A large number of believers gathered this evening at the traditional procession in Podgorica to celebrate the glory of the capital's patron saint - the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark.
The liturgy with the relics of Saint Simeon of Dajbab was led by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije with the clergy, monks and faithful people.
During the liturgy, Metropolitan Joanikije and participants of the liturgy visited the house of Đečević, whose family has been living on the foundations of the monastery church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark for four centuries.
On that occasion, the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joannicius:
"The sermon through the Holy Apostle Mark arrived here in this city as well. It may be that the Holy Apostle Mark did not come here in person, but here was a monastery dedicated to him and built in ancient times, and we can count that as his arrival in this city and his permanent residence in this holy place, so that from here God's blessing spreads to this whole the city and all those who live in it", reminded the Bishop.
The Metropolitan pointed out that the Markovdan litany has come to life, that it is characterized by joy and solemnity and that it exudes the joy that the holy apostles of Christ experienced when the Lord united them and filled their hearts with his resurrection:
"Here we have restored the Litia, which used to go from the church of the Holy Great Martyr Georgi to the holy chosen place where the monastery of the Holy Apostle Mark used to be. This liturgy of Markovdan in Podgorica has been renewed and revived and is very joyful and solemn, because it unites us and always happens after the Resurrection of Christ. And we experience the same joy that the holy apostles of Christ experienced when the Lord united them and filled their hearts with His resurrection and strengthened their spirits, filled them with His truth and justice and love to be witnesses of His resurrection and to preach the Gospel of the Resurrection, the sweet word of the Resurrection of Christ and his victory over death, over all nations".
"Dear brothers and sisters, we are gathering here at this holy place and, as was the custom from before, we are welcomed by the blessed Đečević family, who have lived here since ancient times and preserve the memory of this holy place and the monastery of the Holy Apostle Mark". - said Bishop.
"To all of you, we want the Lord to guide you in all the days of your life, to lead you on the path of truth and justice and God's love, on the path of salvation. To the blessed Đečević family, we wish every progress and happiness and every blessing of God, and may God grant that we may meet in this holy place as often as possible and for as long as possible in the future in joy and in mutual love and harmony". - Metropolitan Ioannikije wished at the end.
The litany on St. Mark's Day has been held every year since 1992, except for two occasions when the coronavirus pandemic interrupted this blessed tradition. The Markovdan liturgy is a symbol and foundation of fraternal harmony, interfaith harmony and coexistence in Podgorica. The tradition of the Podgorica procession for St. Mark's Day lies in Stara Varoš, in the Podgorica settlement of Drpe, where the medieval monastery of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark was located, founded by Saint Sava and, according to some data, most likely the seat of the Zeta bishopric.
The only visible evidence of the existence of the monastery is the southern gate, which was demolished in the 1950s. The monastery itself had several gates that were demolished and built into houses and other buildings.
Apart from the southern gate, the memory of the former Namanjić monastery was maintained by the Litijas, on May 8, on the day of St. Mark, the patron of the city of Podgorica, where the Litijas would leave from the church of the Holy Great Martyr Georgi, near Gorica, towards Drpa, more precisely towards the house of Đečević. Litijas used to go to the Dajbaba monastery, but the celebration was interrupted after the Second World War, only for Litija to start again in the streets of ancient Ribnica in 1992, thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan Amfilohi and Halit Đečević.
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