Metropolitanate of Montenegro and Littora: Public Announcement

Public Annonucement

Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral has now for a several years been trying to warn the responsible persons as well as the official institutions in Montenegro that the actions of the anti-church group around the anathematized and excommunicated priest Mr. M. Dedejic* can bring nothing but hatred, unrest and confrontation. All of that has now, unfortunately, started happening. We are deeply grieved after yesterday's events in which the group of thugs claiming to be the followers of Mr. Dedejic savagely attacked Mr. Nikola Martinovic, an elderly church caretaker in Bajice (Cetinje), inflicting him serious injuries.

Martinovic family have for 60 years now, with the blessing of the Metropolinate of Montenegro and the Littoral, been the keepers and caretakers of the church dedicated to St. John the Baptist in Bajice, originaly built by the Serbian Patriarch Arsenios III Crnojevic; this duty was performed with dignity and honesty by Nikola's father until his death, after which Nikola following in his father's steps received the full support of The Metropolitanate and the christian-orthodox population of Bajice. Nikola was always ready to offer help to our clergy as well as the faithful orthodox christians of Bajice with their spiritual needs.

These people have dared to cowardly keep pestering and provoking such a virtuous person in his front garden in front of his family for days and nights. In the end three followers of the anathematized priest Mr. Dedejic have attacked and seriously injured Mr. Martinovic since they knew that he doesn't carry arms to defend himself.

Because of this and similar ghastly deeds perpetrated by Dedejic's followers, we publicly demand from the responsible institutions of The Republic of Montenegro to show that they care for peace, law and the dignified throne of St. Peter of Cetinje, to condemn and stop this evil cruelty and violence and protect the innocent church caretaker together with his family, all the orthodox faithful, the clergy,the adminitrative staff and the numerous churches of The Metropolinate of Montenegro and the Coastal Lands.

* Anathema decreed by The Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople on the 9th of April 1997, signed by His Holliness Patriarch Bartholomew together with the nine members of The Holy Synod.

Press Service of The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

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