Announcement from the regular annual meeting of the clergy, clergy, abbots and abbesses of the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral

On Thursday, the fourth week of Lent, March 27, the regular annual meeting of the clergy, clergy, abbots and abbesses of the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral was held in the Cathedral Church of St. John Vladimir in Bar with the confession of the clergy.

The meeting began with the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, served by His Grace Bishop Paisios of Diocletia in the presence of His Grace Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije. At the end of the Holy Liturgy, Metropolitan Joanikije addressed the congregation with the words of an archpastoral sermon in which he spoke about the Mystery of Repentance and Confession, about their importance for the spiritual life of every Orthodox Christian.

The working part of the meeting began with exhaustive reports from the hierarchal vicars, which showed that the past year was also full of spiritual content with very fruitful and blessed deeds in all fields of the church mission. The number of priests, as well as monks and nuns in our monasteries, has increased.

The greatest joy before the Lord is represented by full churches of the faithful people at Sunday and holiday services, so the need for the construction of new parish churches was noted, especially in urban settlements and cities where the number of inhabitants is increasing. On this occasion, several initiatives have been launched to build churches and parish houses, especially in the territory of the Capital City, where the need is greatest.

The number of children attending religious education is also increasing. Over 2,000 children participated in last year’s Children’s Assembly in Cetinje, which proves that our long-standing appeal and cry for religious education to be returned to primary and secondary schools as an elective subject is justified.

The Church’s contribution to the educational mission is very significant, not only through religious education schools and the Theological Seminary of St. Peter of Cetinje, but also through the work of the first Orthodox Gymnasium “Saint Sava”, which has enrolled the second generation of students, whose students are already achieving good results by winning awards in school competitions.

With special gratitude to God, a report on the dynamics of the construction of the Church of Saint Sava and the building of the “Saint Sava” High School was received, with realistic prospects that the next school year will begin in the new building.

In the field of charitable activities, notable results were achieved in our Metropolis last year. Four soup kitchens, as well as the humanitarian organization “Čovjekoljublje” daily distribute meals and aid to the most vulnerable individuals and families. Unfortunately, the number of those in need is increasing year by year, especially among the elderly population.

Also, recognizing the great need, and guided by pastoral care, through the Pastoral and Counseling Center of the Metropolis, our priests, in cooperation with professional staff in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, special education and related branches of medicine, provide daily assistance to all who need this type of assistance.

We wish all Orthodox believers to strive in these days of Easter Lent with good deeds, to continue the course of fasting and to preserve their faith intact, so that they may appear victorious over sin, so that they may be worthy to worship the holy Resurrection of Christ, whose light may illuminate every home and every person and all the peoples of the earth.