His Eminence the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. On the fourth Sunday after Easter, the Sunday of the Weak, on May 26, Saint John celebrated the Holy Liturgy in the Monastery of Saint Nicholas on Pelevo Brijeg in Bratonožići, with the concelebration of Archpriest Bojan Radunović, Priest Miloš Lučić and Hierodeacon Sioni (Zorić) and the prayerful participation of the faithful.

After the intercessory prayer, the church was visited by a liturgy, after which the slavonic cradle was blessed and a cake was cut on the occasion of the temple glory of this shrine - the transfer of the relics of Saint Nicholas of Mirliki, which was presented by Mr. Momir Braković in front of the three brotherhoods, Braković, Đelević and Pejušković.

Interpreting the word of the Lord addressed to the apostles that they will do the miracles that He does and even greater, because He is going to His Father, Metropolitan Ioannikije said that Christ, speaking about the fact that He will go to His Father, was talking about His resurrection and about the fact that He will send down of the Holy Spirit to His holy disciples and apostles and that He will clothe them with power from on high, that He will give them all that He has and the miracles that He created that they will also create and that many miracles will multiply after His resurrection, and especially after that, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and disciples.

"And indeed it was so." The holy apostles after Christ's resurrection, and after He clothed them with power from on high and sent the Holy Spirit into their hearts and strengthened them with the power of God's truth, justice and love, they dispersed throughout the world and preached the Gospel of God without fear, bravely and boldly , true, fearing no earthly power. And they performed many miracles and confirmed their word with the miracles and signs that the Lord gave them to do," said the Metropolitan.

Explaining that this was not only the privilege of His immediate disciples - the Holy Apostles, but also of many others throughout the entire history of the Christian Church up to the present day, Bishop Joanikije said that today it is precisely in this sanctuary that we are celebrating and calling for the help of one of the greatest miracle workers in the entire Orthodox universe. - Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker:

"Everyone calls on him both at sea and on land and in the air as a quick helper. Many have been exchanged and there are many testimonies that speak of his miracles, of healings, of his quick help from ancient times to the present day. That is why all peoples from all corners of the earth flock to his holy relics, which are now in Bari, and were once in Asia Minor."

Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Mr. Ioanniki also referred to today's Gospel story, when the Lord visited the Bath of Vitezda in Jerusalem, where there were many sick people who were waiting to be the first to enter the water that would be waved by the Lord's angel, in order to be healed, he healed a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. saying to him: "Get up, take your bier and walk!" And immediately the man got well and took his bier and walked.

"By the power of God's words from the mouth of Christ, strength, grace and power entered him, and he immediately stood up, and his standing up was a picture of the resurrection, the transition from death to life." The Lord truly gave him new life and new strength and new joy. Dear brothers and sisters, what the Lord did then, He does to this day. His resurrection from the dead is the greatest miracle on which all other miracles performed by His followers and performed by His apostles and Holy Father Nicholas and Saint Vasilije Ostroški and many other saints are based," said the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joannikius.

In his opinion, this gathering today is a miracle because we remember the times when services were rarely held in this sanctuary and the bell was rarely rung, and the temple itself was neglected and abandoned:

"But the time has come for him to drink again and for the holy family to be formed here and for Mother Lydia to perform the holy services of God, to ring the bell on this holy temple and light the candle in it." And here, thank God, are frequent and regular services, especially for major holidays: Christmas, Easter and Transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas of Mirlikia - the glory of this holy temple. We gather here and unite. We gather for holy services, we partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, we unite with the Lord Jesus Christ, we are filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit and we unite in God's love, truth, justice and goodness, and that is what we all need."

Concluding that we need God's love, but also brotherly love, the bishop said that from this holy temple, from these holy services, God's love and blessing pours out on all of us, so it is nice to gather in this sanctuary on every occasion, especially to the glory of this holy temple:

"Let us invoke God's grace and mercy, but also the miracle-working power of our Holy Father, Nicholas of Mirlikia, the Miracle-Worker, to help you all, you and your homes, your families, your children, and posterity." Amen, God grant!”

At the end of his address to the gathered, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije thanked first of all mother Lidija for her love and effort, as well as all those who came together to help - the brothers from Bratonožić: Messrs. Braković, Đelević and Pejušković.

The gathering for the glory of God, and in honor of St. Nicholas, continued with the festive program and the celebratory meal of Christian love.

 Vesna Devic

Photo: Željko Drašković