As part of the traditional church-folk manifestation "In the light of Christ's Resurrection - Bokelja to Saint Sava and the Martyrs of Prevlač", His Eminence the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije and His Holiness the Bishop of Buenos Aires and South-Central America and the administrator of the Metropolitanate of Zagreb-Ljubljana, Mr. Kirilo, led today, on the commemoration of the burning of the relics of Saint Sava in Vračar, in the streets of Tivat, a festive liturgy with the relics of the Prevlač martyrs.
The liturgy passed from the coast of Pina to the temple of Saint Sava, where the Most Reverend Metropolitan Ioanniki addressed the clergy and faithful people and said that the entire biography of Saint Sava is in the light of God.
"Because he lived his earthly life following in the footsteps of Christ and uniting himself with God through fasting, feat and prayer, through constant service to God and His Church and sacrificing himself for his people, for his flock and for his Church. In such a way, he became like Christ the Lord, who sacrificed himself for the salvation of the whole world," said the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.
He added that this is why Saint Sava brought us together like no one before him and no one after him.
"All those who gathered the Serbian people before him actually paved the way for his great work. And those who after him gathered our people in Christ the Lord, in the Worm of God, in faith and love followed in his footsteps," said the Bishop.
His memorial today is also bright, even though it is one of the saddest days in Serbian history, added Metropolitan Joanikije.
"Then the Serbian people experienced another crucifixion, like during the Kosovo War. But Saint Sava, in fact, testified with his posthumous suffering, his posthumous sacrifice, his - we can freely say heavenly sacrifice, that he is together with his crucified people and continues to sacrifice himself for them", explained Metropolitan Ioannikije and added that Saint Sava was with his people both in Serbia and in Montenegro, in Kosovo and Metohija, in Slavonia and in Dalmatia, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the camps, execution grounds and prisons, and in the slaughterhouses and genocides that were committed against Serbian people.
The bishop emphasized that God comforted our people for that terrible crucifixion of 430 years ago, because just a few years ago he sent us a new Saint Sava - Saint Basil of Ostrog.
"Even in our days, we see that the Lord looked at our family and at our Church after 400 years since the burning of his holy relics, all because of the sacrifice of Saint Sava, the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Prevlač who died in the middle of the 15th century flowed. And precisely on the 400th anniversary of the burning of the relics of Saint Sava, they poured out the holy myrrh and confirmed that they were the monks of Saint Sava, who accepted the faith of Saint Sava and who in their lives worked hard and were on his path, uniting with Christ." said Metropolitan Ioannikije.
After that, a cross was placed at the gate of the temple, which is a gift of the Armenian community in Montenegro as a symbol of Serbian and Armenian friendship.
The consecration of the cross was performed by Bishop Datev Hagopian, exarch for the Balkan Catholicos of all Armenia.
In the future, this cross will be the place where the annual commemoration of the Armenians who suffered in the genocide that was perpetrated against them during the First Siet War, in the territory of the former Ottoman Empire, will be served.
The manifestation "In the light of Christ's Resurrection - Bokelja to St. Sava and the Prevlač Martyrs" ended tonight in the Tivat House of Culture with the Assembly of Orthodox Choirs of Boka.
Radosav Rajo Vojinović
Photo: Željko Drašković
Metropolis of Montenegrin and Littoral
Photos on the link Andrea Ševaljević:

Литија Тиват 2024. - Google Photos