metropolitan
Petar II Petrović Njegoš, who built this church on top of the Lovcen mountain. This was an indication of the regime's disregard for the last will of Petar II Petrović, the ancient Christian traditions of Montenegro, and the laws that the Communists themselves had established after 1945. In these circumstances the Orthodox Church in Montenegro was marginalized by the Communist government. This period is regarded as a time of open and brutal persecution of the Church.
The present Metropolitan of Montenegro, Dr Amfilohije Radović, became Head of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro in 1990, just as the collapse of the old communist system was resulting in free democratic elections. In these new circumstances the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral soon began to flourish. The number of priests, monks and nuns, as well as the number of the faithful, increased rapidly. Many monasteries and parish churches were rebuilt and brought back to their former glory. For example, from only 10 active monasteries with about 20 monks and nuns in 1991, Montenegro now has 30 active monasteries with more than 160 monks and nuns. The number of parish priests also increased from 20 in 1991 to more than 60 today.
However, the blossoming of the resurrected Orthodox Church in Montenegro immediately became a thorn in the side of the former Communist members of certain political parties and various other non-governmental organisations. These presented themselves as democrats in the changed circumstances, but some felt that their anti-church mentality still prevailed.
Realising that it was no longer politically acceptable to oppose the Church, these new "democrats" decided to change tactics. People who for 50 years had persecuted the Orthodox Church in Montenegro now decided to form the "church" according to their own image and likeness. Consequently, four individuals who perfectly fit the role were found:
Miras Dedeic
, self proclaimed Metropolitan, defrocked and returned to the order of laity by the decision of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople in April 1997.
Živorad Pavlović, runaway and defrocked priest from the town of Smederevo (Serbia). Wanted for serious charges of theft and sought by the Serbian police.
Milutin Cvijić, born in Teslić (Bosnia), former priest monk in Ostrog monastery. Defrocked as a priest since he broke his monastic vows and got married.
Jelisej Lalatović, former monk, defrocked for theft of church property.
These figures became leaders of the so-called "Montenegrin Orthodox Church". Meanwhile, because their "clergy" were without canonical legitimacy in the world of Orthodox Christianity, our disguised communists returned to their "old ways" and illegal methods:
Open extortion of property that legally belongs to the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.
The brutal breaking of the rules of the Montenegrin Constitution, and the laws and regulations stemming from it. The Constitution, the republic's primary legal instrument, allows the existence of just one Orthodox church in Montenegro[5]5. The campaign organised by the state media, identifying the robbers dressed as priests with the real and legally recognised clergy.
Introduction of the new principle, so far unrecognised in international law, which through the collection of signatures enables the take-over of property that is legally owned by somebody else (the Church in this case). The decision of the Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic to publicly support the "MOC" by sending them Easter greetings this year, through which he, in an authoritarian manner, put himself against and above the legal arbitration of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Moscow and All of Russia Alexei II
, Patriarch
of the Serbian Orthodox Church Pavle
, Archbishop of Athens Christodoulos
as well as the other leaders of autocephalous Orthodox churches throughout the world.
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. Founded in 1219 by Saint Sava
Saint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
, it is now one of the most prominent dioceses in the Serbian Orthodox Church. The current Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
is Amfilohije. His current title is "Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral".
Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate (1219–1499)
The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral has existed continuously for 780 years as an integral diocese of the Serbian Orthodox ChurchSerbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
. It was founded in 1219 by St. Sava (Nemanjić), who also became the first Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Serbian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. After the status of an autocephalous Orthodox church was granted to the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219 in Nicaea by the Ecumenical Patriarch Manuel Sarantenos
Patriarch Manuel I of Constantinople
Manuel I, surnamed Sarantenos or Charitopoulos , was Patriarch of Constantinople from December 1216 or January [1217] to [1222. He seems to have been called "the Philosopher": George Akropolites says he was "a philosopher, it seems, in deed, and so named by the people." Manuel was...
and confirmed by the Emperor
Empire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the three Byzantine Greek successor states founded by the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire that fled after Constantinople was occupied by Western European and Venetian forces during the Fourth Crusade...
Theodore I Laskaris
Theodore I Laskaris
Theodoros I Komnenos Laskaris was emperor of Nicaea .-Family:Theodore Laskaris was born to the Laskaris, a noble but not particularly renowned Byzantine family of Constantinople. He was the son of Manuel Laskaris and wife Ioanna Karatzaina . He had four older brothers: Manuel Laskaris Theodoros...
