Statement

The Legal Advisory Board of The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral at the session held in Cetinje, Montenegro on the 19^th of February this year issued a following statement:

1.Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral is the only canonicly recognized Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

2.The religious group registered recently at the local police station in Cetinje under the name of "Montenegrian Orthodox Church" has neither legal nor canonical legitimacy to represent The Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

3.Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral is not against the registration of various religious groups in Montenegro. We will, however, strongly protest against the usage of the name and the symbols of The Othodox Church in Montenegro by the self-proclaimed "MOC"

4. The name under which the police registered the self-proclaimed"MOC" is confusing both the authorities and the orthodox faithful and thus creating a false impression that this could possibly be the church representing The Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

5. The attempts of the self-proclaimed "MOC" to forcefully break into our property and take over monasteries and churches represent obvious acts of violence and the perpetrators (followers of the self- proclaimed "MOC") should be prosecuted under both civil and criminal law.

6. The Legal Advisory Board of The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral will undertake all necessary legal steps with the responsible authorities of the Republic of Montenegro to protect the name, the symbols and the property of our Metropolitanate in Montenegro.

Legal Advisory Board of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

Mr. Mladen Mijovic
Mr. Vladimir Bojovic
Mr. Tomislav Dedic
Mr. Radoslav Nedic
Mr. Vladimir Đuričic

Metropolitanate of Montenegro and Littoral : English index