Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

According to earlier media reports, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije arrived in Podgorica on this occasion.
The fundamental agreement was signed by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovi, and the Serbian Patriarch Porfirije.

The Cetinje Monastery in the old royal capital of Montenegro. Photo: Shutterstock

The main opposition Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, accused the government of allowing "theft" and of serving the interests of the Serbian Church - with which it has often conflcted - and said it will file a criminal complaint.

The Cetinje Monastery in the old royal capital of Montenegro. Photo: Shutterstock

For what it's worth, many ordinary Montenegrins are as confused as everyone else about what just happened in their country. The violent scenes in Montenegro's old capital, Cetinje, had little to do with the enthronement of Joanikije II as the Serbian Orthodox Church's Bishop of Montenegro and the Littoral.

Speech of the Metropolitan after the enthronement: "If we seek good together, peace will be even closer to us".
The Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Joanikije, said today that "it will take a long time to overcome these divisions".

"Tomorrow morning, with God's help and prayers for peace, all the bishops will go to Cetinje for the enthronement of Bishop Joanikije on the throne of the Montenegro-Littoral Bishopric," the Patriarch was quoted as saying.
He said that the Serbian Orthodox Church will never give up the enthronement in the Cetinje monastery.

This is part of the interview of Metropolitan Joanikije for Radio Svetigora, which was published on the website of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral:

Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joanikije and Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church.

Abazovic, whose MPs voted today in the Assembly of Cetinje for a ban on the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije or relocation from the Cetinje monastery to another city, claims that he is not in conflict with them.

Metropolitan Joanikije and Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church

"This government and its prime minister didn't fulfill promises given to the Serbian Orthodox Church or our expectations, and they don't have our trust. We have to talk within the ruling majority," Mandic told media.