, St. Sava decided to divide the area under his ecclesiastical jurisdiction into nine diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s. One of these was the diocese of Zeta (the southern half of modern Montenegro). The seat of the Zetan bishops at that time was the Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of St. Michael the Archangel in Prevlaka (near today's city of Tivat). The first Zetan bishop was to become St. Sava's disciple Ilarion Šišo(je)vić from the Serbo-Montenegrin clan
Serb clans
Serb clans is a general term referring to what are known as plemena and bratstva , traditional geo-political units of the Western Balkans that now richly attest social anthropology and family history . The descendants of the clans are divided by regional and lately, national affiliation...
of Građani.
The Zetan diocese was elevated to the status of a Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
ate by the decisions of the state-church council of Skopje in 1346, presided over by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan.
The fall of the Serbian medieval state in 1389 to the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
after the Battle of Kosovo
Battle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
and the gradual disintegration of its parts in the 15th century, together with the Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
conquest of the coastal cities of Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
, Budva
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
and the Paštrovići
Paštrovici
The Paštrovići is a coastal clan in Montenegro.- History :The people and land of Paštrovići is mentioned for the first time in 1355, when Serbian emperor Dušan Silni sent his nobleman Nikolica Paštrović in diplomatic mission in Dubrovnik...
region in 1420–1423, endangered the Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate. In 1452 the Venetians destroyed the Orthodox Monastery of St Michael the Archangel in Prevlaka to facilitate their plans for the forceful conversion of the Orthodox Christians from these parts of the coast into the Roman Catholic faith. From 1452 the seat of the Metropolitanate several times (variously to St Mark's Monastery in Budva, to the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in the mountains close to the city of Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
, and St Nicholas's Monastery on Vranjina
Vranjina
Vranjina is an island in Skadar Lake in the Montenegrin municipality of Podgorica.-About the island:Created by a delta of the Morača River, the island is in the northern part of the lake...
(Skadar Lake), and then to St Nicholas's Monastery in Obod (Rijeka Crnojevića
Rijeka Crnojevića
Rijeka Crnojevića is a city settlement in Montenegro beside the river of Crnojević - near the coast of Skadar lake.It is part of Old Royal Capital Cetinje.With 300 citizens, Rijeka Crnojevića is seat of Riječka nahija....
) ) moved to Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
Monastery, built in 1484. When the Zeta plains finally fell to the advancing Turks, the Grand Duke of Zeta Ivan Crnojević, along with part of his people, moved to the Montenegrin mountains, which had once been just a part of the medieval state of Zeta.
The history of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
begins at this point. Ivan Crnojević bought a printing press in Venice a few years before his death in 1490. His son Đurađ became the next Grand Duke, and in 1493 he, with the help of Hieromonk Makarije
Hieromonk Makarije
Hieromonk Makarije is the founder of Serbian and Romanian printing, having printed the first book in Serbian language and the first book in the territory of Walachia ....
, produced the first ever book to be printed among the south Slavs. It was the "Oktoih
Oktoih
Oktoih , in English the Book of Psalms or Psalter, is an incunabula printed in Cetinje, Montenegro in 1494. Oktoih is a book of liturgical hymns for singing in eight parts. It was printed in the Printing House of Crnojevići by Đurađ IV Crnojević, an educated ruler of Montenegro from 1490-1496...
", a Serb-Slavonic translation from the original Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
of a service book that is still used to this day in the daily cycle of services in the Orthodox Church. Montenegro in 1499 finally fell to the Turks, and coinciding with the disappearance of the Crnojević
House of Crnojevic
The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble house that held Zeta, or parts of it; a region corresponding to north of Lake Skadar , from 1326 to 1362, then 1403 until 1515. The progenitor, Đuraš Ilijić, was head of Upper Zeta in the Serbian Kingdom and Empire The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble...
family from the historical scene. From then on, the name "Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro" was used instead of the old name "Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate".
Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro (1500–1939)
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Orthodox Metropolitans, together with the leaders of the clans, led the people of Montenegro. With some degree of success they fought the Turks, who never completely conquered the Montenegrin mountains. In this struggle the Venetians were often their allies, but, it has been said, never their true friends.The destruction of the old Cetinje Monastery perpetrated by the Venetians and the Turks in 1692, together with the emergence of the Petrović family on the historical scene (1697), marked the beginning of a new phase in Montenegrin history. Montenegro, led by Metropolitan Bishop Danilo I Petrović, turned completely towards the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, which, through its power and authority, strengthened the institution of etnarchy, under which the Metropolitans were at once both Heads of the Church and rulers of the state. The Petrović dynasty ruled Montenegro for 220 years, from 1697 to 1918. The Metropolitans of Montenegro, all members of this family, were: Danilo I Petrović Njegoš (1697–1735), Sava II Petrović-Njegoš
Sava II Petrovic-Njegoš
Sava II Petrović Njegoš was the Vladika of Montenegro, of the Petrović-Njegoš Dynasty. He succeeded Danilo I as Vladika in 1735....
(1735–1781), Petar I Petrović-Njegoš
Petar I Petrovic-Njegoš
Petar I Petrović Njegoš was the ruler of Montenegro, the Cetinje Episcop of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Exarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church throne. He was the most popular spiritual and military leader from the Petrović dynasty...
(1784–1830), and Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
Petar II Petrovic-Njegoš
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš , was a Serbian Orthodox Prince-Bishop of Montenegro , who transformed Montenegro from a theocracy into a secular state. However, he is most famous as a poet...
(1830–1851). After the death of Petar II, the state of Montenegro was no longer ruled by the Metropolitans, since his successor, Grand Duke Danilo Petrović, did not wish to become a Metropolitan.
In the time of the Grand Duke and (from 1910) King of Montenegro Nikola I Petrović
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
the geopolitical idea of unifying the Serbian nation came to the fore, as well as a perceived spiritual need to unite the Serbian church. The territory of Montenegro was almost doubled in size, and the church spread into three dioceses. In these circumstances, expressing what was felt by some to be the inner need of all inhabitants of Montenegro, the President of its Government, Dr Lazar Tomanovic, said the following in his speech at the historic coronation of King Nikola I Petrović: The Metropolitanate of Montenegro is the only diocese founded by St. Sava which was preserved without interruption to this day, and as such it represents the lawful throne and a descendant of the Patriarchate of Peć.
Following the First World War, Montenegro was absorbed at the end of 1918 into Serbia under the Karađorđević dynasty. This resolved the long-standing dynastic rivalry between the two royal families, the Petrović family and the Karađorđević family.
The unification of the Serbian church was, however, quite a different matter, and was supported by both sides in the dispute, the Greens (federalists) and the Whites (centralists). The dethroned King Nikola I Petrović never opposed the unification of the church. The decision to unify the Metropolitanate of Montenegro with the other Serbian dioceses was reached on 16 December 1918 by the Bishops Council of the Montenegrin Metropolitanate as the only institution empowered by the church law to do so.[4] The Bishops' Council unanimously accepted the following proposal: "That the independent Serbian – Orthodox Holy Church in Montenegro unites with the autocephalous Orthodox Church in The Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
." (Decision of the Bishops Council No 1169, 16 December 1918, Cetinje). This decision was signed by all diocesan bishops in Montenegro: the Metropolitan of Montenegro, Mitrofan Ban; the Metropolitan of Pec, Dr Gavrilo Dozic; and the Bishop of Niksic, Kiril Mitrovic. All accepted unification of the church in Montenegro. The decision of the Church regarding the unification was accepted and confirmed by HM King Aleksandar I Karadjordjevic in 1920. His declaration of the unification of the Serbian Church came two years after the Church reached the decision to unify.
Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral (World War II – present)
During the Second World War, and after the Communists came to power in 1945, the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral suffered persecution at the hands of the new regime. Communists killed 105 priests and thousands of patriotic Serbs. Fifteen other priests were killed by fascists. The Metropolitan of Montenegro, Joanikije (Lipovac), was murdered by communists in 1945. The new regime exerted unprecedented pressures on the remaining clergy to abandon their flocks. The property belonging to the Church was forcefully and illegally confiscated, many churches and monasteries being turned into police stations, cattle stables and warehouses.The Communists in 1972 seriously damaged the "spiritual veil" of Montenegro by destroying the church dedicated to St. Petar I Petrovic (St. Petar of Cetinje), and desecrated the tomb of the world famous poet Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
Petar II Petrović Njegoš, who built this church on top of the Lovcen mountain. This was an indication of the regime's disregard for the last will of Petar II Petrović, the ancient Christian traditions of Montenegro, and the laws that the Communists themselves had established after 1945. In these circumstances the Orthodox Church in Montenegro was marginalized by the Communist government. This period is regarded as a time of open and brutal persecution of the Church.
