His Eminence the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije presided today, October 6, 2024, with the Holy Bishop's Liturgy, with the concelebration of the Bishop of Dioclia, Mr. Paisija and dozens of clergy with a large presence of faithful people in the Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica, on the occasion of 11 years since his consecration.

During the Eucharistic assembly, after reading from the Gospel, the Bishop of Diocletian addressed all gathered in this holy Temple. Paisius, reminding that Christ overcomes all divisions by actually looking for the whole man:

"Christ overcomes any division, to which all of us are prone. Very often we divide everything into what is better and what is more and what is highest and what is best, and we cannot do that in the Church, because God is looking for the whole, he is not looking for one best or highest virtue, God is looking for everything virtues, seeks the whole man, seeks the whole being. And there is no division and there cannot be."

"That is why Christ says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your strength and with all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself". Therefore, with this love for God and for people, He united every virtue and every commandment". Bishop Paisija spoke.

In the continuation, the Bishop emphasized that where there is true love, there is no need for law and legislation either, because the existence of true love eliminates problems:

"Where there is love, there is no need for law or legislation. Because where people are bound by love, there is no problem. All consider themselves lower than others and all give others greater honor. And what is characteristic of that Divine virtue is that it is never directed towards itself. Just as when God judged man, he said that it is not good for man to be alone, but to make him a friend. So is the face of God, it is designed so that man does not look at himself, but to look at others".

This is the perfection of this virtue and this quality, that it unites and collects everything and does everything harmoniously and with measure. Today we also celebrate the Conception of St. John the Prophet and Forerunner, who is both an example and the fruit of such love because his parents also burned and lived with such and such love for God and their people". - Bishop Paisius of Dioclia said at the end of his address.

At the end of the Holy Archbishop's Liturgy, His Eminence the Archbishop of Cetinje, the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Ioannikije greeted all those present, wishing a happy holiday and happy glory to all the candle holders who celebrate the feast of the Conception of St. John the Baptist and Forerunner of the Lord.

In his further address, Metropolitan Ioannikije referred to the genesis of the act itself, as well as the celebration of the consecration of a temple:

"When the Temple of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem, whose founder was Emperor Constantine, was consecrated, since then the memory of the consecration of every Temple, especially the cathedral churches, has been preserved. Keeping the memory of the day of consecration always brings us back to the time when we were building the Temple and to that wonderful and great event of the consecration of the Temple when the assembled bishops, invoking God's grace, God's mercy, clothe the Temple in God's grace and in eternal light and pour down God's blessing on that holy a place for all time".

"Renovating the temples, we also renew ourselves spiritually, that's why holy temples are built, that's why they are sanctified, so that we too can be sanctified and renewed spiritually in them". - said the Metropolitan.

"In the second part of the archpastoral address, Metropolitan Ioannikije recalled the example of the blessed Metropolitan Amfilohije, who as a man of God and a vessel of the Holy Spirit restored the faith of the people, restoring many temples:

"A great assembly of Orthodox patriarchs from all over the world took place here, where the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Russian Patriarch, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Serbian Patriarch were present at the consecration of this Holy Temple, which was built by our blessed Metropolitan Amfilohije with the faithful people, many benefactors and contributors, who as a man of God and a vessel of the Holy Spirit, he also restored faith in the people, restoring many temples, erecting many holy endowments".

At the end of his address, Metropolitan Ioannikije pointed out that the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ has become a place of pilgrimage and a source of God's blessing and God's mercy, but also that the unity of Orthodoxy was manifested at its consecration:

"At the consecration of this Holy Temple, the unity of Orthodoxy was manifested. We always pray for the unity of faith, the unity of the Holy Spirit, the unity of God's love, so may God grant through the prayers of St. John the Baptist, whose conception we celebrate today, that we may all come into the arms of God, as the Lord Jesus Christ prayed to his Heavenly One, that all let us be one in love, life and joy!"

The Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica was ceremonially consecrated eleven years ago, on October 7, 2013, on the feast of the Holy First Martyr Tekla, whose relics are found there.

The temple was consecrated by seven presbyters of the local Orthodox churches headed by the patriarchs: ecumenical Mr. Bartholomew, Russian Mr. Kirill and the Serbian Mr. Irenaeus.

In addition to the three patriarchs, the temple was also consecrated by Archbishops: Chrysostom of Cyprus, Jerome of Athens and Anastasia of Albania, and Metropolitan Sava of Warsaw and all Poland.

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