His Eminence Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije, celebrated the Holy Service of God this morning on the Wednesday of Lent in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Risan.
The clergy of the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral concelebrated.
After the reading of the Gospel, Archpriest-Stavroph Obren Jovanović, the hierarchal vicar of Herzegovina, spoke, and, interpreting today's Gospel reading, said that the essence and mystery of fasting is the mystery of change of mind and the mystery of repentance.
“Because, the most beautiful way to repent is through fasting, to pray to God, to return to ourselves as Saint John the Ladder teaches us in his Ladders to free ourselves from all passions and weaknesses, which are many and countless in our lives,” he said.
He added that it is not easy and simple, without God’s help.
“Man alone simply cannot do this. We can try with our own strength and power, but our strength is small and powerless to change small things, let alone heal someone and return them to their original purity,” said Archpriest Obren Jovanović.
After his dismissal, Metropolitan Joanikije said in his archpastoral letter that the most important thing during Lent is to fast from evil thoughts and evil deeds and intentions.
“Let us turn to the good and learn, as an old, experienced priest said to a young man: My son, Lent, when you fast, will change your philosophy of life, teach you to live in a new way. This Lent should teach us to be abstinent always, both during fasting and during fasting, and most of all to abstain from bad habits, from what is not good. From evil thoughts, from evil words – to always abstain from that,” said the Bishop.
He emphasized that during Lent we can learn a lot about the secrets of our holy Orthodox faith.
“It is a huge, centuries-old and millennial experience that we inherit,” said the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.
Speaking about Saint John of the Ladder, whom the Church celebrates today, he said that he is a great ascetic and spiritual giant.
He recalled the words of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj that ascetics are spiritual athletes.
“And that is indeed so. Saint John the Ladder lived in the desert for many years, for many decades, and delved into the secrets of his soul, but also into the secrets of our holy faith and the secrets of God. And he revealed to us what a person has in the depths of his soul. He revealed to us both what is wrong with a person and what God has placed in a person as true good. And he showed how this good can shine from the human soul,” said Bishop Joanikije.
He said that Saint John the Ladder shone like a pillar of fire to guide all Christians on which path to take.
“He is not only a teacher of monks, but also of all the faithful,” said Metropolitan Joanikije.
He said that fasting teaches us the meaning of human life on earth.
"May the Lord grant that, praying to God, striving to do good deeds, we may be worthy to bow down to the sufferings of Christ honorably and sincerely, so that we may be together with Christ on His Golgotha ​​and on His crucifixion, and that the Lord may grant us both glory and consolation, and greatness and beauty, and the mystery of His resurrection and new life," concluded Metropolitan Joanikije.
Radosav Rajo Vojinović
Photo: Joavica Vukasović