The present Metropolitan of Montenegro, Dr Amfilohije Radović, became Head of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro in 1990, just as the collapse of the old communist system was resulting in free democratic elections. In these new circumstances the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral soon began to flourish. The number of priests, monks and nuns, as well as the number of the faithful, increased rapidly. Many monasteries and parish churches were rebuilt and brought back to their former glory. For example, from only 10 active monasteries with about 20 monks and nuns in 1991, Montenegro now has 30 active monasteries with more than 160 monks and nuns. The number of parish priests also increased from 20 in 1991 to more than 60 today.
However, the blossoming of the resurrected Orthodox Church in Montenegro immediately became a thorn in the side of the former Communist members of certain political parties and various other non-governmental organisations. These presented themselves as democrats in the changed circumstances, but some felt that their anti-church mentality still prevailed.
Realising that it was no longer politically acceptable to oppose the Church, these new "democrats" decided to change tactics. People who for 50 years had persecuted the Orthodox Church in Montenegro now decided to form the "church" according to their own image and likeness. Consequently, four individuals who perfectly fit the role were found:
Miras Dedeic
Miraš Dedeic
Miraš Dedeić , also known as Metropolitan Mihailo, is the head of the uncanonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church since 1997...
, self proclaimed Metropolitan, defrocked and returned to the order of laity by the decision of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople in April 1997.
Živorad Pavlović, runaway and defrocked priest from the town of Smederevo (Serbia). Wanted for serious charges of theft and sought by the Serbian police.
Milutin Cvijić, born in Teslić (Bosnia), former priest monk in Ostrog monastery. Defrocked as a priest since he broke his monastic vows and got married.
Jelisej Lalatović, former monk, defrocked for theft of church property.
These figures became leaders of the so-called "Montenegrin Orthodox Church". Meanwhile, because their "clergy" were without canonical legitimacy in the world of Orthodox Christianity, our disguised communists returned to their "old ways" and illegal methods:
Open extortion of property that legally belongs to the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.
The brutal breaking of the rules of the Montenegrin Constitution, and the laws and regulations stemming from it. The Constitution, the republic's primary legal instrument, allows the existence of just one Orthodox church in Montenegro[5]5. The campaign organised by the state media, identifying the robbers dressed as priests with the real and legally recognised clergy.
Introduction of the new principle, so far unrecognised in international law, which through the collection of signatures enables the take-over of property that is legally owned by somebody else (the Church in this case). The decision of the Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic to publicly support the "MOC" by sending them Easter greetings this year, through which he, in an authoritarian manner, put himself against and above the legal arbitration of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Moscow and All of Russia Alexei II
Patriarch Alexius II
Patriarch Alexy II was the 15th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church....
, Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of the Serbian Orthodox Church Pavle
Pavle
Pavle is a Serbian and Macedonian male given name corresponding to English "Paul"; the name is of biblical origin . The Croatian form is Pavao, and in other Slavic languages it is usually Pavel.People with this name include:...
, Archbishop of Athens Christodoulos
Christodoulos
Christodoulos was Archbishop of Athens and All Greece and as such the primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece, from 1998 until his death, in 2008.- Early life and career :...
as well as the other leaders of autocephalous Orthodox churches throughout the world.
Provinces
- Province of BarBar, MontenegroBar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
- Province of CrmnicaCrmnicaCrmnica is a geographical region in southern Montenegro. It is within the municipality of Bar and is considered a division of that municipality. The capital of the region is Virpazar...
- Province of NikšićNikšićNikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
(Leader: Nikola Spahić) - Province of SutomoreSutomoreSutomore is a small coastal town in Bar Municipality, Montenegro. A 2003 census put the population at 1,827.-History:...
- Province of UlcinjUlcinjUlcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
See also
- List of Metropolitans of Montenegro
- Cathedral of the Resurrection of ChristCathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Podgorica)The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, Montenegro,is a cathedral of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church, construction of which began in 1993.- See also :...
in PodgoricaPodgoricaPodgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement... - List of the Eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church