Today marks twenty-six years since the founding of radio "Svetigora", the first universal Christian radio of our Church, and thirty-two years since the founding of the news and publishing agency of the same name.

On this occasion today, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije, blessed the celebratory cake in the presence of clergy, employees of this media, faithful people and friends of "Svetigore". He recalled the Pentecost holiday, on which radio "Svetigora" was founded on June 7, 1998, and which was the most listened to radio during the war in Kosovo and Metohija.

"The word that was heard from Svetigora and the written word sent via radio waves or in another way, went around and covered the entire Orthodox universe. Radio Svetigora played a particularly big role during the bombing of our homeland by NATO aggressors in 1999. Then everyone was speechless and silent. At that time, our people and the army most believed what was communicated through Svetigora, which until then was in the periphery next to the state media. "Radio Svetigora played the biggest role in that time - over two and a half months, in this area, informing our people and encouraging and inspiring them," said the Metropolitan.

"And in these new times, when we had to fight for our sanctuaries, faith, memory, past, present and especially for the future, when the whole nation got involved in that feat, Radio Svetigora, the magazine and the portal had enormous merit. We would prefer, if we could, to dedicate everything we do to the word of God and the Gospel of God. That the word of our priests, who interpret the Holy Gospel and our Holy Faith and the works of God, should be as dominant and predominant as possible, but sometimes another word is needed, especially from culture and all layers of human creativity. No creativity is worth anything if there is no true faith. So that everything we do, create and say should be seasoned with the gospel and the word of God," said the bishop.

The Metropolitan also said that it is difficult to count all those who made sacrifices for the establishment and work of "Svetigore":

"Of course, the one who is most deserving and who made the most sacrifices for everything that happened in our Metropolis of those times is our blessed Metropolitan Amfilohije." He was inspired by the spirit of God, a vessel of God's love and everything he undertook, designed and blessed, everything flourished, progressed and everything was moved by the Spirit of God and his holy prayers. The first to announce himself from Svetigora radio was one of our saints, a man of God, the ordained Patriarch Pavle. With this, he gave his blessing to the previous work and especially to the future work of this entire publishing and information institution, which has branched out in several directions. The first who made the most sacrifices was Father Radomir Nikčević, and then many priests and civilians, virtuous Christians, who invested all their strength in this unique institution, its life and work, right up to our father Dalibor Milaković and Nikola Pejović. , pointed out Bishop Ioannikije.

The director of "Svetigora" radio, archpriest-stavrofor Dalibor Milaković, said that it was a great providence of God that on the holiday of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, this radio began its mission 26 years ago.

"That by the grace of the Holy Spirit and his immeasurable love we preach the grace of God to the whole world, as the apostles and his disciples preached through the ages, so we preach with our life and our deeds on earth. Because only our love and our deeds that we do here will be recognized by God in heaven," said Father Dalibor, thanking Metropolitan Joaniki and everyone present for their love and support.

About Radio "Svetigora"

More than two and a half decades of existence of "Svetigore" were marked by continuity in work, a God-loving mission and dedication to the Church, both in times of trials and today. Calling him a witness of "Christ God, the Holy Spirit and the Orthodox faith", the beatified Metropolitan of Amfilohije opened the radio on June 7, 1998 with Bishop Atanasi, in the presence of director Radomir Nikčević and editor-in-chief Slavko Živković. Since then, archpriests-Stavrophorians Gojko Perović and Jovan Plamenac have been the editors, and since September 2009, the chief editor is priest and archpriest Nikola Pejović. The director of "Svetigore" is archpriest-stavrophor Dalibor Milaković.

Radio "Svetigora" began broadcasting a twenty-four-hour program for the first time on March 24, 1999, with the blessing of Metropolitan Amfilohi, when the NATO alliance began bombing FR Yugoslavia. Since 2001, radio "Svetigora" has started broadcasting programs on thirteen frequencies, i.e. on the entire territory of Montenegro. On the eve of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on December 3, 2004, "Svetigora" began broadcasting the program on the Internet. Today, radio "Svetigora" can be heard via the Internet live, and since May 2006, the radio's website has also been operational.

Numerous original shows adorn the "Svetigora" radio program, such as: "Ask the priest" where listeners can hear the pastor's words and answers to numerous questions from the life of faith and the Church, "Pop Reviews", "Children of the Apocalypse" where numerous questions from the field of spirituality are raised, religion, culture and the relationship between the church and the media.

For their achievements, journalists and radio editors have so far been awarded significant journalistic awards.

With its God-loving mission, the Church reaches all those who need comfort and God's word through "Svetigore" even today.

Ljubica Vukićević

Metropolis of Montenegrin and Littoral