Primate of Montenegrin Metropolis: Ukrainian authorities terrorize the UOC
Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral. Photo: mitropolija.com
On April 14, 2023, the Primate of the Montenegrin-Littoral Metropolis of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Joanikije, said that the Ukrainian authorities have launched "state terror" against the UOC.
In his Easter message to the faithful, Metropolitan Joanikije said that Montenegro is watching with great concern “how the Ukrainian authorities, in the interests of a schismatic and non-canonical structure of dubious religious affiliation, are taking away the ancient and famous shrines of the UOC.”
Vladyka believes that "this is not so much a violation of religious rights and freedoms as, unfortunately, state terror and an attempt to suppress native Orthodoxy in Ukraine."
“Seeing how this crucified Church, starting from its primate, archbishops, clergy, monks and faithful people, calmly and courageously endures slurs, slander, robbery and plunder of temples, standing on the Calvary path of Christ, we are convinced that the Lord will pour out His mercy to the UOC, and after severe suffering and persecution, She will emerge before the whole world strengthened by thousands of new confessors and martyrs,” the Primate of the Montenegrin Church assured.
According to him, “our holy Church has also endured many times in its history the afflictions similar to those the Ukrainian Orthodox Church endures today. The same suffering, if not worse, was experienced by Orthodox Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, which were inflicted with the hands of Albanian terrorists from 1999 to 2004.”
“Undoubtedly, this time gave rise to many Kosovo Serbian martyrs who suffered for the name of God and the Orthodox faith, who in the future, when God pleases, will shine with the holiness of their sacrifice in the firmament of our Church,” Metropolitan Joanikije underscored.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to the Primate of the Church in Montenegro, the Ukrainian authorities persecute the UOC.
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