The feast of Saint Simeon of Dajbaba was solemnly celebrated today, April 1, in the Dajbaba monastery. The Holy Liturgy of the Bishops was served by His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral.

After the reading of the Gospel, the archpriest Predrag Šćepanović spoke. Father Predrag told the Holy Gospel, which fed our people throughout the ages, and 170 years have passed since Saint Simeon Dajbabski was born in the capital city of Cetinje and went to Russia, and was fed from that source, reaching Paris and the Sorbonne. "This bright and light-bearing figure received the monastic rank in the Kijevopečera Lavra and brought that Holy Tradition here to Zeta, the ossuary of the falcons," said Father Predrag and recalled the moment when he appeared to the boy Petko Ivezić and told him that he was a disciple of Saint Sava, and then he came to this place to move every stone with his hands and open this wonderful place to his family where we feel the state of angels and the future age.

Father Predrag reminded that Saint Simeon predicted with the Holy Spirit that the time would come when the bread would be dipped in brother's blood and he prayed that the Lord would take it, and he passed away on April 1, and on April 6 World War II began. "We ask the Lord that Saint Simeon, by his example, fasting and prayer, will be our guide in this age that Father Justin called the age of atomic technology and rainforest ethics, to give us the health of the soul in the first place", he said and added that in 1996 the day came when his holy relics were discovered and Metropolitan Amfilohije handed them over here to the faithful people and then this became the second Ostrog.

"Thank you, father Simeon, for being named Sava at birth and baptism, and you asked for the name Simeon, and the Metropolitan of Kiev gave you that name, so that you can bind yourself in two-day love," said Father Predrag, stressing that Saint Simeon passed to his people that the earthly is for a small kingdom, and the Heavenly always and forever.

Metropolitan Joanikije, after the Holy Service of God, congratulated the glory and said that we celebrate Saint Simeon as the founder of this Holy Family, and reminded that the Popović family was particularly distinguished as the guardian of the Holy Orthodox Faith and was a support for the Cetinje metropolitans, and the Lord honored him with such a branch that is an ornament of the entire Orthodox world.

"He was eager for knowledge, but he attached himself to the One who is the source of all knowledge and wisdom, to the Lord Jesus Christ, so he left the worldly sciences and accepted divine science, the words of Christ, fasting and prayer," said the Metropolitan and added that he because of his exploits and love, God honored him with great gifts, and he became a great authority in the Church even during his life, an unsurpassed shepherd of the people both during his life and after his death.

"Thank God, every year we gather here to celebrate the bright memory of Saint Simeon, but it is a great joy that the Holy Family of Daibab has become a refuge for everyone and rivers of people come from various regions", he emphasized and added that there is one shortcoming, which is that Abbot Danilo was expelled from Montenegro through no fault of his own, and there is no answer, because it cannot be that a clergyman who has devoted his whole life to the service of the Church can be harmful or dangerous to any country and does not serve the honor of the authorities of Montenegro. they expelled him. "They didn't give an answer, they didn't submit any evidence that Father Danilo could possibly be guilty of, but we knew that such a man could do nothing wrong. He came here to Montenegro out of love, and Metropolitan Amfilohije, having blessed him, not only received him with love, but also had great trust in him," said the Metropolitan and added that Father Danilo has now found refuge with our Patriarch, who also received with love. "Today we miss Father Danilo, but such is history, such is God's providence, that in this world nothing is perfect, however when we have God's mercy, grace and saints of God who represent us, we have the strength to carry our cross and move on with with hope in God that he will always help us", said Metropolitan Ioannikije, once again congratulating the holiday and blessing this gathering.

Tijana Lekić

photo: Željko Drašković

Metropolis of Montenegrin and Littoral