On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the death of the blessed Metropolitan Amfilohi, today, October 30, the Holy Bishop's repose liturgy was held in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, after which a memorial service was held at his grave in the Chapel of Saint Amfilohi of Iconium, which is located in the crypt of the Cathedral.

The Holy Service of God was presided over by His Eminence the Archbishop of Sarajevo and Metropolitan of Dabrobosna, Mr. Chrysostom with the concelebration of the Most Reverend Metropolitans: Ioanniki of Montenegro and the Littoral, Hilarion of Bregalnica (Archbishopric of Ohrid - Macedonian Orthodox Church), Athanasius of Milesev, Teodosi of Raska-Prizren, Dimitrije of Zahum and Herzegovina, as well as the Reverend Bishop Marko of Delčevo-Kamenica (Archbishopric of Ohrid - Macedonian Orthodox Church), Jovan of Pakrac-Slavon, Methodius of Budimlja-Nikšić, Paisius of Diokli, numerous clergy and clergy in the prayerful presence of pious people, representatives of government, political and public life.

During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Joanikije ordained deacon Stefan Đerković to the rank of presbyter.

After the reading of the gospel, the archpastor's sermon began with the words of the assembled congregation, taught by the Most Reverend Bishop of Pakračko-Slavonski, Mr. John, who said that today's Gospel story about the leper whom Jesus healed, who addressed him with the words "Lord, if you want, you can make me clean", was partially repeated before us and fulfilled with the arrival of Metropolitan Amfilohi and Bishop Athanasius to those regions where the people not only renounced the living God, but considered it their duty to persecute God:

"In our time, people rose before us who did not bring God back, but God sent them to return to this land through them. And behold, a restored people, those who remember those terrible times and those who only heard about them, and those who saw the brotherly blood from which all that evil came, and those who were just born when the revival began here, here , here everyone gathered in the Temple of the Resurrection in a place where there was no trace of God's name, God's face, where there was no trace of mercy, kindness, brotherly love, sisterly love, or human love. Where people talked about honor, but there was no honor because how we dishonor God, if we do not honor Him, how will we honor our brother. And then God sent his mercy and sent prophets among us, because nothing less was needed to rise from the ashes of Montenegro, to rise from the ashes of Herzegovina. That's why our gratitude to God must be endless!"

Metropolitan Dabrobosanski Mr. Chrysostom: Metropolitan Amphilochius meant a lot to the Church

After dismissal, the Most Reverend Archbishop of Sarajevo and Metropolitan of Dabrobosna, Mr. Chrysostom, who said that today we prayerfully remember Bishop Amfilohi, who meant a lot not only for the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, but for the Universal Church in general, especially for our local Serbian Orthodox Church:

"Today is certainly a joyful day, because we are in the pre-holiday or on the eve of the great day of remembrance and feast day of Saint Peter of Cetinje, when tomorrow, God willing, we will meet in Cetinje for prayer and thus celebrate a great hierarch and wise archpastor, who in his time left a stamp and mark on the history of this country, Montenegro and our people, who fought bravely. After so many centuries, decades and years, he was followed in that great feat, the great spiritual struggle, by Saint Bishop Amfilohije, who is really like no one before him, and hardly anyone after him, will succeed so powerfully, so powerfully, with grace The Holy Spirit, let's say, and the Holy Spirit, to inspire this country, this people, to change everything that was before. It wasn't easy, it wasn't simple, but he fought bravely with God's grace like the prophets in the Old Testament, like the saints in the New Testament, the apostles and the Saints of God, like Saint Peter of Cetinje."

Bishop Chrysostom emphasized that Metropolitan Amfilohije was a good example for everyone, exactly as Saint Bishop Rade (Peter II of Lovcen, the Mysterious Seer) sang, that what he says with his words, he confirms with his actions, because that is exactly what makes a priest, an archbishop. special, exceptional.

"We do not say that someone died, we say that he presented himself in Christ the Lord, that he was united with Him and became an accomplice and participant in the Kingdom of Heaven." For us, Montenegro is like Lovćen among the mountains. That's how Montenegro is in our hearts and souls among all our Serbian states, that beacon that always shines on us, that inspired us to be proud. And when we were in misery and trouble, we only sang about Lovćen, about Njegoš, about the values ​​that they symbolize. Therefore, may God bless everyone today with the prayers of our late, blessed memory, Metropolitan Amfilohi, may he bless this Eparchy, Montenegro and every person here, so that his struggle will be accepted and blessed by every person in Montenegro," said the Metropolitan of Dabrobosan, Mr. Chrysostom.

Metropolitan Ioannikije: Although he is gone, he is with us

Then the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Ioannikije thanked the archbishops, clergy, monastics and faithful people who came to the temple on this great day, when we remember the blessed Metropolitan Amfilohi:

"Thank you, His Eminence and dear brother in Christ, Metropolitan Chrysostom, thank you, your Eminence and Presbytery, for coming to this day of commemoration of the blessed Metropolitan Amfilochius to pray, to offer our prayers to the Lord, but also to gather around his grave. He simply flew into the arms of God. Although he is gone, he is with us! Here, we see that he is gathering us, that the Lord is pointing us to his works, to his merits, and we come with joy to this annual commemoration, to gather around his grave. There are also representatives of the authorities, the Government of Montenegro, here is also a former representative of the Government who escorted Metropolitan Amfilohi in front of this Temple, many priests are here, we have dear and distinguished guests here. Thank you all!"

Vesna Dević/ Boris Music

Photo:

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Mitropolija crnogorsko-primorska