On the occasion of the three current jubilees in connection with the famous Budvanian, Metropolitan Visarion Ljubiš (1823 - 1884), last night on the Square between the churches in Budva's Old Town, as part of the eighth "Ćirilica" Festival, the first monograph on the life and work of this archbishop was presented, which was talked about Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral and the author and administrator of the archives of the Metropolitanate, monk Dr. Pavle (Kondić).

The publishers of the monograph "Metropolitan Visarion Ljubiša" are the Metropolis of Montenegro-Primorska and the Diocese of Budimlja Nikšić, and the publication was published on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth and 140th anniversary of the death of Metropolitan Visarion and the 160th anniversary of the beginning of the seminary in Cetinje, where Metropolitan Visarion was a lecturer and rector .

A truly bright figure in our church history, a bright personality and a rich biography, are the words with which Metropolitan Ioannikije began his sermon.

"However, a life filled with great effort, great deeds, great successes." At the same time, Metropolitan Visarion, even before he became a metropolitan, was a participant in great, epoch-making events in the history of Montenegro, but also in the history of the Serbian people. His biography until he moved to Montenegro is very rich and interesting. He was educated, he was extremely talented in science. He graduated from school with the best grades, but it is obvious that from his earliest youth he was determined to serve God. And God chose him for that service, but, you can see, his ardent desire as well. Considering how many trials and changes there are, there are certainly a lot of breaks, about which something is written but not much more, how much he suffered, if it were not for both, the choice of God, but also his desire and love to serve and if he were to sacrifice himself for his Church, faith, holy places and people, he would not have been able to endure all this until the end so honorably, virtuously, sublimely and leave an extremely good example in everything", said Metropolitan Ioannikije.

The Metropolitan emphasized that his service before moving to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral was a very good preparation.

"He was well educated, he proved himself to be a good priest and shepherd, a messenger of God, a great religious teacher. And everything he could somehow collect from the Serbian coast, from the monasteries and our sanctuaries, that beauty, culture, spirituality, tradition and history, he later invested in his future service, first as abbot of the Morača monastery, later as a teacher and rector of Cetinje seminary. It was an extremely important period in his life, but also in the history of Montenegro and Montenegrin education. The seminary that King Nikola finally established in 1868, although it had started earlier, could not have done without such personalities as Milan Kostić, archpriest born in Banat, and later Visarion. And that school bore extremely large fruits, although, unfortunately, that first period of its multi-year work lasted until the Great War," added the Metropolitan.

He particularly pointed out the sacrifice of Metropolitan Visarion for the people and the army as a priest during the Great War, his inspiring speeches, helping refugees and participating in the battle at Vučje dol, after which he was elected bishop of Zahumsko-Raška in 1878.

However, as the Metropolitan said, new duties awaited Vissarion.

"Metropolitan Ilarion Roganović was already old and sick, and there was serious thought at the Cetinje court and in church circles about who would be the new metropolitan." And there was no more worthy person, nor was there any dilemma. They only thought a little about what would happen because he was in rather poor health, but he was given the honor of being the new metropolitan of Montenegro and the mountains. Earlier, of course, he achieved great merit. He was the Minister of Education, and that should be mentioned separately. He did a lot for Montenegro in the educational, spiritual and every other field. And later he was rewarded with that election as the Metropolitan of Montenegro", said Metropolitan Joanikije, pointing out that the death of Metropolitan Visarion Ljubiša put a stamp on his entire evangelical feat.

Sermon by Metropolitan Ioanniki - video

The author of the monograph "Metropolitan Visarion Ljubiša", the monk Dr. Pavle Kondić pointed out that Visarion had been waiting for a book like this for 140 years, a prosopography in which we can see his personality as a microcosm.

"It means that we look at, work with, and perceive a person as a God-created, unrepeatable icon in the Christian universe, as Vissarion was, and as, finally, all of you who are gathered here now around the image and name of Metropolitan Vissarion, along with our current Metropolitan Ioanniki, are. And to look and to recognize what those gifts are and what he returned to God, gift for gift he received, according to those Gospel words and letters written by Christ that God gives each of us a gift", said Fr. Pavle.

Kondić recalled the rich publishing activity stemming from the Archives of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.

"Hardly anyone can add up how many monographs our Svetigora has printed in the past 30 years. And on that trail and on that foundation, our Metropolitan Ioannikije continues with all his might, and with his blessing, this monograph on Metropolitan Visarion also saw the light of day," he said.

The program dedicated to Metropolitan Visarion Ljubiša continued the cycle of thematic evenings of this year's "Ćirilica" Festival about notable figures of Budva culture and Budva's cultural heritage.

The "Ćirilicom" festival is organized until September 14 by the Budva National Library and the Association of Publishers and Booksellers of Montenegro, with the support of the Municipality of Budva, the Tourism Organization of the Municipality of Budva and the Public Enterprise for the Management of Marine Assets.

Source: RTV Budva

Photo: Nikola Todorović