Montenegrin capital gathers record number of cross procession participants
70,000 people came to the square in front of the church of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica to support the Serbian Orthodox Church.
On February 23, 2020, a pray-in service in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica gathered the largest ever number of people, opposed to the anti-church law on religious freedom. This was reported by the press service of the Montenegrin-Littoral Metropolis of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
An area of 20 thousand square meters was already completely occupied by the protesters, while the tail of the procession only approached the Cathedral. Members of the SOC estimated that 70 thousand faithful Montenegrins gathered for the procession, RIA Novosti reports.
The protesters included pilgrims who traveled to Podgorica from Belgrade for twelve days on foot, as well as pilgrims from different parts of Montenegro.
The prayer and procession were led by the abbot of the ancient monastery of Visoki Decani in Kosovo and Metohija, Archimandrite Sava Janic.
“By protecting shrines, brothers and sisters, we protect our homes, our families, our name, our language, our dignity, everything that makes us who we are,” the Archimandrite said to those present.
He recalled that shrines are lighthouses that shine like beacons in the dark and indicate the path of God, the path of salvation.
As reported by the UOJ, the musical band “Beogradski sindikat”, which was supposed to perform in Montenegro at a protest rally with a song against the adoption of the law on religious freedom, was denied entry to Montenegro.
